It’s an age-old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And whilst this is true, we’re not sure the saying suggests having giant meals or a full-cooked breakfast every day. Making sure you’re eating the right things and the right amounts will not only serve you well for the rest of the day, but it will also help you stay healthier for the long term, too.
Your Breakfast Portions – What are the Benefits of Eating Less?
Eating smaller portions is one advised method of controlling your health so that whatever you eat won’t be too much, or too bad, for you to ingest. Whilst there is an obvious weight benefit to eating smaller portions, there are 3 main benefits of reducing your portions.
The first benefit is appropriately controlling your blood sugar levels. Your body turns the food you eat into glucose, which is what gives you energy and allows you to power through your day. As your blood sugar level rises, your body also produces insulin, which allows your body to move glucose into your cells. If you eat too much, too quickly, your body will produce too much insulin, and your blood sugar level will drop too low. Eating less, more often, can help regulate your sugar levels and will help reduce your craving for sugar. Ergo, keeping you healthier.
The second benefit is an obvious one, and maybe the idea that most people would take away as the main benefit: weight control. Obviously, this helps level out calorie intake, but it also lets your body use all of what you eat for energy right then, as opposed to storing it away as excess fat. A pretty neat benefit, don’t you think?
The next benefit is a good one and a simple one: saving money. It’s something we all like to do, but often when we’re on a food rampage, we only see what’s in front of us, and we eat it all down until there’s nothing left. Reducing your portion size stops you eating as much, and leaves more for later meals or later days. And if that means saving you a bit of money every few weeks, what’s not to love?
The last big benefit according to LiveStrong is improved digestion. Large portion sizes play havoc with your insides, and we all know this isn’t a great feeling! So manage your portions and you’ll feel better for it.
So as you can tell, there’s plenty of benefits for reducing portion sizes, and this is something you can implement easily into your healthy breakfast menu. Whether this is eating in, cooking your own smaller meals, or eating out.
Light Breakfasts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
When it comes to eating out, it’s not always easy to eat less. You get what you’re given, and if these portion sizes are more hearty than healthy, it makes eating less a little harder. That’s why we’ve come up with our own list of meals that make it easy for you to portion control, inspired by what’s out there on the high street. We’ve even included some of our own dishes in case you’re looking for some options for light breakfast in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Avocado on Toast – found at Circle Cafe
Our Avocado on Toast is a perfect breakfast for millennials, health conscious folk and people that brunch. This favourite from our breakfast cafe in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is perfect to start your morning with that fresh, clean feeling but similarly completely delicious and a perfect boost of energy. As we mentioned earlier, we want to keep portions small, so a meal like this is absolutely perfect. Low in calories and full of greens, it’s a great way to start your day.
Peanut Butter, Banana and Chia Seed Toast
If you’re only going to have a small breakfast, it’s got to be easy and satisfying. Peanut butter, banana and chia seed on toast are just that, taking only a few minutes from prep to the breakfast table. Full of goodness, energy and one of your five a day, this is a breakfast for the person on-the-go.
Spinach and Cheddar Quiche
Not only is this a satisfying breakfast in small portions, but you can also make it in the microwave! All you need is an egg, milk, some spinach and grated cheddar cheese, mix them all. Place covered in the microwave and let it do the job. Then voila! Your very own hearty, tasty breakfast with minimal fuss!
Granola and Apple Bites (chocolate optional!)
The joy of this recipe is that it’s simple, cheap, perfectly portioned and you can make your whole week’s breakfast in one session! Making up to 20 wedges, these deliciously delicate bites are easy to make (just mix the ingredients of your choice!) – break up the traditional morning ritual of rushing about making meals that you have to shovel down. These can be eaten on the go or at home, or even shared with pals.
The Superfood Smoothie
The perfect meal to cram in a few portions of fruit before you even leave the house, the superfood, available right here at Circle Cafe, will perk up your mornings and give you the perfect amount of energy and nutrients to push you through to lunch. Just mix avocados, bananas, dates, spinach and milk. Then add your own seed or nut toppings for a superb superfood morning.
