Dietitian Heather Miller, who holds clinics in Balla, Castlebar, and Ballindine, this week talks about the most important meal of the day—breakfast.
Breakfast helps top up the energy stores you have used up during the night whilst your body repairs and renews itself and also gives you mental and physical energy. Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, yet up to one third of us regularly miss it.
It has been shown that people who eat breakfast have more balanced diets than those who skip this meal, are less likely to be overweight, lose weight more successfully and have reduced risk of certain diseases.
Breakfast cereals, porridge, bread, rolls, English muffins, scones, malt loaf, fruit bread, currant bun and bagels are all good sources of energy that will help kick start your metabolism and they're all low in fat too. Choose wholegrain varieties whenever possible to ensure a good fibre intake and try to avoid cereals coated in sugar.
Fruit and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and fibre. A glass of pure fruit juice counts as one portion of fruit. Have chopped fresh fruit like a banana or some dried or stewed or tinned (in juice ) fruit on your cereal, half a grapefruit or fruit salad. For something different, try a fresh fruit smoothie.
Milk and dairy foods give you protein, calcium and B vitamins. Use low fat milks and if you don't have cereal, drink a glass of milk on its own or as a milkshake/smoothie, or have a pot of low fat yogurt instead or low fat cheese on toast.
Heather Miller has clinics in Balla Medical Centre, Balla; 24 St Patrick’s Avenue, Castlebar; and Healthwest Pharmacy, Ballindine. If you want to make an appointment with Heather Miller call her on 087 172 3664 or email [email protected]
