How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions by making sure the first meal of the day is a healthy one

Starting a new year with a fresh start on a healthy lifestyle is extremely common. New year’s resolutions – if, of course, they are stuck to – provide the perfect opportunity for making improvements to your life that you otherwise may not have had the opportunity or willpower to do.

Drinking less, stopping smoking, joining the gym and healthy eating are just some of the promises that we make to ourselves on January 1st, but quite often, their attempts are short lived and bad habits sneak back in as the cold winter bites.

However, starting your day on the right foot could possibly make these resolutions easier to keep up, so why not do that the healthy way with a nutritious and delicious breakfast? They say the first meal of the day is the most important, but they never said it had to be boring… Take a look at a few of our ideas and see if any of them take your fancy.

Avocado on toast

Take one or two slices of lightly toasted whole-grain bread, then mash an avocado on top with a sprinkling of salt and pepper and, voila, you have one healthy, delicious and – most importantly – simple breakfast. Yes, avocados do have a high fat content, but this is not the same fat found in fried food – these good fats are great for your body. This vegetable powerhouse is also jampacked with vitamins and minerals that lower cholesterol and give you shiny hair.

If you want to make this meal that little bit more substantial, serve up some fried, scrambled or poached eggs on top, which are a brilliant source of protein. Perfect for the start of a tiring day at work.

Green smoothie

Every celebrity’s must-have accessory, the green smoothie is really making waves at the moment. While this type of drink has had some bad press over the years due to high sugar content and misleading ingredients, when made correctly, they are the perfect on-the-go source of a health kick.

If you substitute sugary fruits for leafy greens, you are on to a winner – setting yourself up perfectly for the day ahead. To make a green smoothie, simply add the vegetables of your choice – we recommend spinach, celery, cucumber and a hint of ginger – to your food processor and hey presto. This hearty beverage is brimming with vitamins and minerals, while supplying a healthy dose of fibre and antioxidants, making it a great post-workout snack too.

Porridge with blueberry compote

When the weather is gloomy and cold, there is nothing quite like a hearty breakfast to set you on your way. However, this does not mean you are restricted to unhealthy options. Stock up on fibre with porridge oats and blueberries, served with Greek yogurt for additional benefits.

Blueberries are an ideal addition to virtually any breakfast, and this seemingly inconspicuous fruit is brimming with ingredients that provide the perfect boost to your health. Not only do they improve your skin, but blueberries work wonders for the bladder,  and also give your brain that much-needed boost. If you are going to add one fruit to your daily diet today, make it blueberries.

Quinoa fruit salad

A fruit salad is an obvious choice if you are looking to start your day in the right way, but it can be quite boring and take a while to prepare. However, if you have that little bit of extra time, there is no denying this meal option is jampacked with vitamins and minerals, and will fill you up until lunch. Add a scoop of the superfood of the moment quinoa for a healthy boost and a spoonful of plain yogurt with honey for additional substance.

Quinoa is great alternative to starchy grains, and it is versatile too, meaning it can be added to virtually any meal. It has twice the protein content of rice and is also a great source of calcium, magnesium and several B vitamins.