"Why is it that my breakfast every day consists solely of coffee and cigarettes?"

For me, the great joy of staying in a rural B&B or country hotel is the thought of a slap-up full English breakfast in the morning. The thought of it, mind, but never the reality.

As night falls, I drift off to sleep, dreaming of the delicious breakfast that awaits me in the morning: a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, warm toast slathered in butter, tangy Oxford marmalade, perfectly fried eggs from the farm, and juicy local bacon, all accompanied by that irresistible scent that has lured countless aspiring vegetarians into the world of indulgence.

Throw in a couple of sausages, a charred tomato, some mushrooms picked from the nearby forest, and maybe a slice or two of black pudding, accompanied by a hot pot of tea to enjoy alongside it, and my fantasy of the indulgence I rarely experience at home is fulfilled.

As morning arrives, I make my way to the breakfast room, still groggy and barely alert, to take in the spread laid out before me... yet, without fail, I discover that I simply can't bring myself to indulge.

I suppose I must come to terms with being part of the 12 percent highlighted in a recent survey who skip breakfast altogether – unless you consider my routine of multiple cups of coffee and cigarettes as a substitute for a morning meal.

Holy

According to Kellogg's Great British Breakfast Audit, aside from those who abstain from breakfast, around 47 percent of individuals dedicate only ten minutes or less to their morning meal. Additionally, a significant 76 percent engage in multi-tasking during breakfast, attending to work, emails, social media, or preparing their children for school.

It seems that Britons are not quite following the wisdom of the late American author, John Gunther, who once said, 'All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.'

Certainly, Gunther is nowhere near the

Only the wise have extolled the virtues of breakfast, calling it 'the most essential meal of the day'.

"Breakfast is a delightful and sophisticated experience," remarks Jamie Oliver, "a time to be cherished and enjoyed."

American chef Anthony Bourdain once described it as 'a meal with an extraordinary emotional significance.' He noted, 'It's a sense of camaraderie that sets it apart from any other dining experience throughout the day.'

(Hmm. Go ahead and share that with the typical British couple, who are silently frowning at their morning newspapers.)

"Breakfast is fundamental," noted novelist and journalist A. A. Gill, "it signifies the start, the initial step. It is that first bite which represents a promise to embrace the new day ahead."

To borrow the words of the ever-elusive Anon, 'Breakfast serves as the canvas for your day’s masterpiece'; it acts as 'the pathway from the serene stillness of night to the lively pulse of day'; it is 'a revered meal'; indeed, it is 'the cornerstone of a productive day'.

Regarding the well-known guidance from U.S. nutritionist Adelle Davis, who said, 'Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper,' I must admit I completely reverse that idea: I skip breakfast altogether, enjoy a pint and a sandwich for lunch, and indulge in a lavish dinner at night.

Are we, by skipping breakfast, robbing ourselves of the optimal beginning to our day – or could it actually be detrimental to our well-being?

Experts are deeply split on this issue.

Some people argue that skipping breakfast can interfere with our circadian rhythms, which help manage our body's internal clock, potentially resulting in unhealthy increases in blood sugar levels when we eat later in the day. They claim this could contribute to weight gain.

Researchers who examined the health records of 50,000 individuals over a span of seven years discovered that those who prioritized breakfast as their main meal of the day generally had a lower body mass index compared to those who consumed larger lunches or dinners.

Focus

As a result, many experts suggest that skipping breakfast may actually hinder weight loss efforts for those looking to shed pounds.

Proponents of a hearty breakfast argue that forgoing it has been linked to a 27 percent greater likelihood of developing heart disease, as well as a significantly elevated risk of type-2 diabetes.

They also assert that having a nutritious breakfast right after waking up jumpstarts our metabolism, helping us become leaner and more energetic, while enhancing our focus, alertness, and memory capabilities.

Conversely, some specialists argue that breakfast could potentially be detrimental to your health.

Consider Professor Terence Kealey, who once served as the vice-chancellor of the private University of Buckingham and has a background in clinical biochemistry from his time lecturing at Cambridge University.

He has authored a book with the unsettling title Breakfast Is A Dangerous Meal (unsettling, at least, for the 88 percent of us who typically wait until lunchtime to end our overnight fast).

He states that after receiving a diagnosis of type-2 diabetes, he observed that his glucose levels soared after eating breakfast. However, if he postponed his meal until after noon, his glucose levels returned to normal.

As health writer Maria Lally puts it: 'This marked the start of his quest to challenge what he refers to as 'the glorification of breakfast'.'

Professor Kealey noted with particular interest that numerous studies praising the health advantages of breakfast were financed by cereal companies and other entities with significant financial stakes in a market valued at tens of billions of pounds annually.

However, a significant portion of the products they offered lacked any nutritional benefits whatsoever.

Elaborate

He also questioned the common belief that having a hearty breakfast reduces our total calorie consumption throughout the day. In fact, he suggested that the reverse might actually be the case.

At the same time, some individuals have discovered that reducing breakfast intake or completely forgoing it may actually support weight loss efforts instead of obstructing them.

As someone who lacks expertise in dietary and nutritional issues, I can't take sides in this ongoing debate among the conflicting scientists.

What I can share is that by the time we hit our 70s, as I experienced in 2023, we become quite fatigued by the constant cycle of hearing one week that something is detrimental to our health, only to be told the following week that it actually has health benefits.

Should you choose to heed my suggestion – which is likely a poor choice – you'll indulge in whatever pleases you during breakfast, and for me, that translates to nothing but coffee and cigarettes.

Regarding that complete English breakfast, it can certainly be postponed until later on.

Yet I can't help but feel envious of those who possess the strength to dive into what is undoubtedly one of Britain's finest culinary treasures first thing in the morning.

Even the notoriously cantankerous playwright and novelist Somerset Maugham, who often criticized our culinary offerings, couldn't help but acknowledge that the full English breakfast possessed a certain charm.

I'll let him have the final say. He remarked, "If you want to enjoy good food in England, you ought to have breakfast three times a day!"