Breakfast

Rise and shine

My “dream breakfast” is large lime daiquiri served at around midday, beside a sun drenched pool. About as far from Weetbix, toast and marmite as it’s possible to get. I used to dream of the perfect “family breakfast”, complete with a stack of pancakes, fresh squeezed juice and lively morning conversation. Then I had a family and realised that I’d be the one making the pancakes and squeezing the juice, then I’d be doing the dishes and frankly the lime daiquiri got more and more appealing.

I’m not recommending anyone start the day with alcohol, heaven forbid! But sometimes, to be honest, I just can’t face things that need mixing and chewing and chopping first thing in the morning.

Skipping breakfast though is not an option – research consistently shows breakfast eaters are smarter, slimmer and more energetic than those who skip it.

But Breakfast time is bedlam in our house and years of swim club early starts have given me a healthy appreciation for a breakfast that can be skulled or scoffed on the run.

It’s not only those racing out the door in the early hours who need a good breakfast under their belt, a long day on the home front can be every bit as demanding as a day at the office, school or sport.

There is no doubt that something is better than nothing in the morning but some cereals are really sweeties in disguise. Loaded with sugar (some as much as 50%) and colouring they produce a short burst of energy from the sugar hit and not a lot else.

Good cereal however has a lot in its favour for kids and adults alike. Absorbing milk – great for getting calcium into people who won’t drink the stuff; quick to prepare (meaning they can do it themselves) and you can serve with a hot topping in cold weather or add fresh fruit and get the jump on their 5+ a day (think warm milk or hot stewed apple during chilly weather).

The healthiest cereals are also often the least expensive. Good news for those who have assumed healthy has to mean expensive.

Every now and then though a change is as good as a rest so here are some easy tasty breakfast ideas for when you fancy something you didn’t pour out of a packet.