The whole day can be determined by how it starts. And with breakfast being the first meal of the day, there is every reason to make an effort!
Most of us don't have the time to go to extreme lengths with breakfast, but our quick breakfast ideas will add variety to your repertoire.
Up the nutritional quotient of your breakfast by adding honey instead of sugar to your breakfasts.
Honey (especially raw honey) has excellent anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, and is reputed to improve blood sugar control.
For a soothing winter drink, combine seedless lemon juice, a dollop of honey, sliced fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick and hot water. Stir with a lemon-grass stick.
ODE TO OATS
Oats, a great low-GI food, needn't be boring. Serve it with honey and grated apple or pear and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
You can also add energy-giving raisins, chopped-up dried apricots or peaches and finish off with a generous teaspoon of sunflower seeds or almonds.
Or mix in two tablespoons of stewed guavas, packed with lycopene and with five times more vitamin C than oranges.
EGGY BREAKFASTS
Eggs are a great source of protein and scrambled eggs (try French scrambled eggs) can be whipped up in a jiffy and served on warm, buttered toast.
Or make TASTE food editor Abigail's favourite curried eggs: fry finely chopped onion, garlic and ginger in a little oil then add 2 T of your favourite curry paste or garam masala powder, and cook through.
Add a can of coconut milk (or cup of chicken stock) and simmer for 10 minutes. Then add 4 halved, hard-boiled eggs and warm through. Serve with crusty bread.
Or try our heart-healthy breakfast fruit tabbouleh for a wonderful fruit-packed start to the day.
Equally good for you is the poached breakfast pear with oats and honey
To eat what they're eating in the rest of the world, read up on Ethnic breakfasts
FLAPJACKS, PANCAKES & BAKES
Pancakes, flapjacks and scones are a great alternative to bread. Here are our top picks:
FABULOUS FRENCH TOAST
If you love French toast, try our recipes that give French toast a delicious spin:
TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST UPDATED
Fancy some eggs with bacon or tomato? Give these a try:
MORE EGGLICIOUS IDEAS
Extraordinary ways with eggs - from coddling to poaching
Quick and easy, and slightly different, breakfast ideas with eggs
Yummy ideas for omelettes
Baked omelette stack
Coconut milk omelette with marinated mushrooms
BREAKFAST DRINKS
Set the table in a sunny spot and remember to make a great pot of tea and don't forget to heat the teapot first. Also deliciously warming is spicy coconut chai tea.
Coffee affogato is an Italian classic and somewhere between a good cuppa and a decadent dessert.
And since it is winter, a lazy breakfast is the perfect time to treat yourself to a spiced caramel hot chocolate or sit back delicious fingers of shortbread dipped into rich hot chocolate.