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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Breakfast Food






Breakfast is the first meal of the day, preceding lunch or dinner and is eaten in the morning

The term breakfast denotes that it is the meal that breaks fast i.e. the fast during sleep. As it is the first meal of the day, we have breakfast in the morning. In the weekdays, most of the people have a quick breakfast. But on the weekend or holidays they have a lavish traditional breakfast. On the working days the breakfast consists of coffee or any snack on the way to office. They can buy the fast food or bring it from their home. The contemporary breakfast therefore should be a quick preparation and convenient. The popular dishes of the quick breakfast list are breads, pastries, flavored cupped yogurts, fruits, instant oatmeal and granola and many more. You can also use leftovers of the previous meal to make breakfast. A more elaborate breakfast may contain fried or scrambled eggs, one kind of meat and starchy dishes. A basic combination of breakfast is starchy foods like toast, pastry, cereals, pancakes and porridge, fresh fruits and yogurts. You can also have only the starchy foods in your breakfast also.
It might be the last thing on your morning to-do list, or it might not be on your list at all. But a healthy breakfast refuels your body and jump-starts your day. So don't overlook this important meal. Select healthy options that fit your taste and lifestyle, and put breakfast back into your morning.

Breakfast not only starts your day off right, but also lays the foundation for lifelong health benefits. People who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to:

Consume more vitamins and minerals and less fat and cholesterol
Have better concentration and productivity throughout the morning
-Control their weight
-Have lower cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease
Breakfast is especially important for children and adolescents.. Studies have shown a negative correlation between children and adolescents who usually have breakfast and these children and adolescents being overweight, despite the fact that these people generally consumed more daily calories than those who skip this meal.
In addition to the nutritional claims, there is concern that students who do not eat breakfast perform worse in school. Research has indicated that eating a meal before noon, consisting of standard breakfast-style foods is positively correlated with improved functioning of school-aged children

Best bets for a healthy breakfast
A healthy breakfast should consist of a variety of foods, for example, whole grains, low-fat protein or dairy sources, and fruit. This provides complex carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fat — a combination that delays hunger symptoms for hours.

Whether you opt for traditional options, such as yogurt, whole-grain muffins or ready-to-eat cereal, or less typical foods, such as leftover vegetable pizza or a fruit smoothie, you can get the nutrients and energy you need to start your day.

Traditional fare offers many options
To make a healthy breakfast each day, choose one item from at least three of the following four food groups:

-Fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables, 100 percent juice without added sugar

-Grains. Whole-grain rolls, bagels, hot or cold whole-grain cereals, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or melba toast
Dairy. Skim milk, low-fat yogurt cups or low-fat cheeses, such as cottage and natural cheeses

-Protein. Hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, lean slices of meat and poultry, or fish, such as water-packed tuna or slices of salmon

For a healthy breakfast on the go, munch dry, ready-to-eat cereal with a banana and drink a small carton of low-fat or skim milk. The best cereals are those that are higher in fiber. If counting calories, choose cereals that are lower in calories.



Drinks
As the preceding regional descriptions show, beverage choices at breakfast are fairly uniform worldwide, comprising
• Fruit juices (orange juice is the most popular),
• Milk (hot, cold, possibly cultured) or milk analogue,
• Hot caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee, and chocolate).


What Should You Eat?
Any breakfast is better than no breakfast, but try not to have doughnuts or pastries all the time. They're high in calories, sugar, and fat. They also don't contain the nutrients a kid really needs. And if you have a doughnut for breakfast, you won't feel full for long.
Just like with other meals, try to eat a variety of foods, including:
• grains (breads and cereals)
• protein (meats, beans, and nuts)
• fruits and vegetables
• milk, cheese, and yogurt

breakfast ideas
• eggs
• French toast, waffles, or pancakes (try wheat or whole-grain varieties)
• cold cereal and milk
• hot cereal, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat (try some dried fruit or nuts on top)
• whole-grain toast, bagel, or English muffin with cheese
• yogurt with fruit or nuts
• fruit smoothie, such as a strawberry smoothie


Skipping Breakfast
Some kids skip breakfast because they sleep too late or because they think it's a way to stay thin. But skipping breakfast doesn't help people maintain a healthy weight In fact, someone who skips breakfast tends to eat more calories throughout the day.

Kids who don't eat breakfast are less able to learn at school, get less iron (an important nutrient) in their dietsOn the other hand, kids who eat breakfast do better in school, are more likely to participate in physical activities, and tend to eat healthier overall. So tomorrow morning, don't run out the door on an empty stomach. Fuel up with a healthy breakfast!