Danon asks: Some older people say you shouldn't eat too much in the morning. Is this true?
Wynnie says: According to some traditional beliefs, our overnight fast should be broken slowly, since our digestive 'fire' is just waking up and won't run at full capacity until the sun is high in the sky - from noon to 2pm. They suggest that breakfast should be a light and digestible meal, and lunch be the largest, most important meal of the day.
Health experts suggest that breakfast should provide around a third of your daily dietary requirements. It's the most important meal of the day - not only does it kickstart your metabolism, but it also has the added benefit of keeping your blood sugar levels stable - and therefore your energy levels - throughout the whole morning. This prevents you from snacking on and overeating calorie-laden, sugary and fatty foods later in the day.
Studies on children's learning ability show that if a good, healthy breakfast is eaten, their work rate and output are substantially improved. School performance tests consistently show that children who eat breakfast attain higher scores in maths, memory and visual tests and creative thinking compared to those who skip the meal. They also concentrate better and are faster and more efficient at solving problems.
So what should we eat for breakfast? A healthy breakfast doesn't mean gorging on an oversized fast food meal. It should include a variety of foods and be rich in complex carbohydrates, fibre, protein and calcium and low in fat. Think whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables and dairy products. These provide the ideal fuel for the brain and body as well as being rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, nutrients that can rarely be made up for by lunch or dinner.
Check out the recommended foods and meal suggestions to ensure you start the day on a high.