Proper nutrition is vitally important in allowing the human body to perform and recover from the demands of exercise and daily life. By eating protein, good fats and vitamins and minerals first thing, you will discover enhanced performance, an improvement in your mood and positive effects on your general well-being.
Eating carbohydrates in the morning can spike your insulin levels and send you on a sugar high. This in turn leads to a sugar crash and you end up chasing sugar all day long, on a roller coaster of getting high and then slumping – experiencing peaks and troughs in glucose levels all day long. Symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, excessive sweating (especially at night), poor concentration and forgetfulness, excessive thirst, digestive disturbances and even blurred vision. Since the brain depends on an even supply of glucose it is no surprise to find that sugar has been implicated in aggressive behaviour, anxiety and depression.
The alternative is you give your body a longer lasting fuel, which provides good nutrients to keep your systems working and will prevent your body screaming for them later. This will improve concentration for longer, help avoid sugar cravings and will result in a generally more productive day.
Here are 5 Healthy "Breadless" Breakfast ideas;
1. BACON WRAPPED SALMON
1 x 170g salmon fillet
2 unsmoked bacon rashers
zest of 1/2 lemon
pinch of ground chilli flakes (optional)
1 sprig fresh dill
salt and pepper to season
SERVES 1
Preheat oven to 180˚C/360˚F.
Line a tray with foil and place the fillet on the foil. Season salmon with salt and pepper and chilli flakes. Top with lemon zest and dill. Wrap the rashers around the salmon.
Oven bake for 25 minutes (the flesh will be pale pink when cooked).
2. CHEESY BACON BRUSSELS
This is a great way to use up any left over sprouts - Also, they are one of the better green vegetable sources of protein, and just one serving meets the daily vitamin C and vitamin K requirements. They are also a very good source of numerous nutrients including folate, manganese, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, choline, copper, vitamin B1, potassium, phosphorus and omega-3 fatty acids.
120g Brussels sprouts, quartered
100g diced bacon
30g Cheddar cheese (use dairy free cheese if preferred), grated
½ tsp coconut oil or butter
SERVES 1
Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil and add the sprouts. Simmer gently for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Drain (or use leftover sprouts which are already cooked).
In a saucepan, fry the bacon in the oil /butter over a medium heat for 3-4
minutes, stirring.
Add the sprouts and gently bash with a spoon to break them up a little.
Prepare a medium grill.
Turn out the contents of the pan onto a large plate. Sprinkle on the cheese.
Place until the grill for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is bubbling. Serve.
3. BREAKFAST EGG PIZZA
1 tsp ghee or butter
4 eggs
30g grated cheddar
1 tsp tomato purée (optional)
pinch of pepper
pinch of paprika
pinch of Italian herbs
SERVES 1
Melt the ghee/butter in a frying pan over a medium heat.
Crack the eggs into the frying pan. Cook on a medium heat until the whites are
solid but the yolks are still runny. Placing a lid on the frying pan will speed up cooking
time by a couple of minutes.
Slide the eggs onto a plate. Squeeze on a tsp of tomato purée (if using). Add the
cheese and seasonings. Place under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
4. VEGGIE PROTEIN BREAKFAST
125g broccoli, cut into small florets
half a courgette, chopped
2 small leeks, sliced finely
50ml coconut milk
6 eggs
pinch of oregano
salt and pepper
30g cheddar cheese (optional),
grated (use dairy free if preferred)
SERVES 2
Preheat oven to 200˚C / 400˚F. Grease a 10 inch round ovenproof dish.
Steam the broccoli, leeks and courgette for 4-5 minutes, or until tender.
Place the cooked vegetables in the base of the oven dish.
Whisk the eggs, coconut milk, oregano, salt and pepper together. Stir in the cheese if
using. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables.
Bake for around 20 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked.
5. ALLOWABLE ENGLISH BREKKIE
10g ghee or coconut oil
4 rashers unsmoked bacon
handful mushrooms, chopped
2 tomatoes, halved
4 eggs
SERVES 2
In a pan, heat the ghee or coconut oil to a medium/high heat. Fry the bacon rashers on both sides until crispy. Add the mushrooms and fry for several minutes. Remove from pan.
Next, fry the tomatoes gently for several minutes on each side. Remove pan from heat.
Break the eggs into a jug and whisk gently. Cook the eggs over a medium heat in a saucepan, stirring all the time. When the eggs are cooked, remove from
heat, and transfer to a plate with the bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes.
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