A Healthy Start to the Day

After six or more hours of sleep, our body needs a nutritional boost as soon as possible so it can get going and prepare for the day ahead. That’s why it’s important to include a leisurely breakfast as part of your morning routine (the positive impact on your relationship or family life will be a welcome side effect). Furthermore, it has been proven that those who eat breakfast regularly are much less likely to overeat during the day and are therefore less prone to becoming overweight or obese. Eating breakfast regularly increases concentration and improves and enhances work and study performance.

You can find inspiration for changing up your morning meal literally all over the world. For example, a typical Japanese breakfast is packed with manganese, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A. It usually consists of rice, tofu, pickled vegetables (such as baby carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and eggplant), seaweed, and, of course, fresh fish. Considering that the Japanese often drink antioxidant-rich green tea with breakfast, this is one of the healthiest breakfasts in the world.

In Vietnam, hearty soups packed with fresh vegetables and herbs—dominated by cilantro, mint, scallions, green beans, lime, chili peppers, and, of course, broth—are often served for breakfast. A combination like that is sure to wake you up in the morning!

Porridge is a staple in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. It’s made from various ingredients, including oatmeal, buckwheat, and semolina. Everything is cooked in milk, giving the porridge a lovely creamy consistency. To flavor it, try adding honey, butter, cinnamon, and—ideally—fresh fruit such as blueberries, bananas, or figs. In no time, you’ll have a fantastic breakfast rich in fiber and low in cholesterol and fat.

In Brazil, they may take a somewhat simple approach to breakfast, but it’s all the more ingenious for it. Their typical breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and fresh papaya, which is packed with vitamins A, B, and C. Papaya also contains the enzyme papain, which is excellent for digestion. Try making some filtered mocha coffee, scoop out the papaya, peel it, squeeze a little lime or lemon juice over the flesh, and you’ve got a great breakfast inspired by South American flair.

Our last tip comes from Thailand and features a fruit that’s very popular there—one rich in antioxidants, potassium, vitamin C, and calcium. At first glance, it catches your eye with its yellow-green color and, above all, its shape, which is why it’s often used for food styling. Do you know what it is yet? Yes, it’s star fruit. We’ll also mention that, unlike other fruits, it contains a relatively small amount of sugar. Chop the star fruit finely and use it to add some variety to your favorite muesli with yogurt or oatmeal.