Breakfast

The Dietitians Association of Australia encourages all Australians to start the day with a healthy breakfast. Eating breakfast contributes in many ways to good health and nutrition.

Breakfast is important because it:

• Helps maintain a healthy weight. This is important in preventing child obesity.
• Improves alertness, concentration, mental performance and memory.
• Provides energy and important nutrients.
• Makes you less likely to snack on unhealthy meals during the day
• Can help to increase a person's mood.  That's why people get tired and irritable when they miss breakfast.
• Leads to higher intakes of essential nutrients such as carbohydrate, dietary fibre and certain vitamins and minerals.
• 'Breaks the fast' as it has been around eight hours since your body last had any food.
• Is a simple way to help make a difference to overall well-being, and your ability to function well over the day.
  

A healthy breakfast is one which provides a variety of foods, is low in saturated fat, high in carbohydrates, contains fibre and provides vitamins and minerals.

Smart Eating ideas for breakfast

• A bowl of wholegrain cereal with low fat milk and sliced fresh fruit.
• A delicious smoothie made from low fat milk, fresh fruit, yoghurt and honey.
• Fresh fruit and yoghurt with some wholegrain toast.
• Bircher muesli with a variety of fruits and nuts added.
• Pancakes topped with fruit and yoghurt

Rushed for time in the morning? No need to skip breakfast! Here are some ideas:

• Keep a supply of healthy wholegrain cereals in the house, these are quick and easy and very nutritious.
• If you have trouble getting to the shops regularly, try one of the online shopping services that are available in some areas.
• Prepare breakfast the night before by setting the table, getting out bowls and cereals etc. This works well for children. You could also prepare Bircher Muesli the night before.
• Take some snack size cereals to work. Many of these cereals can be eaten in the box with milk added!
• Several companies are making quick and easy breakfast drinks with added vitamins, minerals and fibre. These could be an occasional alternative when you are on the go.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and Kellogg have launched National Breakfast Week to raise awareness of the importance of breakfast. National Breakfast Week will encourage all Australians to start the day with a healthy breakfast. For more information about the week, visit: http://www.kelloggs.com.au/Home/Promotions/tabid/597/Default.aspx

An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) can help you with individual breakfast ideas and tips to incorporate breakfast regularly into your lifestyle.