The most popular but unhealthy breakfast foods

It is time to know about unhealthy breakfast items which should be reduced or limited to the lowest possible

‘Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper’, as the English say. No wonder the breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, as the name suggests, it breaks your overnight fasting and replenishes blood sugar levels as well as the stores of energy and nutrients in your body to make your brain alert and body healthy, thus giving you a perfect start of the long day.

The article lists down common but unhealthy breakfast items consumed by people of different income groups and should be avoided, reduced or limited to the lowest possible.

High-end breakfast items

 Waffles, French toasts and pancakes: Trademark of a lavish breakfast of a posh hotel, a variety of waffles, French toasts and pancakes may be very tasty but have no nutritional value in terms of proteins or fibres.

Cakes, muffins and pastries: Commonly available in high tea and breakfast menus of first-call hotels and expensive eateries, such mouthwatering foods as cakes, muffins and pastries can be referred to as filler items highly in carbohydrates and calories but very low in proteins.

Fruit juices and fruit drinks: Commercially available fruit juices and fruit drinks are no replacement for natural fruits and vegetables. The juices and drinks, easily available in market, are devoid of fibre content and are also added with extra sugar. Therefore, always have freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices in breakfast.

Bagels, doughnuts and croissants: These creamy, cheesy options are plain calories and carbohydrates with no proteins or fibres and are thus devoid of any nutritional value.

Processed meat, sausages and cold cuts: Although rich in proteins, these meaty items are processed foods containing different preservatives and are extremely high in sodium, which may cause high blood pressure and heart diseases.

Breakfast cereals: Cereal is another kind of processed food which is equally unhealthy with any nutritional value.

Street food breakfast items

Halwa puri: Halwa puri, together with its potato and chickpea curry, is the most sought-after breakfast option for people of all ages and genders. However, the oil-dripping meal, bereft of nutritional content, is a major cause of heartburn and stomach upset and can also lead to headache in case of heavy consumption.

Khajla, pheni and kachori: Consumed mostly in the month of Holy Ramadan, these oil-laden breakfast items don’t have any significant nutritional value or health benefits. Since they are rich in bad cholesterol, they can develop different health concerns, including heart issues, blood pressure, obesity and many others.

Cookies, biscuits and energy bars: Filled with sugary substances and substitutes, these items provide an instant energy boost but are not ideal for a breakfast. Few healthy options, with more proteins and less sugar, are also available in the market, but one need to go through the ingredients’ list to ascertain their nutritional value.

Oily curries: The most common examples of oil curries include nihari, paaya and chickpea curries. Since they are loaded with oil or hydrogenated oil (ghee), they can develop cardiac issues coupled with digestive disorders.

Paratha: In a society like ours, paratha is the most common bread eaten in breakfast, but it should not be consumed on a regular basis, especially those people those who have a sedentary lifestyle.

The regular consumption of a healthy breakfast is essential to have a healthy lifestyle as the day’s first meal reduces obesity and blood pressure, mitigates the risk of heart diseases and Diabetes Mellitus and helps in overall weight management. Therefore, it is necessary to first carefully choose foods and their ingredients we mostly consume in the breakfast session to avoid both short and long-term health complications.