Do I really need to eat breakfast?

‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’

This can feel like a tired cliché, but is there some truth to it? We’re going to investigate the key health benefits of a nutritious morning meal, illustrating how it can support both our physical and our mental wellbeing.

Breakfast is key for those all-important energy levels

The lengthy gap between finishing the evening meal and waking up leaves your body in serious need of some energy. Skipping breakfast can leave you at an energy low until lunchtime, making it more difficult for your brain and body to function well.

Properly fuelling yourself first thing in the morning gives you a strong foundation to get through your day. Plus, loads of delicious breakfast foods are high in fibre, complex carbohydrates, and protein. The possibilities are endless: protein pancakes, shakshuka, porridge any-way-you-like-it, all providing you with the nourishment that your body needs to get going.

Check out BBC Good Food for more healthy breakfast recipes that will get your day started right.

What if I struggle to find time?

It can be tempting to opt for that extra twenty minutes in bed, either skipping breakfast or just grabbing a granola bar on the way out. Finding some time to make yourself a meal at the beginning of the day, however, has more than just physical health benefits.

It provides a moment for you to start the day mindfully, slowing down and giving yourself a second to pause. It’s also time that you take to look after yourself, giving your body the fuel that it needs. As a result, whether or not we’ve eaten breakfast can be a key factor in our mood throughout the day.