It's Farmhouse Breakfast Week next week, a campaign in its 13th year. Farmer's wife Enid Nelless, of award-winning Thistleyhaugh B&B extols the benefits of the most important meal of the day. KATHARINE CAPOCCI finds out more
Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day
:: Breakfast eaters tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.
:: Eating breakfast can aid concentration and mental performance at work and at school.
:: It provides you with the nutrients and energy needed for an active lifestyle.
:: The word breakfast literally means 'breaking the fast'.
:: The word 'breakfast' was first used in English in 1463.
:: After going 10-12 hours overnight without food, your energy levels will be low. Your body and brain therefore need food to top-up the stores and restore blood sugar levels.
:: Breakfast is the first meal of the day, eaten within two hours of waking and providing calories in the range of 20-35% of daily energy needs.
:: Eating bread and cereals for breakfast provides carbohydrate for energy, as well as vitamins, minerals and fibre.
:: Milk and yogurts provide protein and calcium.
:: Beans, eggs, low fat bacon and kippers all provide added protein and can add a bit of variety to breakfast.
Source: www.shakeupyourwakeup.com
HONEY AND YOGHURT PORRIDGE WITH BANANA
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 8 minutes
Total time: 13 minutes
Serves: 1
Ingredients
50g jumbo oats
1 banana (100g)
50g 0% fat Greek-style yogurt
350ml semi-skimmed milk
2 tsp clear honey
How to make it:
Place the oats in a saucepan.
Mash half the banana and mix with the yogurt (keep 1 tbsp aside), milk and 1 tsp honey then pour over the oats.
Heat to just below boiling and simmer gently for 7-8 minutes, stirring.
Pour into a bowl, slice the remaining banana and scatter on top, add the 1 tbsp Greek yogurt and drizzle over the remaining honey.
BREAKFAST ENERGY BARS
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Serves: 12
Ingredients
100g butter
200g clear honey
200g rolled oats
150g mixed seeds
100g toasted flaked almonds
100g sultanas
50g ground almonds
2 tsp sesame seeds
How to make it
Preheat the oven to 180C, Gas Mark 4
Heat the butter and honey in a saucepan until butter melts.
Stir in the remaining ingredients except sesame seeds and press into a 22cm square baking tin.
Sprinkle sesame seeds.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly before cutting into 12 bars.
Recipes from www.shakeupyourwakeup.com
