August 16, 2023 | 06:02 GMT+7
I get up at a different time every day, so I don’t have a set time to eat. When is the best time to have breakfast? (Tien, 34, Hanoi).
Answer:
It is strongly advised to have breakfast at a fixed time each day to create a conditional reflex. The best time to eat breakfast is before 8 a.m. or 30-60 minutes after waking up. Eating breakfast regularly helps you control your lunch and dinner portion, as well as maintain your blood sugar levels.
People have different breakfast choices, depending on their hobbies, weight, age and income. Anyway, the main purpose of a breakfast is to provide energy to our body, so if your breakfast can provide you with abundant amount of energy, it is enough.
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Eating breakfast regularly helps you control your lunch and dinner portion, as well as maintain your blood sugar levels. Photo illustration by Freepik |
Your breakfast should provide between 300 and 500 calories. It is recommended to have different food choices for your breakfast instead of having the same breakfast every day, as it can be boring to have the same dishes over and over again.
Children and the elderly should eat soft, easily digestible foods. Those who have diseases like diabetes, obesity or cancers should follow their prescribed diet.
It should be noted that many people have rice noodles, sticky rice or bread – dishes that lack vegetables – for their breakfast. It is also recommended to add vegetables to your breakfast, so that your body receives the four groups of necessary nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals.
Some good breakfast choices are bread with fried or omelette eggs, served with pickled or fresh vegetables. This provides your body with all the necessary nutrients: carbohydrates from bread, protein from eggs, fats from eggs and oil, and vitamins and minerals from vegetables.
Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung
National Institute of Nutrition