Mushroom Hash with Eggs
Delicious, full to the brim with nutrients and perfect for an ample-sized breakfast (or brunch!) treat, mushroom hash with eggs is almost the perfect way to start the day. Taking a little longer than some of our other recipes, this might be best prepared on a weekend or day off. Mushroom hash is a tomato-ey mushroom base for the eggs, with a kick of paprika, all topped off with a little thyme, and will look as good on the gram as it will fill in your stomach.
Breakfast Burrito
A breakfast classic in every sense of the world, the breakfast burrito is filling for a morning but can be small enough to allow you to manage exactly how much you’re eating. Cramming avocado, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and tomato (if you’re feeling funky) is enough goodness to help you push through the morning without snacking. Add a little bit of sauce too and you’ve got a thoroughly delightful breakfast.
Smoked Salmon Bagel
Salmon for breakfast is perfect not only because it’s full of goodness, but also tasty and filling, especially on a bagel. There’s nothing like cooking up a simple breakfast before work, and this enters that category. Add some sour cream and chives to add a little more flavour to the meal, and please those taste-buds of yours.
Boiled Egg and Asparagus Soldiers
Everyone knows the age-old dipping egg breakfast, and it’s much loved. But this is a little upgrade on an old classic. This means boiling the egg and asparagus then pairing it with some toasted bread, and you’re done. A cheap, easy way to make a good breakfast!
Yoghurt Breakfast Drink
A perfect breakfast whilst you’re getting ready for the day, this drink is simple and allows you to choose how much you have – meaning it’s perfect for a lighter, more portion-conscious breakfast. All you need is peach and vanilla yoghurt, orange juice and milk, and you’re ready to roll. Blend together to make a delicious, fresh breakfast drink.
Baked Apple Pudding Porridge
This is a lovely, hearty recipe that jazzes up an old favourite whilst still giving you goodness, taste and a decent portion of food that will keep you going until lunch. Not only apple, but this recipe also has cinnamon in it, which is great for controlling and regulating blood sugar levels. It’s not only tasty but good for you too. Add raisins for a different texture or taste This versatile favourite is a classic for a reason, perfect if you’re looking for a tasty yet cheap breakfast.
Arabian Orange, Cardamom and Date Porridge
Another excellent and fruity porridge recipe, this one mixes delicious Arabian orange, tasty dates and a nice hit of cardamom along with your usual porridge recipe. The dates act as a really great energy hit for the day ahead, and cardamom – amongst other things – helps aid recovery from your morning exercise. It’s a great early morning post-workout kick.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
We understand that sometimes you’re just not into eating a meal early in the morning, especially if you’re an early riser. Which is where this strawberry and banana smoothie comes into its own. As simple as adding the strawberry, banana and milk to a blender, you’ve got something that acts as a different type of breakfast and a delicious, refreshing drink.
Spinach and Feta Wrap
Wraps are a great breakfast item because they’re better for you than bread (and less heavy, too) but you can also easily fill them with delicious veg unlike with a sandwich. A spinach and feta wrap is both light and full of flavour. Also ready in a matter of moments, you can go from hungry to satisfy in quick-sharp time.
Vegetarian Rice Rolls
If you’re looking for something a little more substantial but keeps the calories (304) and portion size to a minimum, look no further! A classic of the Circle Cafe small plate menu, this meal comes packed with veggies and a delicious accompanying dip to add even more flavour!
Healthy Breakfast Cookies
Healthy food is great, but sometimes ahead of a tough day at work, finding something truly healthy can feel like a trek, but here, we mix the healthy and hearty. These ace no-bake cookies can be made in a super-short time and kept for two weeks, meaning you have your breakfast sorted for a long time too. Filled with chia seeds, honey, vanilla and oats, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more goodness-filled cookie anywhere!
Cheesy Mushroom Scramble
This meal is essentially scrambled eggs with delicious mushrooms added in and it’s hard to go far wrong if you’re looking for an ample-sized mean, delightful in taste. Warming and comforting, choose this breakfast dish if you’re looking for a solid meal in the morning.
