A Healthy Breakfast, A Healthy Me?
Yesterday I went to Brisbane for my third Kellogg’s Mums brunch. I had such a wonderful day spending time with bloggers I don’t often get to see and wish I’d had more time with them.
With Kel from Be A Fun Mum and Cath from Squigglemum and our boys!
Say cheese!
At each of these events we’ve talked about breakfast, what our morning routine is like and what our concerns are around cereal. In our the cereal intake has pretty much exclusively been the Aldi version of Weetbix and porridge. I thought that was because they were my preferred options for health (read: sugar and salt) reasons but have realised that it’s actually because we shop at the market and Aldi and rarely go to the supermarket to buy groceries.
Since finding myself with a few packets of cereal in the house, the kids have been inhaling eating them and I’ve realised a few things.
1. Cereal is yum.
2. My kids love cereal.
3. I don’t think about whether the kids are getting a rounded diet enough. I am conscious of the “treat” food, milk (mainly because Bliss goes through it like it’s going out of fashion) and water and give occasional thought to salt but that’s about it.
4. I need to think more about fibre and protein.
5. I am not concerned about my kids eating cereal like Sultana Bran, Special K, Just Right, Guardian etc…for breakfast, in fact it could be complementing their daily intake of necessary nutrients.
6. My biggest concern about breakfast is me.
Until recently I regularly skipped breakfast. I’m conscious that Bliss is now at an age where it’s important to eat with her as a model of behaviour and I have no idea what I should eat.
As I have shared before after Bliss I gained a lot of weight which I lost before falling pregnant with Bear and am now trying to lose it again and I have no idea what sort of food I should be eating for breakfast to aid that process.
Do you have any suggestions?
Mummble
Stitch Baby + Kids
Low G.I. stuff? I think porridge is fab, because you don’t feel hungry for aaages afterwards, so less chance to pick up crap before lunch, you know?
I usually have Wheetbix with lite milk (sometimes I add some All Bran on top) – no added sugar on top. Or porridge with a half large or 1 small banana sliced on top and a little maple syrup drizzled over. Or two poached eggs on wholemeal toast.
I don’t know if those brekkys are considered great, but those three meals keep me full, and I find I usually only need a banana or something before lunch then – if anything at all. (I often eat brekky at 9am after I’ve gotten the big kids to school, and eat lunch around 12.30pm.)
Hope that helps!
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem recently posted..Date Night at MAMAK
Oh, and I also meant to say that apparently if you skip breakfast, it doesn’t help your metabolism. I’ve read that 6 small meals throughout the day is actually better – which is not obviously something I’m doing myself at the mo…but I wouldn’t skip breakfast! :)
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem recently posted..Date Night at MAMAK
Thanks Jodie, I’ve heard that too. Thanks so much for all of this, it’s really helpful!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
You might be interested to read this article:
http://chriskresser.com/our-children-well-fed-but-malnourished
Helena recently posted..Continued Learning is Always Essential
Thanks for sharing Helena, but I’ve got to admit I have no idea what that article was trying to say – sorry!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
It was highlighting that cereal wasn’t an answer for breakfast for kids or adults – despite what Kellogs might say with free breakfasts for mums.
Helena recently posted..Continued Learning is Always Essential
I’m with Jodie. Low GI foods and I was told it is better to have 5-6 smaller meals/snacks a say to keep metabolism ticking over. When I was pregnant with gestational diabetes, I had to cut back on the carbs/sugar so often ate Burgen bread with cheese and avocado or an egg/omelette. Low sugar yogurt is good maype with straeberries. Rolled, not quick oats, are good and some mueslis that are not toasted, or filled with sugar/dried fruits. Nuts would be ok. I avoided cereals. I had to work off a list of carb exchange foods to keep the carb levels in check between food types. Not sure if any of that helps.
Veronica @ Mixed Gems recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Rainbows and Hope
Thanks Veronica, that’s really helpful. Lots to think about !!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Just eat porridge. Forever.
No thinking about it, no decisions, just make a pot full spoon it out and done.
Add berries, honey, yoghurt, whatever you need.
However I lobe tomato on toast when they are in season. YUM
Claireyhewitt recently posted..If you see an Angel
You had me at berries!!! I just need to think about how much milk I put in it but Yum!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Just by eating brekkie you’re on the right track! Eating breakfast means you’re less likely to make bad food choices for the remainder of the day!
Thanks Boobie, oh, I mean Bobbie! That actually was a typo initially but just decided to run with it ;) since writing this I’ve been having my daily serve of Special K Berry Crunch and it’s made a real difference to my mornkng and how full I feel. It fills me up much than the Wheat Biscuits of whatever they were from Aldi. yum & filling = win for me :)
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Been there.
But now I love breakfast. In fact it is the first thing I think about when I get out of bed. Check out this link for a few breakfast suggestions http://www.healthybursts.com/recipe_category/morning/ I generally alternate between the home-made “Brainy muesli” recipe with some yoghurt, flaxseed oil & fresh fruit or a spinach smoothie – my current favourite is orange, apple and spinach (I know, sounds disgusting, but trust me it’s good. Even my husband drinks it and occasionally he even makes it for me!!!)
Fruit is the easiest thing for our body to digest so it’s a great way to start the day & kick-start the metabolism. Eating mainly raw food for breakfast and lunch has helped me to lose weight also.
Happy eating… I hope these ideas help.
Anita
Thanks Anita, great advice! Thanks so much for sharing – we are going through fruit at an insane rate at the moment but it’s just such a great snack!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
I would definitely say Porridge….when I have porridge in the morning…I seem not to get hungry as much…..!
Thanks Marthese, appreciate the suggestion :)
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Another porridge with yoghurt even is delicious in summer or winter.
Grilled tomato on toast or a poached egg for a change with no butter.
Smoothies , scrambled eggs – all of which you can share with the kids. (I got the last few off the Weight watchers website)
Being hungry mid morning can set you off on unhealthy food choices.
Trish recently posted..Yellow makes me happy !
Thanks Trish – loving all these suggestions :)
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Porridge keeps me full, as does muesli. My last house used to make our own muesli out of oats, sultanas, chopped almonds, coconut, some seeds and bran – it was good because we knew what was in it.
I also love cereal, but I can tell by midmorning that is isn’t as filling as muesli! Because I love it so much, I have to be careful about how many helpings I have (!) so I’ve been having it with low-fat yoghurt instead of milk…. most of the time. And I’ve been mixing it with the muesli to try and make it lower GI (and because you have a ‘different’ cereal every day this way).
I like the idea of a different cereal (or something) every day! And homemade museli is awesome!
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity
Lovely pictures! I also hate eating breakfast. Often I just don’t feel like eating in the morning. I suggest buying those Uncle Toby’s sachets of flavoured porridge (apple and cinnamon is nice!) – the packets are small so you don’t have to eat too much and as everyone has already mentioned, oats is great for you.
If I don’t feel like eating, I’ve often eat a tub of yoghurt with a bit of museli sprinkled on top.
Another yummy treat is eating ricotta and honey spread on toast. I used to have it with sliced banana (back in those days!) and that was delicious!
Soph Russell recently posted..KFC, rainbow cake and the Lion King.
Thanks Soph, ricotta on toast with honey and banana sounds really yum! Thanks so much for the suggestions :)
Louisa recently posted..My Hair – My Vanity