A Good Way To Start Your Day

When I was working in my first school as a teacher the students were in need of a co-ordinator for the student council. Being young and full of energy I volunteered to take charge. One of the main things we did was raise money for charity. The major event for the year was called the 40 Hour Famine. The students (and myself) would basically go without food for 40 hours after signing up sponsors for an hourly or fixed sum of money.

My wife and I were renting a huge house at the time so we decided that we would have the kids stay over for the night and then have a meal together on the last day. It was highly successful and we had a great time.

Mmmm Hungry

What I experienced going without breakfast was quite a bit more than I expected. However, it was for a good cause and we kept ourselves busy with games and the like. Going more than 40 hours would be way past my limit that's for sure!

Medical Reasons

For most of us the only real reason we might have to hold off on the food and fluids is preparing for a medical test of some sort. Yet if we think about it we also do this every night before breaking our fast  with a meal.

The first meal of the day is the one that tops up the low glucose levels as our body prepares for a busy day.

Breakfast Before School

Lots of research now confirms the benefits of the first meal of the day.

• Teachers know without a doubt that the students that have had a good breakfast are more attentive and less hyperactive.

• Nutritionists have found that we are less likely to eat junk foods before lunch if we have a good breakfast. This fact alone increases our chances of maintaining a healthy waistline without radical diet plans.
• A good breakfast can set us up for a steady blood sugar level over the morning. The less our BGL (blood glucose levels) fluctuate the better we can concentrate and complete our work.
• A well balanced breakfast will supply the vitamins and minerals needed to keep you alert and healthy over the whole day.

Choose Your Breakfast Foods Carefully

Well, having extablished the need and benefits of a good breakfast, what is a good breakfast?

A good breakfast will have a balance of the food groups - carbohydrates, fats and protein.

Oats

The carbohydrates come in a variety of foods but it is best to go for those which give you a steady flow of sugar all morning. Foods like oats and high fibre breads are a great energiser for your day. Oats are particularly good having a higher concentration of protein, fat, manganese, thiamine, folacin and vitamin E than the other grains. The fibre in oats has now been proven to lower the LDL cholesterol (this is the bad one) and boost the HDL cholesterol.

One cup of oats can actually have a big impact on your cholesterol levels over time and should form part of any healthy diet. Of course if you cannot face a cup for breakfast just use them in meatloaf, cakes or soups.

Eggs

The humble, yet oh so good for  you chicken egg can be a part of any healthy morning routine. Eggs are a nutritional powerstation giving us 11 different vitamins and minerals, high quality protein, healthy fats (including omega-3) and valuable antioxidants.

The protein is a great boost for your morning activities. Not only will your hunger pangs be less but your concentration levels will be assisted by the slow sustained energy release during the morning.

We already know the value of the good Omega 3 fats so to have them in your first meal of the day is a bonus.

Mmmm I can just imagine a fresh boiled egg and some lovely german rye!

So think for a minute about how you will "break fast" tomorrow.

Have a great day - until next time

John