My favourite breakfasts

Breakfasts are the first meal of the day and I have to admit I almost never reach for a bowl of cereal.  Why?  Well not all cereals are created equal but sadly far too many are full of sugar, simple carbohydrates and not much else.  I like something which makes me feel good from the inside out.  I can't confess that this means it's always healthy but at least it always tastes great.

My favourite breakfast is yogurt, fruit and nuts.  I have several of these on my blog but my favourite combination is with blackberries and blueberries.  The colour is amazing which wakes me up on a morning and it's already a couple of my 5 a day under my belt.  Don't underestimate the yogurt either.  Use a great quality Greek yogurt and this breakfast also packs a protein punch which, combined with the nuts will help keep you full until lunchtime.

At this time of the year, it can be chilly in the mornings and nothing is better than porridge for warming you.  Again a great way to keep full up till lunchtime.

Here I'm going to link to my old blog (and old photography so please bear with me) but scrambled eggs.  Yes I know they're better made in a saucepan, lovingly stirred but these microwave scrambled eggs are brilliant and really quick to make.  Just keep an eye on them as they can be easy to overcook.  It used to be thought that eggs were bad for you but in fact the dietary cholesterol they contain is not something which raises bad blood cholesterol.  They're also full of protein so keep you full for longer.

I've written two Bircher Mueslis for my blog.  This most recent one written in autumn when my apple tree was groaning with fruit is probably my favourite.  I firmly believe that most commercial muesli's miss the point of the original recipe and are far too full of sugar.  This includes fresh fruit to keep up the health points!

You will never win any health awards with pancakes but these quark ones contain a lot of dairy protein but also are great with fresh fruit.  Served this way, it's certainly no worse a start to your day than a bowl of cereal.

Pan con tomate (Pa amb tomaquet)

Pan con tomate, perhaps with some ham is what you will see many people in Spain eating in the cafes for breakfast with a ridiculously strong cafe solo or cafe con leche.  I love this for breakfast.  It's not healthy but it's a great start to the day which puts a smile on my face.

French Toast

This French Toast is the ultimate treaty breakfast that only takes minutes.  The inclusion of real vanilla extract also makes it taste so much more special.

Smoothies (dairy free)

I love a dairy free smoothie, this carrot apple and ginger smoothie makes you feel good from the inside out and can be made with no special equipment.  The ginger is fantastic to make you feel alert and settle your stomach if you are someone who wakes feeling less than 100%.

Smoothies (dairy)

If you want something more substantial, this oat and yogurt smoothie is brilliant for making you feel really full.

Topped toast

If you do fancy something a bit more conventional, why not try a topped toast?  A lovely way to increase your fruit or vegetable intake and the colours and flavours are so delicious and vibrant.  I love starting the day this way.