by Kerith Duncanson www.helpyourself.com.au
Whether you are a morning person who bounds out of bed or a night owl who doesn’t function well in the early hours, breakfast can give your day a kick-start.
How many times have you been told that you SHOULD eat breakfast, because it is “GOOD FOR YOU”? Honestly, who puts breakfast higher on the priority list than extra sleep or logging more miles, because it is “GOOD FOR YOU”? The good news is that breakfast can be fitted into your daily schedule with a minimum of fuss and effort if you make it part of your morning routine.
There is not a rule stating that you must eat muesli with acidophilus yoghurt topped with lecithin, banana and more bran to be an athlete. Any carbohydrate foods (with a moderate amount of fibre, rich in vitamins and minerals) are suitable. Choose a combination of the following items and vary your choices if you get bored with eating the same thing every morning.
CARBOHYDRATES- BREAKFAST BACKBONE
Breakfast cereal (low fat and sugar) with low fat milk
LOW FAT muesli (preferably without coconut or seeds) with low fat milk
Slices of toast or raisin bread
Toasted muffins, Bagels or Fruit Bun (uniced)
Fruit Salad with low fat natural yogurt
Pieces of fresh or dried fruit
Fruit Juice – unsweetened
Pancakes/Pikelets – A great weekend treat topped with Jam and yogurt
Leftover rice or pasta dish from the previous evening meal
TOAST TOPPERS:
(a) For extra CARBOHYDRATE try one of the following;
Creamed corn or tinned spaghetti or baked beans
Mashed or sliced banana
(b) Other toast topping ideas include:-
A thin spread of honey, jam or vegemite. If you like peanut butter, have it instead of margarine, rather than adding both.
Tomato, asparagus or low fat cheese
Canola or olive oil margarine
IDEAS TO HELP FIT BREAKFAST INTO YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE
Eat cereal or toast or fruits at home before work/school
Grab some fruit and eat it on the way to work/school
Buy fruit (salad), bagels, fresh bread or rolls on the way to work/school
Store cereal, fruit or bread at work to eat when you arrive
If you absolutely can’t make time for breakfast before work, then grab a bagel or fruit to eat as soon as possible. Beware of morning tea “goodies” by making sure you have appropriate food handy so you can avoid temptation