Breakfast Banana Split
Not all breakfasts are created equal, and not all breakfasts have to be the same, and this take on a popular dessert special is so filling yet perfect as a small treat. If you’re like us, it’s sometimes hard to take a savoury meal in the early hours, but with this, you can get some great fruit options, enough sugar to energise your day and it’s not too much of a heavy meal. Easy to make at home and full of household items, you’ll love your day after a breakfast like this.
Fresh Fruit Salad
Maybe the simplest breakfast dish on our list, but one that’s sure to be the most popular: the fresh fruit salad. The reason this breakfast is so good is that it’s easy to do and you can customise this yourself, making it perfect on a healthy breakfast menu. Melon, strawberry, banana, kiwi, berries and apple, you can add to or take away from this list and suit your own tastes. Maybe we’ve decided your breakfast menu for tomorrow!
Vegan Scramble – Circle Cafe
Our vegan scramble is full of veggies and will make you feel a million dollars. Not too big for a morning, so we’re fully on board. Let us cook you the breakfast of champions and something sustainable and vegan!
Herb Omelette with Fried Tomatoes
Everybody loves an omelette for breakfast. It’s a meal as old as time and something that’s filling but also makes you feel like you haven’t eaten all that much. Having two-egg omelette with fried tomatoes with a glass of juice on any day is never a bad idea. Easy to do and simple to make in controlled portions, it’s a great way to start the day.
Southwest Tofu Scramble
If you’re looking for something different and something with a little bit of flavour, but that doesn’t break your portion size rule, look no further than Southwest Tofu Scramble. All you have to do is throw peppers, kale, onions and some spices into a stir fry pan with tofu and fry away. A quick, delightful breakfast!
Ham, Cheese and Egg Muffins
Soft, fluffy but with a savoury twist, a breakfast muffin is the perfect meal for a packed morning. Great to grab and go and small enough to have two, the ham, cheese and egg muffin is an excellent alternative to the usual breakfast suspects.
Edamame
Maybe you haven’t got much time for a proper breakfast, but want to make sure you get something inside of you before you start your day – then look no further than our Edamame to hit the spot. Full of fibre and low in calories, these cooked veggies from Circle Cafe will get your day off to a flier!
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
This is a good mix of the fresh fruit salad and the yoghurt breakfast drink. Giving you the best split of both a light breakfast but an array of flavours and textures, there is absolutely nothing here to make, bake or create, it is just adding ingredients to a bowl or glass and eat away.
Speedy Huevos Rancheros
This excellent Mexican dish is a great alternative to your usual breakfast and packs in enough goodness through the eggs and tomatoes that you’ll be wondering why you hadn’t made this earlier! With a base of a wheat tortilla, with chopped tomatoes and a fried egg on top, it’s similar to a more traditional breakfast but with an exciting twist!
Eggs Any Style
Looking for a really simple breakfast, that’s full of goodness but still filling and tasty? Our eggs breakfast is ideal. Circle Cafe will cook your eggs any way you like, and add a couple of slices of toast and some tomato salsa for added flavour! Order online to get this wonderful classic read for your morning! And yes, it’s still light yet keeps you on to the go.
Blueberry Pancake Bites
Sometimes when you simply want pancakes for breakfast, you just can’t justify it. They’re a really indulgent treat to have, but they’re weighty and sweet. Blueberry pancake bites are the perfect middle ground, and you can even take them away to eat. It’s excellent for a portion-friendly and tasty breakfast treat.
Getting the Right Breakfast Bite
Sometimes, you don’t want to spend time looking for a breakfast cafe in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. It’s often best to get the ingredients yourself and spend time and energy creating your own healthy breakfast menu. Otherwise, our perfect light breakfast options should do you wonders when you’re lacking inspiration. Just remember, if you’re looking to eat out or for healthy food delivery in Abu Dhabi, we’ve got you covered.
