Samrat Reddy makes a case for drinking breakfast to get a full dose of nutrition
It is said that breakfast, the most important meal of the day, should ideally never be skipped. In the pandemic, there has been a sudden change in people's eating habits where they are opting for healthier and more nutritious food.
While breakfast looks different in different parts of the world, it is most eclectic in India, where there are so many food choices — from fruits and juices to oats, Indian staples like poha, idli, dosa, parathas and more. Over the last couple of years, Indians have discovered ‘smoothies and smoothie bowls’, which are packed with health benefits and are known to make a person feel fuller for a longer period.
Our body needs proteins and nutrients to function properly and, when it's not provided with healthy food and fluids, it deteriorates. Smoothies and smoothie bowls are an excellent source of vitamins, folate, minerals, dietary fibre, proteins and carbohydrates besides being a delicious addition to breakfast.
Eating healthily and keeping healthy is such an overrated concept that it has been made to appear like a difficult task when, in truth, it is as simple as returning to our origins. We have a body that, like any other machine, has to be used to maintain it. When it comes to food, it's the same thing as machine fuel. The tougher the fuel is for the body, the more adulterated (far from natural food) it is. The most significant change we need to make is to eat more natural foods and avoid manufactured foods.
The simplest way to do this is by inculcating the habit of increasing the fruit intake in all forms, either as cut fruits or simple blends such as smoothies. Starting your day with smoothies will help detox, recharge and refresh the body. Fruits and vegetables in smoothies act as detoxifying agents and help cleanse the body. These smoothies have great health benefits due to their nutritious elements like vitamins, minerals, iron, fibre and proteins. They also help in weight loss and re-energise the body to attain a better immune system.
Here are some interesting smoothie ideas that are not just tasty but rich in health while helping you lose weight as you kick start your day with these. The best thing about a smoothie is that you can include different fruits like apple, banana, pineapple and more to create your flavours. Drinking smoothies makes it easier to absorb water into our body helping us stay hydrated throughout the day.
Fruits like watermelon, pineapple, date, musk melon have a lot of water content in them. These fruits not only keep you hydrated but also decrease your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, increase your energy levels and keep your cells active. Bananas and apples are rich in fibre, protein and help blood glucose control.
Making your morning smoothie effective:
Liquids are a must. Water, juice, non-dairy milk, coconut water are some of the low calorie, fewer sugar options that should be added to your meal smoothie.
Add protein and natural flavours. Avocado is one option that gives great flavour to your smoothie.
Fill it with something fresh. Add some fruits and vegetables like watermelon, apple, banana, muskmelon, carrots, baby spinach to make it filling and nutritious.
Blend until smooth. Put all your ingredients into the blender jug and let it work its magic till it looks smooth. So, just feed your body with the right nutrition and your body will love you for it. Do try replacing your morning routine breakfast with a smoothie sometime and you will know why people are making a switch.
Swap your regular breakfast with a smoothie and smoothie bowl to turn on the nutrient powerhouse in your body. Hydrate yourself with the abundant fibres in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and stay fit with power-packed smoothies.
Drinking a smoothie will not only keep you hydrated throughout the day but will be beneficial for your body with a boost of all vitamins and proteins.
(The author is the founder, Drunken Monkey, a smoothie delivery chain with more than 200 options.)
