Breakfast... the most important meal of the day?

Breakfast… the most important meal of the day?

There are few better ways to start the day than with a cooked breakfast! Whatever lies ahead in your day, be it a lazy Sunday or a busy day full of toing and froing, a good breakfast can make all the difference in how you can respond to the events that unfold.

I have always been a breakfast lover. If I’m ever running late in the morning it’s because I have taken too long enjoying my breakfast! It helps me to get ‘in the zone’ as it were; it helps me to mentally and physically prepare for what I may face in the day to come. The whole process from boiling the kettle for my morning tea, chopping my fruit or carefully selecting my cereal and then taking time to eat my first meal of the day seems to calm me. It’s like someone is pressing pause on the frantic film that was running in fast forward.

The feeling of being prepared or unprepared as the case may be has a great effect on my mood. This is why I feel breakfast is such an amazing tool in setting you up for the day. Last week I had a long and busy day ahead and knew that it would be a long time before I could eat something again. The need for a decent breakfast was colossal – my breakfast that day could make the difference between a weary, hungry, grumpy Jo flagging in the afternoon and a slightly worn out, peckish, just about chirpy Jo (well, that’s in my own breakfast lover’s case).

I decided to top a piece of wholemeal toast with the left over baked beans in the fridge, and a poached egg. I have to say the real butter just made it that extra bit special! After this meal I felt I could not only face the day but seize the day. Making this rather nutritious breakfast in a low fat and healthy way meant that I could keep going until I had the chance to have a little something later.

After this breakfast I was ready. It’s the same every day - once I’ve had my tea I’m ready for powering on through that weary feeling you get before starting work. Once I’ve munched my way through my cereal and fruit concoction I am ready to embark on my first activities of the day. Once I’ve taken the time to enjoy some space and quiet, I am ready to engage with whoever may cross my path.

Of course, breakfast can be a very sociable meal too. I have many happy memories of leisurely breakfasts shared with family and friends on special occasions or weekends. Taking time to share a long, relaxed meal first thing with loved ones can be very special. Often, first thing in the morning our guard is down somewhat, we seem to be more ‘real’, we haven’t quite got round to putting on those extra layers of ourselves we gradually throw on throughout the day that may hide our imperfections or insecurities. Allowing other people to spend time with you at this time of day is a great way to show how comfortable you are with them and how much you trust them. Sharing a meal with people can be a great way to bond and get to know people better and I think that having breakfast with friends and family has the power to enhance these relationships.

Clearly, I have strong feelings about breakfast. I realise though that many people really don’t get on with eating so early in the morning. I think that maybe the reason why I like breakfast so much is how it is an opportunity to take time out before you start your day. While, I believe it is important to set yourself up well nutritionally speaking, you can still get this opportunity for a period of space with a coffee or a tea or on your commute to work. In fact there are lots of opportunities that appear throughout the day, so happy days everyone! I hope your next breakfast is a cracking one!