The most important meal of the day

[letric]

We know that it is vital to eat breakfast. But do not
eat just anything. Instead, choose the right foods
and you will sail through the day, feeling happier
and more energised. You have heard the saying
'breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine
like a real pauper', but should one really breakfast
like a king? With so much conflicting advice surrounding
the first meal of the day, it is o wonder we do not
know whether it is OK to have a piece of toast as we
are running out the door, or if we should be rising
early to have a plate of bacon and egg.

[edyle]

I eat once a day.

As for timing, it seems to me that the best time to have a meal - especially a heavy meal - is at night maybe a few hours or shortly before going to sleep.

If you eat a heavy lunch, you're likely to feel sleepy anyway, so it makes sense to eat at night before you go to sleep.
SO you eat, maybe sit and watch tv or chat with family, then you go sleep; that second brain in your belly starts digesting complex protiens etc; then you wake up in the the morning, go to the toilet and let it all out. Oh, a glass of water first thing when you wake up, or a warm cup of tea or coffee helps you let it all out.

Once you lighten that load you feel a little more sprightly and ready to go out into the sunlight; well, or the rain if that's the case.

[letric]

Even if you have never bothered making breakfast part
of your morning routine before, or you are a slice of
toast eater, perhaps it is time to put a little more
thought and preparation into your morning meal. And
that does not necessarily mean breakfast like a king.

[letric]

V E G A T A B L E T A G I N E

Serves 4 - Vegan - 2 portions fruit and veg per serving - suitable for freezing

1 tsp olive oil
2 red onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, finally chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 litres vegetable stock
peppers
4 carrots, peeled and
chopped into small chunks
1 small butternut squash,
peeled, deseeded and chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
8 new potatoes, chopped in half
16 dried apricots or prunes
(or a mixture of both)
4 cinnamon sticks
zest juice of 1 lemon
4 tsp paprika
1 large bunch of coriander, chopped
1 large bunch of parsley, chopped
1 tsp brown sugar (or 4 tsp honey
for a non-vegan version)

1) Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2. Heat the oil in a large pan, and sweat the onions and celery. When they are soft, add the chopped garlic and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes.
2) Add the tomato puree and cook for another minute. Then add the stock, bring it to the boil and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and season with pepper.
3) Take one large dish (or four individual tagines) and add the carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, new potatoes, apricots or prunes, and cinnamon sticks, sprinkle with the lemon zest and juice, paprika, parsley, coriander and brown sugar or honey, and then add the stock mixture. Cover with a lid or alternatively use foil.
4) Cook slowly in the oven for 11/2-2 hours by which time all of the vegetables should be cooked through. Bring straight to the table and remove the covers.


To reduce the amount of salt, in the stock, keep the same amount of liquid but use fewer stocks cubes.

[letric]

V E G A T A B L E T A G I N E

Serves 4 - Vegan - 2 portions fruit and veg per serving - suitable for freezing

1 tsp olive oil
2 red onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, finally chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 litres vegetable stock
peppers
4 carrots, peeled and
chopped into small chunks
1 small butternut squash,
peeled, deseeded and chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
8 new potatoes, chopped in half
16 dried apricots or prunes
(or a mixture of both)
4 cinnamon sticks
zest juice of 1 lemon
4 tsp paprika
1 large bunch of coriander, chopped
1 large bunch of parsley, chopped
1 tsp brown sugar (or 4 tsp honey
for a non-vegan version)

1) Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2. Heat the oil in a large pan, and sweat the onions and celery. When they are soft, add the chopped garlic and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes.
2) Add the tomato puree and cook for another minute. Then add the stock, bring it to the boil and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and season with pepper.
3) Take one large dish (or four individual tagines) and add the carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, new potatoes, apricots or prunes, and cinnamon sticks, sprinkle with the lemon zest and juice, paprika, parsley, coriander and brown sugar or honey, and then add the stock mixture. Cover with a lid or alternatively use foil.
4) Cook slowly in the oven for 11/2-2 hours by which time all of the vegetables should be cooked through. Bring straight to the table and remove the covers.


To reduce the amount of salt, in the stock, keep the same amount of liquid but use fewer stocks cubes.

H e r b y c o u s c o u s

Serves 4. dairy free. not suitable for freezing.

200g couscous
3 tsp olive oil
1 litre vegetable stock, warm
100g flaked almonds
3 spring onions, finely chopped
3 plum tomatoes, skinned,
deseeded and chopped
1 large bunch of parsley, finely
chopped (discard the stalks)
100g raisins
1 small bunch of fresh mint,
chopped (discard the stalks)
1 small bunch of coriander,
chopped (discard the stalks)
pepper.

1) Place the couscous in a large bowl, add the olive oil and mix well. Pour the warm stock over the couscous and cover the bowl with a lid or plate for 10 minutes to allow the couscous to absorb the stock without losing heat.
2) Meanwhile, heat a frying pan and dry-fry the flaked almonds form 1-2 minutes or until they are golden brown, to give them an extra crunch.
3) Take the lid off the couscous and make sure that all the stock has been soaked up, then add the remaining ingredients. Mix through, using a fork. Season with pepper before serving.

