Vernon Kay has divulged a simple alteration to his daily pattern that has had a significant impact on his well-being. The BBC Radio 2 presenter swears he feels “energised” after adding an additional breakfast before heading off for his customary “work breakfast” at the station.
The 50-year-old shared with his listeners: “I usually have my breakfast once I’m in New Broadcasting House, I get it from a shop at the station, make sure I’ve got my protein and what have you then I come in and I eat it during the show outside the studio.
“But what I’ve started to do also is have some breakfast at home. So, I have three eggs and a little bit of something something, get some protein in early and then that tees me up for the rest of the day. [I] have a brew at home, coffee at the station, and then my work breakfast, [I] feel miles better, I feel energised.”
He’s not alone among BBC presenters sharing their morning habits and favourite early bites.
Previously, BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty confided to The Sunday Times Magazine the strain of her predawn schedule and her choice comfort food, admitting: “Three days a week I get up stupidly early. My first alarm is at 3.45 and I’m in the BBC Breakfast studio by 4.50. On radio days I wake up naturally at 5.45, but I’m a terrible prevaricator.
“Monday to Wednesday I whack my dressing gown on, check the news sites and do some life admin before 45 minutes of running or weights. By 7.15 I’m home and in the shower. My mum makes the best south Indian food,” reports Lancs Live.
“My freezer is filled with kidney beans curry, ground spinach sambar, rasam and fried green banana. I’ll warm it all up with fish fingers – it’s my comfort food.”
Away from celebrity radio habits, nutritionists have emphasized the importance of choosing the right breakfast foods for optimal energy throughout the day, with some options potentially outperforming even coffee.
Laura Jorge, a Spanish nutritionist speaking to Argentinian news channel TN, as reported by the Daily Express, cautioned against relying on caffeine: “When caffeine is metabolised, its effects diminish, and therefore we will feel more tired.
“Moreover, it’s worth noting that excessive caffeine intake generates tolerance, so it will stop providing us with that extra energy boost.”
Instead, Laura recommends a diet rich in oily fish, wholegrains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins for the most substantial benefits.