Feel Good Home: How to Make the Perfect Relaxed Breakfast
Give grab-and-go the boot. To start the day right, treat yourself to a proper, sit-down breakfast in a comfortable spot
Rather than beginning the day in a mad rush, grabbing something to eat on your way out of the door, imagine sitting down in a lovely little breakfast nook and treating yourself, if only for 10 minutes, as you enjoy a full breakfast along with your coffee or tea. Sitting down to a proper breakfast in the morning (even on weekdays) isn’t just good for your health, it can also set the tone for your entire day. Yes, it may mean waking earlier than usual, but perhaps these tips and ideas will be the motivation you need to set your alarm for an earlier wake-up time.
Remember your best breakfasts
Think back to all of the breakfasts you’ve enjoyed – which were the most memorable? Perhaps it was breakfast on the terrace of the hotel on your honeymoon, or a lazy Sunday as a child with a huge stack of pancakes? Try to pin down exactly what says ‘ultimate breakfast experience’ to you. Now list the details that went into that breakfast. Are there one or two things you could re-create at home? Find a spot in the sun, put flowers on your breakfast tray or pour your orange juice into a fancy glass – anything to make your breakfast extra special.
Think back to all of the breakfasts you’ve enjoyed – which were the most memorable? Perhaps it was breakfast on the terrace of the hotel on your honeymoon, or a lazy Sunday as a child with a huge stack of pancakes? Try to pin down exactly what says ‘ultimate breakfast experience’ to you. Now list the details that went into that breakfast. Are there one or two things you could re-create at home? Find a spot in the sun, put flowers on your breakfast tray or pour your orange juice into a fancy glass – anything to make your breakfast extra special.
Decide what to make
People tend to be particular about breakfast, so you probably have a good idea already of what you’d like to eat. That said, it can be easy to get stuck in a breakfast rut to the point where it no longer sounds appealing, but like something you have to force down before heading out. Make breakfast tempt you again by trying something new, or at least a new twist on an old favourite. Try a fresh-fruit smoothie, baked granola, French toast made with day-old brioche, fruit salad with mint, or good old bacon and eggs.
People tend to be particular about breakfast, so you probably have a good idea already of what you’d like to eat. That said, it can be easy to get stuck in a breakfast rut to the point where it no longer sounds appealing, but like something you have to force down before heading out. Make breakfast tempt you again by trying something new, or at least a new twist on an old favourite. Try a fresh-fruit smoothie, baked granola, French toast made with day-old brioche, fruit salad with mint, or good old bacon and eggs.
Make your morning drink worth sitting down for
Don’t settle for a below par beverage first thing in the morning. Make slow-brewed real coffee, choose a wonderful loose-leaf tea, or make your own freshly squeezed juice. Then sit down and savour it.
Don’t settle for a below par beverage first thing in the morning. Make slow-brewed real coffee, choose a wonderful loose-leaf tea, or make your own freshly squeezed juice. Then sit down and savour it.
Indulge yourself
Feel like having scrumptious baked doughnuts for breakfast or croissants filled with fluffy scrambled eggs? I say, why not? No one can exist on strawberry-kale smoothies alone. Besides, if you are going to indulge, morning is as good a time as any to do it – you have the whole day to burn it off.
Feel like having scrumptious baked doughnuts for breakfast or croissants filled with fluffy scrambled eggs? I say, why not? No one can exist on strawberry-kale smoothies alone. Besides, if you are going to indulge, morning is as good a time as any to do it – you have the whole day to burn it off.
Put together your cosy nook, no excuses
So you live in a tiny apartment, or your kitchen hasn’t been redecorated since the 1970s? That doesn’t mean you can’t make your space more comfortable and inviting. Track down a tiny table and chairs that fit your kitchen, hang art, bring in some cut flowers and fill a pretty bowl with fruit. Make your kitchen a place you want to spend time in, and you’ll be much more likely to use it.
Find ideas for small space dining
So you live in a tiny apartment, or your kitchen hasn’t been redecorated since the 1970s? That doesn’t mean you can’t make your space more comfortable and inviting. Track down a tiny table and chairs that fit your kitchen, hang art, bring in some cut flowers and fill a pretty bowl with fruit. Make your kitchen a place you want to spend time in, and you’ll be much more likely to use it.
Find ideas for small space dining
Create an alternative breakfast spot
Of course, there’s no law that says you must eat breakfast in the kitchen. Perhaps you would rather create a cosy breakfast area in the living room or dining room, or at a sunny bedroom window. Or there’s always your bed…
Check out these great window seats
Of course, there’s no law that says you must eat breakfast in the kitchen. Perhaps you would rather create a cosy breakfast area in the living room or dining room, or at a sunny bedroom window. Or there’s always your bed…
Check out these great window seats
Make breakfast a habit
Once you try sitting down in the morning to eat something that requires a fork and napkin, it will hopefully be such a lovely change of pace that you will feel inspired to do it more often. To make the habit permanent, plan your breakfasts in advance, putting at least two tasty breakfast options in the rotation each week. If you find yourself short on time in the mornings, do as much as you can the night before, from setting the table to doing some cooking prep.
Do you sit down to breakfast most mornings, or do you eat on the run? Tell us in the Comments below.
Once you try sitting down in the morning to eat something that requires a fork and napkin, it will hopefully be such a lovely change of pace that you will feel inspired to do it more often. To make the habit permanent, plan your breakfasts in advance, putting at least two tasty breakfast options in the rotation each week. If you find yourself short on time in the mornings, do as much as you can the night before, from setting the table to doing some cooking prep.
Do you sit down to breakfast most mornings, or do you eat on the run? Tell us in the Comments below.
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If you wake to a messy kitchen and breakfast area with old papers strewn about, you’re not going to feel motivated to cook a real breakfast, especially when you’re in a hurry. Before bed, make sure all the dishes are done, the breakfast table is clean and clear, and your breakfast supplies are at the ready. Add something to the area to catch your eye in the morning and entice you to sit down, like a vase of flowers, a pretty pillow or a new art print.