Holly WIlloughby is currently lighting up the Tv screen in the Dancing on Ice series on ITV. The presenter has spoken about how she likes to expose her children and family to interesting and new foods.
And the 43-year-old has spoken about how important breakfast is to her – and she follows the advice of many nutritionists in what she chooses. Keen chef Holly has previously said about feeding her three children: ”I want to fill them with goodness and make sure they don’t snack between meals. I like them to try new things, like crab and cockles.
“But I love a processed cheese slice myself, so I can’t be that militant about nutrition.”
For brekkers Holly, who comes from Brighton has said that he kicks off her day with a balanced and nutritious breakfast to give her long-lasting energy. Her go-to meal is yoghurt, granola and berries. In light of her busy schedule, we imagine the TV host washes it down with a very strong coffee.
ANd it doesn’t have to cost the earth. If Holly gets the incredients from Tesco she can get a 500g tub of yoghurt for 55p, Tesco Frozen Summer Fruits cost £2.65 for a 500g bag and a big 750g bag of granola comes in at £3.60.
This kind of breakfast has been advocated by nutritional scientist Tim Spector who revealed his “go-to” breakfast packed with goodness to boost your gut health and make sure you start the day right. He explained: “My go-to breakfast is a mixture of full fat yoghurt, kefir topped with some berries, which might come from the freezer, and some nut granola or my nut and seed diversity jar mix.”
Full fat yoghurt
Professor Spector has said that, according to research, natural yoghurt can help blood pressure and blood sugar control and it is crammed with “good” bacteria needed to keep the gut healthy.
However, the type of yoghurt you eat is also important, with Tim urging people like Holly to opt for full-fat versions.
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk drink or food that’s similar to yoghurt. The fermentation process is what makes it especially good for our gut health. In an Instagram caption posted last year, Tim explained: “Usually when I have yogurt I mix in a shot of kefir aka ‘super yoghurt’, which contains over 10 times more microbe varieties than yogurt for added benefits for my gut microbiome.”
Frozen berries
It might seem obvious that adding fruit to our breakfast is a good idea for our health. However, Tim specifically recommends berries for their high antioxidant content. Previously he has explained how these antioxidants protect the body against oxidative stress, which is linked to aging and chronic diseases. Less obvious though is the fact that frozen versions of the fruit could be the way to go.
Speaking earlier this year on Instagram, Tim said: “I use frozen mixed berries with my kefir every morning, they’re less expensive and I like that I can get the variety in without needing to buy multiple punnets. Just like peas, as they are frozen soon after they are picked, meaning they are just as nutritious as fresh berries.”
Nuts and seeds
Topping off your breakfast with nuts and seeds in a granola will not only add a tasty crunch to the meal but boost your gut health. They are classed as plants and therefore can help you meet Tim’s recommended 30 plants a week guideline.
He said: “Our research with the British and American gut projects shows that eating a wide variety of different plants, ideally 30 plus a week, is associated with increased gut microbiome diversity.
“While 30 can sound overwhelming, when you realise this includes nuts, seeds, grains, herbs, and spices as well as fruit and veg it should hopefully feel a lot more achievable.”