This article examines what the most healthy breakfast foods are. Some of the most unhealthy foods are consumed by wealthy (or at least comparatively so) westerners. This probably flies in the face of what you have been told.
First, let’s look at the most common breakfast foods and why they are not a healthy start to the day.
Some people skip breakfast altogether. If that is what you prefer to do, then it is a much healthier option than most advice, of forcing you to eat breakfast. Some people just don’t like eating until later in the day. But do make sure you don’t skip healthy drinking.
It’s a completely different matter if you like breakfast, but don’t have the time to eat it. My advice is to make time.
Cereal is considered to be a healthy choice. For a variety of reasons, cereal is extremely unhealthy. First, the cereal is not a whole food. It is processed in some way, whether it originally comes from wheat, rice or any other source. Cereals are generally loaded with sugar and hydrogenated fats. Hopefully you are aware of the dangers with these foods.
Cereals are also fortified with isolated and synthetic supplements. Your body does not know what to do with such ‘food’ and it can be eliminated at best, or hang up in parts of the body it has no business to be, at worst.
You need supplements from natural, food sources.
Cereals are normally moistened with milk, another hazardous food.
Oats may be the exception here, as long as it is not quick porridge oats, which has been processed. Porridge can be a reasonably healthy start to the day, as long as it is not made in a microwave, which carry its own hazards.
Porridge can be a welcome winter warming food, but don’t destroy the good work by adding sugar and milk. Make it with a little more water, so milk is not required. And add fresh or dried fruit to sweeten it. I consider porridge to be one of the least unhealthy breakfast foods, although not the healthiest.
Another favourite breakfast is bread/toast or pastry of some sort. These are invariably made from white, heavily processed flour. Often they are eaten with margarine, another cause for concern, and a conserve, most of which have at least half of their content as white (processed) sugar.
Yet a third option for breakfast is eggs or meat. Both eggs and meat carry high amounts of fat, which take a long time to digest. This may keep you apparently satisfied, but only at the expense of feeling sluggish.
Some of these breakfast foods are only eaten because they are fast to prepare, ideal when you need to get the children ready for school and you ready for work.
But what both you and your growing family really need is some healthy breakfast foods which will supply you with all the necessary nutrition for part of the day, that keeps you satisfied and that keeps your energy high.
And something fast to produce at the same time.
The top healthy breakfast foods that answer all these criteria are:
freshly squeezed fruit and/or vegetable juices
smoothies – be they fruit or green smoothies.
It is extremely important that these are enjoyed, otherwise you will slip back into your old ways all too quickly. Let your children, if they are old enough, contribute and experiment with different ingredients. Be adventurous.
You will probably need a bigger refrigerator, but this should be viewed with great excitement, bearing in mind the added health to the whole family.
For sumptuous recipes on these foods, as well as for other healthy foods, check out Healthy Eating For Weight Loss.
