Porridge question

jokettle

I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me. I've recently started improving my diet and exercise regime, and a big step for me was eating breakfast in the mornings. I usually feel vaguely nauseated first thing and have done for years, but in an effort to be healthier I'm trying to eat a bowl of porridge with some blueberries before heading out the door. I manage to do it about half the time, but hopefully this will improve.

My question is; every time I eat porridge, I'm usually ravenous by 11! I've just popped out to the shop to buy an apple and some popcorn to keep me going until lunch. Is this just a case of my metabolism kicking in earlier than I'm used to? Should I try to eat a bigger portion, or plan for a better and healthier 11 o'clock snack?

I know eating eggs for breakfast might fill me up for longer, but at this stage I really couldn't face that in the morning; the nausea will get the better of me and I'll most likely just leave without eating anything. So right now, it's porridge or nothing really.

All advice appreciated

Khannie

Porridge generally doesn't have that many calories in it, especially if you make it with water. You may be just hungry because you haven't had enough to eat.

Personally I don't usually eat before 10am (I get up at 7.40). I'm pretty sure all that "eat the second you wake up to keep your metabolism going" business is just rubbish that's plucked out of the air.

moonage

Normally I don't feel hungry until at least two or three hours after waking up so I don't eat until then.

Let your hunger decide when you should eat. Break your fast when you get hungry.

howtomake

Ah I hear you on the nausea in mornings. You probably are not eating enough if your are raving. Funnily enough if I don't wake up startled with an alarm I don't feel it, but that only happens on Saturdays for me.

I usually just down a watery protein shake, (I don't even know how you can face porridge), then within an hour or two when I feel more settled usually in work, I have a small breakfast (like 2 eggs with veggies). I just had to break a normal:rolleyes: breakfast up into 2 parts. If you have the time.

esperanza1

jokettle wrote: »

I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me. I've recently started improving my diet and exercise regime, and a big step for me was eating breakfast in the mornings. I usually feel vaguely nauseated first thing and have done for years, but in an effort to be healthier I'm trying to eat a bowl of porridge with some blueberries before heading out the door. I manage to do it about half the time, but hopefully this will improve.

My question is; every time I eat porridge, I'm usually ravenous by 11! I've just popped out to the shop to buy an apple and some popcorn to keep me going until lunch. Is this just a case of my metabolism kicking in earlier than I'm used to? Should I try to eat a bigger portion, or plan for a better and healthier 11 o'clock snack?

I know eating eggs for breakfast might fill me up for longer, but at this stage I really couldn't face that in the morning; the nausea will get the better of me and I'll most likely just leave without eating anything. So right now, it's porridge or nothing really.

All advice appreciated

You've answered your own question there, really. Why do eggs keep you fuller for longer? Because they are richer in protein. Simple as. I'm not sure whether you make your porridge with milk or water, but I think you're not getting enough protein.
My nutritionist has given me the advice that protein is essential in the morning. If you don't get enough of it, like you've experienced, you're hungry again by 11. Another point she made is that the higher level of vitamins and minerals in your food, the less the likely you are to have hunger pangs.

I would suggest the following for a fully balanced breakfast:
1. take a large handful of raw porridge oats (not the grainy oats, but Jumbo oats, Flahavan's organic are lovely)
2. add enough natural yoghurt - full fat or low fat, whichever you prefer.
3. add a portion of fruit (bananas are very filling and healthy, as they're bursting with magnesium, as are berries - Irish raspberries are full of good nutrients for example, not a big fan of blueberries as these tend to be mostly imported and flavourless).

In my experience, yoghurt fills me up better than milk hence my recipe above. If you can't face a cold breakfast, I suggest heating up the berries before you mix with the oats and yoghurt. :-)

Try my suggestion above and let me know how you get on. It certainly keeps me full for a good four hours. Eating this combination in the morning has also helped me lose weight and lower my cholesterol! :-)

jokettle

So my best options would be to either eat a little bit later or eat what esparanza1 has suggested!

Eating later is kind of an option, as there is a microwave in work. The only problem is I usually have early morning meetings, so I should eat before that to ensure my tummy doesn't rumble! And I can't exactly eat during them. On the days without meetings though, bringing porridge in might work. I've seen individual packs of porridge on sale.

As to adding yogurt to oats, I'm certainly willing to try! Eggs would be best I know, but any strong smell in the morning just makes me feel awful so I know I can't face that just yet. Perhaps once my body is in a routine of eating earlier I'll be able to give eggs a go.

