We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, on the weekends, we have the time to indulge in delicious breakfast recipes like avocado and poached egg on toast or a full-on Sunday brunch bake for the whole family.
Our famous Sunday brunch bake. Recipe here.
MORE: 4 easy breakfast sugar swaps
But what about during the week when time is more limited? Surely grabbing a banana is a healthy, nutritious, one of your five a day option? Or so we thought…
Nutritionist Dr. Daryl Gioffre has explained in an interview with Byrdie that bananas aren’t actually the healthy breakfast option we thought they were. He claims that, although bananas are high in potassium, fibre and magnesium and they ARE definitely one of our five a day, they also have a very high level of natural sugar. Did you know that 25% of a bananas are sugar?
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This sugary boost is good for a quick start in the morning but, when combined with the moderate levels of acid in the fruit, eating a banana for breakfast can actually cause us to have a mid-morning, post sugar rush slump. Perhaps why you’re peckish again by 11am?
And he also slips in that nanas also aren’t that good for digestion, if you suffer in that way.
But all is not lost as Dr Gioffe explains that bananas are only an ineffective breakfast when eaten by themselves. If you pair them with something that neutralises the acid, slows down the affects of the sugar and keeps you full, you’re good to go. These pairings include porridge, peanut butter, toast and sugar-free yoghurt.
In that case, you best try one of our delicious and healthy porridge recipes or our inspiring toast toppings to start your day right!
Emma-Louise Pritchard is the Membership Director for Country Living UK & House Beautiful UK, previously Executive Digital Editor for Country Living UK. Emma-Louise is a digital expert specialising in content strategy, social media and newsletters. Her topics include sustainability, homes and interiors, gardening, health and wellbeing, pets, travel and countryside news. She has previously written for Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan and has won several awards, from AOP Digital Editor of the Year 2019 to PPA 30 Under 30. Emma-Louise studied at Cardiff University where she completed an MA in Magazine Journalism.