SERVE WITH VEGETABLE TAGINE (see above)

[letric]

Great thread.
I thin breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I noticed that many people don't care of their
breakfast, especially who works in office, however they feel so laziness and sometime they suffer in depression.

Agree ...

[Jason]

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because during sleeping your body is observing fastening and after 8 or 10 hrs sleep your body needs a boost up meal for the active functions of the body. There is no harmful effect of quitting lunch but quitting breakfast adversely effects the health.

[lexbarker]

I am sorry to say but my most important "meal" of the day is a snack before bed time. I cannot sleep on an empty stomach, I will be up the whole night, grouchy the next day and that is bad for health. That is me.

[edyle]

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because during sleeping your body is observing fastening and after 8 or 10 hrs sleep your body needs a boost up meal for the active functions of the body. There is no harmful effect of quitting lunch but quitting breakfast adversely effects the health.

If you routinely have a meal at a particular time, QUITING that meal DOES adversely affect your health in the short to medium term.

As regards the importance of breakfast in the context of 8 to 10 hours fasting (sleep), there is for example, DIABETICS who MUST have a meal of some sort every few hours.
For some people having something to eat in the morning when they wake up is important for energy.

[edyle]

I am sorry to say but my most important "meal" of the day is a snack before bed time. I cannot sleep on an empty stomach, I will be up the whole night, grouchy the next day and that is bad for health. That is me.

Yes, this connection between eating and sleeping is something people should recognise; it is almost common sense I would think; just think 'Siesta'.

Maybe it's also convienient for the rest of the body to take a break while you digestive system goes about the hours long serious business of digesting the pound or two of food you ate.

[lexbarker]

If you routinely have a meal at a particular time, QUITING that meal DOES adversely affect your health in the short to medium term.

As regards the importance of breakfast in the context of 8 to 10 hours fasting (sleep), there is for example, DIABETICS who MUST have a meal of some sort every few hours.
For some people having something to eat in the morning when they wake up is important for energy.

I think that late night snack compensates for my breakfast which I skip most mornings because I am not hungry.

[letric]

I think that late night snack compensates for my breakfast which I skip most mornings because I am not hungry.

Sleep when you're sleepy, eat when you're hungry. No indulgences...

[lexbarker]

Looking at this article, does it matter for the most important meal of the day?
And Falks, better start taking yuh vitamins and other supplements now.
Your trusted Pharmaceuticals may come out to say something against it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/...ing-cures.html

[Falcon]

vit'mins and suppl'ments is crap if you eating with any minimum of common sense

[Pamela]

I am not a breafast person but on my resent trip to the Subcontinent I was eating all type of crazy hours in the morning
I do enjoy a pigout breakfast sometimes though

[lexbarker]

vit'mins and suppl'ments is crap if you eating with any minimum of common sense

So, all dese research on Vitamins and Supplements iz a waste of time den?

[Falcon]

THAT is paid for and influenced by the big boys...hey I'm on YOUR side with this one!

[snowbird]

Regardless of what time of the day you have 'breakfast' ...to me it has always been the most important meal (since technically you are breaking your long fast with this first meal)....

to me everything after breakfast is just 'top up'.....and accoding to my docotr I should be 'topping up' least .....just before I go to bed....

The way I look at breakfast ...."it is what is going to fuel me for most of the day".....

Oh and in layman's terms..... 'brunch' is really my breakfast.

[letric]

Regardless of what time of the day you have 'breakfast' ...to me it has always been the most important meal (since technically you are breaking your long fast with this first meal)....

to me everything after breakfast is just 'top up'.....and accoding to my docotr I should be 'topping up' least .....just before I go to bed....

The way I look at breakfast ...."it is what is going to fuel me for most of the day".....

Oh and in layman's terms..... 'brunch' is really my breakfast.

Breakfast definitely ...

[letric]

How is it, despite all our attempts to sleep well, exercise regularly and
eat healthily, that we still feel worn out?

[letric]

How is it, despite all our attempts to sleep well, exercise regularly and
eat healthily, that we still feel worn out?

Remember, it's still important to make healthy food choices, such as low-fat cooking methods
and lower-fat alternatives, where possible. If you feel like a snack, a piece of fruit, a yogurt, or
a handful of nits are good options. However, bear in mind that nuts are very high in calories, so
consider sticking to a handful.
For further information of GI (low glycaemic index)eating
visit www.diabetic,org.uk/GI

[lexbarker]

Sometimes I wonder if I fill up the car gas tank early in the morning or late afternoon, how it would affect the milage or life of the car.

[Redman]

For fuel it expands / contracts for every 22 degrees Farenheit change in temp.

Pumps are required to adjust the volume so that you get the energy content you pay for.

Later