Skip it or not? Depending on who you believe, breakfast is either very important to kick start your metabolism first thing, or it should be postponed until brunch time, in order to make the fasting window since the last meal of the previous night longer.
Recent research eminently sensibly indicates neither: for weight loss, just eat less, throughout the day. For wellbeing, whatever suits you: those never hungry first thing will prefer to skip breakfast and the others will shovel up some toast even in a terrible rush at five to seven.
For those who break their fast at breakfast time, here’s a collection of varied and delicious breakfast recipes, if you’re really truly bored of your toast and jam.
Buckwheat makes porridge with a bite: a simple, satisfying no-fuss breakfast made from roasted buckwheat and milk, soaked overnight for speed, then cooked into a chunky, chewy bowl ready for sweet or savoury toppings.
Make a batch at the weekend of those high protein, high fibre bars, like a flapjack or granola bar in a savoury version. Very easy and super versatile for a healthy, filling and delicious bite on the go.
Savoury oat and seed bars
RECIPE
Greek yoghurt and fresh or frozen blueberries: arguably the best possible breakfast. The parfait is made with roasted blueberries and strained yoghurt, but a simpler option is to layer thick natural yoghurt with fresh or thawed blueberries.
For the savoury, cooked breakfast choice: cheese and mushroom omelette is a quick and easy breakfast dish. Beat the eggs well and work quickly for a perfectly fluffy omelette.
Cheese and mushroom omelette
RECIPE
You can’t beat porridge for brekkie! Date porridge is naturally sweet, prepared the night before and cooked within minutes into chunky, nutritious and kick-ass breakfast.
Fried sliced mushrooms, cooked in butter and a little oil, are perfect for breakfast to dollop on toast. Cook them for at least 10 minutes until caramelised and crisp.
Overnight oats with yoghurt and fresh fruit are the healthiest, minimal effort breakfast. Overnight oats bowl is prepared ahead and it will benefit from being soaked in yoghurt. Plus, a recipe for homemade yoghurt without a yoghurt maker if you like to try.
Couscous for breakfast? But of course. It is sweetened with honey and raisins and served with yoghurt, breakfast couscous is delicious and easy to make.
More substantial but not quite the full-on full English: this is the full Mex fusion! Breakfast quesadilla with the filling of mushroom, tomato, avocado and bacon in any combination, vegetarian or not.
And finally the cereal option but not out of the packet: you control the sugar, salt and additives amounts. Homemade granola is easy and healthy with just the fruit and seed mix you like, and the cereal toasted to the desired crispness. Just add milk, yoghurt or fresh fruit.