Breakfast matters

Eating with family can be a regular thing that we take for granted. It can, however, be seen as an important daily ritual that draws the family together, and connects us all in analogue life. It really depends on how much ceremony you put around it. To engage in light, morning discourse and literally ‘break the fast’ of a long night; sleep or not.

In my family, we try to eat as many meals together as possible. On weekdays, this includes breakfast and dinner, and at times, lunch, when my partner and I both happen to be home, or when we’re working from the same place.

In the past I’ve subscribed to the light continental breakfast, especially Nordic-style: strong black coffee, fresh bread, cheese, ham, perhaps a cucumber or lettuce leaf or two; a soft-boiled egg. When living Finland or Sweden, I’d add some Kalle’s caviar into the mix (more about that another time). Back in the UK, with my partner, who can’t live without his hot meals, we generally enjoy a cooked breakfast before starting the day. It’s a later start to the day, but a high-quality one; when an early start is required I often will get work in early in the morning, then break for, well, ‘break-fast.’

This morning, we had scrambled eggs with deliciously fresh-tasting pea shoots and an oven-warmed pre-baked gluten-free roll. We also have a tradition of making fresh and strong black coffee in my beloved Mocha Master filter coffee machine. The machine is of a classic mid-20th-century Dutch design, in a beautiful metallic red colour. The water/steam mechanism, followed by an automated ‘pour over’ into the filter, is something I can stop and watch every morning, unfalteringly. I regret those mornings when I don’t take the time to do so. And the resulting coffee is perfect almost every time. An extra benefit of filter coffee is that it has the least diterpenes when compared to other methods such as the Italian espresso method and the ‘French press’ or cafetière method. These molecules can raise cholesterol levels. So it’s heart- and brain-healthy coffee - when consumed in moderation.

Eating together lets us prepare for the day in a (generally) relaxed way. We discuss what we have on and perhaps even talk about the latest news. The BBC’s Radio 4 might play in the background. We feed the little one and coo after him, and he makes us chuckle.

When we decide to make an Asian breakfast (which is important to us, another time), we opt for green tea instead of coffee. We then get to roll out the green tea collection and deliberate which one to make - pure, fine green tea? Jasmine? Rose? The ones we got as a present, with only writing in Japanese? The decaf bags my mother left after coming to stay last year (no, not those).

It’s in making these small decisions about what we eat and bringing our morning meal together that starts our day with our little home community, giving us a warm and fuzzy feeling as our stomachs slowly digest, and we begin our day. We start the day as a family, and end it as a family, unless there is some special event that takes one of us away for the evening. Preferably, when one of us travels, the other can follow, given the remote nature of much of our work. This allows us to start and end the day together at various locations consistently.

Once a week, we try to go to the local Garden Centre, which has a lovely café and friendly staff. We can stroll over at our leisure, and it’s reasonably priced; the ‘shrinkflation’ we saw last year appears to have reversed, making the offer attractive again. Not having to worry about paying £25-30 for breakfast, including large black Americanos, then still feeling hungry soon afterwards, and not having to clean up afterwards. It’s not perfect, but still, it’s a good life. When it’s a bit warmer and the wasps aren’t out en masse, we can sit in the outdoor area, where they have a charming (if astro-turf-covered) garden with beautiful big trees, Wendy houses, and toys for the kids. There, the world goes by a little bit, and we focus on not spilling coffee on the slightly tilted tables, given the slightly uneven ground and tree roots all around. The old house to the side might have flowers blooming at different times of the year, and it adds to the general relaxed ambience.

On the odd occasion where I have the opportunity to eat alone, my companion at home becomes Radio 4 and perhaps the odd book or magazine when I’m out. At breakfast, I can sit, think, and gather for the day.

I fleetingly consider all of the people who say they have no time for breakfast, who don’t like food in their stomachs first thing in the day. Those who say they don’t eat breakfast as a rule, those who are practising one fasting trend or another, and prefer to have lunch instead. I thank my parents for giving us such healthy daily breakfast habits. This is especially true of my mother, who in her mid-70s still sits down every morning to have toast with bitter marmalade.

Ultimately, food and sharing food, without an electronic device to hand, are fundamental for an analogue life and a richer, more fulfilling day-to-day experience. More stories to come.