Breakfast: for stronger mind and body

I have always thought of breakfast as an important meal and have written numerous columns advocating the cause of starting your day with a power packed meal because eating breakfast contributes to weight control. Our supply of breakfast recipes has been consistently appreciated.

Breakfast skippers may eat more food than usual at the next meal and may also tend to eat foods higher in fat and calories. Skipping breakfast may also result in late morning hunger and food cravings and leave you susceptible to munching on higher fat, low nutrient choices such as biscuits or cups of tea or coffee at mid morning and then less healthy food choices at lunch. If you can make menus using breakfast recipes, you will find it easier to get along. Those who eat breakfast are more likely to avoid energy lows and extremes in hunger (which are partly responsible for cravings for sugary foods). Eating breakfast also boosts your metabolism so you burn calories more efficiently throughout the day. If you go for very long periods of time without food and then have a large meal, you encourage your body to store many of the calories in your fat cells, instead of in muscle cells.

If you are not hungry in the morning, try eating a little less the night before. Gradually, after eating breakfast for a while, you may be able to ‘train’ yourself to feel morning hunger (turning the hunger mechanism from the brain to the stomach!).

Tips for breakfast haters

If you just do not like to eat breakfast, or believe you do not feel good when you eat breakfast, you can break breakfast up into two smaller meals, but do not skip breakfast altogether. Eat a hard boiled egg at home, and an hour or two later, take a break from work and snack on an apple and a handful of healthy nuts like walnuts.

For exciting breakfast recipes that are handy to pack and carry are Cheese and Pineapple Sandwich, or roll up a few Dal Chawal Parantha. Better still drink up a fruity strawberry soya and orange Shake at home!