Thanks

rubadub

jokettle wrote: »

I know eating eggs for breakfast might fill me up for longer, but at this stage I really couldn't face that in the morning;

So mix them, make porridge oat pancakes with the eggs.

Plenty of ideas here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055002535

You can make batches and bring them to work too.

jokettle

rubadub wrote: »

So mix them, make porridge oat pancakes with the eggs.

Plenty of ideas here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055002535

You can make batches and bring them to work too.

Giant flashback: I used to make these about a year ago! I'd forgotten all about them Thanks for the reminder!

esperanza1

jokettle wrote: »

So my best options would be to either eat a little bit later or eat what esparanza1 has suggested!

Eating later is kind of an option, as there is a microwave in work. The only problem is I usually have early morning meetings, so I should eat before that to ensure my tummy doesn't rumble! And I can't exactly eat during them. On the days without meetings though, bringing porridge in might work. I've seen individual packs of porridge on sale.

As to adding yogurt to oats, I'm certainly willing to try! Eggs would be best I know, but any strong smell in the morning just makes me feel awful so I know I can't face that just yet. Perhaps once my body is in a routine of eating earlier I'll be able to give eggs a go.

Thanks

My brekkie takes literally 3 minutes to make, ingredients are cheap and keeps you full for a good four hours. Couldn't be easier! No need to heat anything either.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i tried that this morning, the oats/nat. yoghurt/banana.. threw in a little bit of skimmed milk too, was nice although the taste of it depends on finding the right yoghurt

there's only one brand of natural yoghurt I actually like, and I haven't had it for so long I completely forget which brand that is. this will probably take some time to get right.

jokettle

I tried the oats, yogurt and fruit this morning, and although it did keep me a bit more full than porridge, the oats were a bit....soggy? It didn't really taste great. I'm thinking of toasting some oats under the grill this evening and trying them tomorrow morning instead of raw oats; having a crunchier texture might improve the overall taste.

esperanza1

jokettle wrote: »

I tried the oats, yogurt and fruit this morning, and although it did keep me a bit more full than porridge, the oats were a bit....soggy? It didn't really taste great. I'm thinking of toasting some oats under the grill this evening and trying them tomorrow morning instead of raw oats; having a crunchier texture might improve the overall taste.

Great that it kept you full for longer, it even keeps a hungry monster like me full for four hours so it has to work for most people. :-)

Sounds like your oats were damp. Nice idea to roast them, though, never tried that. Let us know how it goes.

esperanza1

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

i tried that this morning, the oats/nat. yoghurt/banana.. threw in a little bit of skimmed milk too, was nice although the taste of it depends on finding the right yoghurt

there's only one brand of natural yoghurt I actually like, and I haven't had it for so long I completely forget which brand that is. this will probably take some time to get right.

A couple of more tips below, I shared on another thread.

frozen fruit is cheaper. You can get frozen raspberries, strawberries and blueberries at Dunnes Stores for €2 per box, I'd say you'd get four or five portions per box. Bananas are probably the next cheapest and healthiest fruit. If you're having the berries, I defrost them in the microwave and then heat for a minute to make them warm - warm raspberries are delicious with the yoghurt - by the way I recommend Glenisk Organic Natural Yoghurt (Low fat), it comes in large pots and there are usually special offers in Dunnes (2 pots for €4). If you think plain natural yoghurt is too boring, try the vanilla flavoured one, it's really nice. Glenisk is my favourite, but other organic brands are just as good. I find organic natural yoghurt tastes richer and better than the non-organic, but it's up to you to judge.

Regarding the oats, your best value for money is Flahavan's Organic Jumbo Oats. A 1kg bag lasts more than a month, I think. You won't find a cheaper, healthier or more filling breakfast around. ;-)

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

those are the oats I have although they've been sitting there for a month or two.. i'm sure they're still good, kinda went out of my porridge phase in the mornings and was just having scrambled eggs

weirdly enough that is also the same yoghurt I have.. I had a second batch in the afternoon while i was waiting for my dinner meat to defrost and I left out the skimmed milk.. tasted much better. I got some frozen berries too when I bought the yoghurt, but I never thought to microwave them. I have a portion in a bowl in the fridge atm defrosting for tomorrows breakfast

i must have rread your post in the other thread and forgotten all about it