Breakfast fundas

To apply ‘Well begun is half done’ to our lives means to have a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast helps us get in tune with our hunger needs throughout the day and thus helps us eat sensibly.

But what exactly is an ideal breakfast? Generally speaking, it’s best to start your day with dry fruits or seasonal fruits. This should be consumed within 10-15 minutes of waking up. If the concept of eating dry fruits/fruits first thing in the morning doesn’t go well with you ,then you can opt for lime water and honey. Avoid having tea or coffee as it is acidic in nature and is best had after the first or second meal. Breakfast should ideally be consumed after an hour of having fruit or lime water and honey.

An ideal breakfast is a good mix of carbohydrates and protein. Simple home-cooked Indian breakfast has all the necessary carbohydrates, protein, nutrients and vitamins. Poha, upma, idli, dosa, parathas, cooked sprouts, dalia and the like are all good options for a healthy breakfast. Milk, curd and soya milk are good accompaniments which complete the protein requirement.

Including unprocessed cereals like jowar, ragi, bajra and oats makes your breakfast more nutrient rich.

For people who are hard-pressed for time, eggs and oats come in handy, as they take less than five minutes to cook. Chapati along with peanut chutney, coconut chutney or ghee is also a good and easy breakfast option. Remember that variety gives nutrition, so keep changing your breakfast options.

Keep away from

* ready to eat foods. These include ready-to-cook upma, idli, dosa, cornflakes and oat flakes, among other options.

* foods that are marketed for weight loss.

* pushing your breakfast to brunch.

* leaving home in the morning without eating anything.

Though it’s a little difficult in the beginning, getting into the habit of having a healthy breakfast daily can do wonders to your body and health.

(The author is chief nutrigenomic counsellor, GeneSupport)