Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day, According To A National Poll

Breakfast is a very important meal - it can either make or break your day . This shows a national survey of the Noema Agency, conducted in April 2011, which aims to establish the eating habits of the population and in particular - the attitude to the most important nutrition for the day - breakfast.

The survey includes questions such as "Do you have breakfast in the morning, if not - why", "What do you eat for breakfast most often", "Do you define your breakfast as healthy", "Do you know which are the most appropriate foods for nutritionists to start the day", " Do you consume and how often whole grain products for breakfast?

The survey covers representatives of all geographical regions of the country and Sofia aged between 15 and 70. 52% of respondents are women, 48% - men.

To the question " Are you having breakfast?” 78% of the participants in the survey answered positively . 72% of them have breakfast every day, for another 14% the first meal of the day is part of their schedule two or three times a week. 3% of respondents eat breakfast once a week, and another 11% are adamant that this happens even less often.

According to nutritionists, breakfast is extremely important because if it is healthy and balanced, it provides the body with the energy it needs for the day . After a prolonged lack of food and drink at night, in the morning the body needs a new influx of energy and nutrients. Otherwise, stressful reactions occur for the body.

Nutritionists say this breakfast is balanced, which includes a product of whole grains - for the intake of complex carbohydrates and fiber, a dairy product for the intake of calcium, fruits - for vitamins and fiber and a drink for hydration.

Whole grain products are extremely important for the human body, as they are rich in essential substances - fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants . Fiber helps lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol, as it hinders the full absorption of some fats and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. Their invaluable quality is that they bind some carcinogens and heavy metals in the food and expel them from the body. The fibers belong to the so-called. "Good" carbohydrates. They are characterized by the fact that they break down more slowly and release energy for a longer time than other types of food. In this way, fiber helps maintain satiety for longer. This, on the other hand, prevents premature starvation, which is most often compensated by "bad" carbohydrates such as waffles, cakes, chips, etc. 

In the context of these scientific facts, the sociological study shows that 63% of the participants share the statement of the experts that breakfast is the most important meal of the day . At the same time, not a small percentage - 19% of respondents admit that they are not familiar and do not pay attention to this scientifically proven fact. Pasta

continues to be a favorite food for Bulgarians in the morning. From the question "What do you usually eat for breakfast", it is clear that 76% choose pie, croissant, tutmanik, sandwiches and more. Only 6% of respondents eat fruit and 9% choose whole grain products to start the day.

To the question "Do you know which according to experts are the most suitable foods for the beginning of the day", only 7% indicate that these are whole grain products. For 2% of respondents, this type of product is the most appropriate breakfast.

The survey strongly states that whole grains are not yet part of the diet of more than half of respondents. To the question "How often do you consume whole grain products", only for 7% of the respondents this category of products is part of their menu, and only 6% consume whole grain products once a week.

Among the most common reasons for skipping breakfast are the limited time in the morning. 48% of respondents who say they eat a snack before lunch do so precisely because of the feeling of premature hunger.

According to nutritionists, a balanced diet should include 3 to 5 meals a day , the first of which must be breakfast. It should supply the body with about 25% of the daily energy intake and over 20% of the daily recommended dose of whole grains.