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What is a GOOD breakfast after all?

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:26:19 +0000

An Advertorial Feature

There are many opinions and debates thrown forth about what constitutes a good breakfast: ‘It should be the most important meal of the day’, ‘ it should be light’, ‘it should be protein-loaded’, ‘it should be rich in vitamins’ and so on. Below we provide advice that comes directly from nutrition experts.

Experts support that a good breakfast should cover at least 20-25% of our daily calorie intake and it should contain those vital components that will help us begin our day with energy and vitality. So, apart from a cup of coffee or a glass of milk, we will also need to supply our body with the following:

Sufficient amount of carbohydrates: Carbs regulate our physical and mental performance and reduce irritability, dizziness, inattention that we often display in the middle of the day when our sugar levels begin to fall. The best carbs in terms of their nutrients are wholemeal bread, cereal such as bran flakes, fruit, honey and marmalade.
Proteins in moderate quantities: The best choices here are dairy products (especially milk and yogurt), eggs and turkey ham. Avoid high in fat and cholesterol products such as sausages and bacon. It is useful to also exclude food that is high in sodium (salt) from your breakfast. If you like snacking on Pringles try and keep them for the evening.
Beneficial fats: You need fat in your breakfast as they help your mind work better throughout the day. However, not all fat is good fat. Opt for margarine, olive spread, nuts and even olives and olive pate, although admittedly it is not a common presence on the breakfast table.
Fast energy: Fruits and juices provide vitamins but they are also a source of immediate energy as opposed to grains for instance which absorb slowly.

And above all, always remember that a good breakfast is not a big breakfast but a nutritional one!

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Looking for something different to make a change to kids meal times?

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:55:50 +0000

Any time of year turkey is bootiful. Low-fat, tasty, great value, incredibly versatile – you’ll find a delicious recipe for all seasons at Bernard Matthew Farms.

Try a summer barbecue with turkey instead of chicken – or a salad, light soup, or a traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings. Or make a yummy sandwich with turkey breast and cranberry mayonnaise. Or how about turkey kebabs?

There are so many reasons to eat and serve more turkey. Bernard Matthews Farms supports http://changeyourmeatnotyourmenu.co.uk/ a website that is packed with ideas on how you can serve your family’s favourite meals, but give it a healthier twist by simply substituting turkey for your usual meat choice. If you use turkey mince instead of beef mince in spaghetti Bolognese, you can reduce your saturated fat intake by up to two thirds, that’s 11g per average portion! It really is that easy.

Did you know that turkey is also high in protein and low in fat, and turkey breast is low in saturated fat? Turkey is tasty, versatile and it’s also great value for money – just some of the reasons to try more turkey.

Bernard Matthews Farms turkey cooked meat range, including slices, wafer thin and chunks are also a healthier choice. Many of these products are typically under 3% fat – with products such as Roast Turkey Breast Chunks only 1% fat. Cooked meats are equally versatile in recipes and can be used in family favourites such as Pasta Carbonara or a stir-fry.

Bernard Matthews Farms are the turkey people and know pretty much everything there is to know about turkey. They have an extensive range of turkey products and their website has loads of great recipe ideas and inspirations using their whole turkey range – from traditional whole birds, cooked meats, breaded scallops and much loved family favourites.

Bernard Matthews Farms have thought of everything there is to do with turkey, whether it’s a weekday meal for the kids, a light lunch or a big family gathering, Bernard Matthews Farms can help inspire you. Turkey really doesn’t just have to be for Christmas.

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5 per cent of children eat no fruit and veg all day according to survey

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:28:45 +0000

A recently published survey on behalf of Green Giant, the sweet corn brance, has revealed that around 5% of children are eating no fruit and veg at all and that three out of five are eating just three portions a day or less.

British children are falling woefully short of the government’s five-a-day targets on fruit and vegetables, according to new research, with parents failing to encourage good eating habits and often unaware of what constitutes a healthy diet.

The nationwide survey of 1,103 parents with children aged 0-14 found that many parents incorrectly believe that some treat foods, which contain no fruit or vegetables, can contribute towards their children’s five-a-day tally.

According to the government’s Food Standards Agency there is “mounting evidence” that five-a-day is the target to avoid developing chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and some cancers.

However, the new survey found that many children are facing a struggle to meet government targets with as many as one in five parents incorrectly believing that fruit-flavoured sweets, spaghetti hoops and orange squash are covered by the five-a-day scheme. The survey also found that as many as one in 10 parents thinks cola, chips and jaffa cakes can contribute.

By contrast, around one in 20 failed to identify common fruits such as oranges and bananas as counting.

Alarmingly, more than one out of 10 parents doesn’t think it’s their job to teach their kids about healthy eating, instead believing that role is best performed by grandparents, teachers, GPs and even celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver.
And parents claim the biggest barriers to getting children to eat more fruit and vegetables are that their kids don’t like them, there’s too much wastage and because they don’t have the time and cooking skills to prepare healthy meals from scratch.

The survey found that packed lunches fare a little better with seven out of 10 containing fruit.

General Mills nutritionist (registered dietician) Vanessa McConkey RNutri says: “It is both disappointing and concerning to see that the five a day message isn’t getting through clearly enough to parents.

“Good eating habits start at home and British parents need to get their children into the habit of eating more vegetables and fruit. There are many easy ways for parents to get to five-a-day without loads of cooking and preparation. Choosing vegetables like canned sweet corn can make it much easier to get one of your recommended five a day, as well as ensuring that each meal time includes a portion of vegetables or fruit.” Indeed, the survey also shows that most kids have favourite vegetables with carrots, sweet corn, peas and broccoli all scoring highly.

Requiring no cooking or preparation, Green Giant® sweet corn is so versatile – it’s the ultimate store cupboard product. Just 80g of Green Giant sweet corn (approximately three heaped tablespoons) counts towards one of your five-a-day, which makes it one of the most convenient vegetables around. What’s more, because Green Giant cans its sweet corn within 24 hours of picking, it keeps its natural sweetness and crisp texture.

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