Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts

Monday, 18 August 2025

Breakfast In The Morning

 The alluring aroma of onions on toast with poached egg is what drives me to make them at home first thing in the early morning.

But I still miss the variety of options of breaking fast in my childhood days - there were light fluffy south Indian pancakes (Roti Canai), stir fried Chinese radish cubes with garlic and bean sprouts ( Cai Tau Kueh), or modest packets of coconut milk flavoured steamed long grain rice with appetising  condiments ( Nasi Lemak).

Piping hot long black coffee with various blends did the necessary awakening for sleepy heads. There was no touch of Italian varieties, no Matcha or soy milk additives - in fact, fresh diary was and still is expensive in an equatorial land.

Personally I do not miss bacon, but ham slices are a pleasure to have, especially in a well prepared sandwich or focaccia, especially with beetroot and an avocado smash spread, together with some fresh rocket leaves.

 Nicely sauteed mushrooms added to the presentation transmits me to the border with brunch time.   A bagel is a welcome  change from the usual sourdough or Turkish.

Fresh juices made from tomato seem to be offered less these days than the ubiqutious orange juice.   Eggs in whatever way you fancy are popular - but fresh fruit cuts can be so refreshing.  I love local fruits offered when overseas - examples are passion fruits, papayas, grapes of different varieties, kiwifruits or Chinese gooseberries, rambutans, mangoes or cherries.

And nothing spoothes the body or appetite on a cold morning like pumpkin soup with a slight dash of cream.

In East Asia, there is the reassuring  delight of steamed fluffy buns or Bao, with fillings of well marinated and finely cut meat, or just simply with red bean or custard fillings.  For many days in southern China provinces, light rice congee assured the welcome of another day of adventure on tour.

Baguettes are essential in European sojourns.  They form the basis of crunch, texture and body to energise and inspire, together with top ups and relishes, sweet or savoury.  Coffee in its various forms are de rigour in the Mediterranean cultures, usually taken with strong blends and in small cups.

The differences between Continental and English breakfast varieties have been promoted in countless international hotel settings for so many years.   Across Asia, cooked breakfasts are often accessible as opposed to just cereal, breads and milk.

Most of the former colonised nations as a matter of course provide both local and European items in impressive spreads from 7am, echoing history, variety and internationalism.  Breakfasts in hotels across Australia and New Zealand tend to still limit themselves to British and American familiarities, despite the nature of their societies getting more diversified.

Fast food chains across the globe have embedded breakfast options long ago - although they do not sell them after 1030am.  

At Singapore MRT stations, one offering, the combo of Kaya toast, half boiled egg and coffee stands out as a cultural imprint.  Japan has the miso soup and noodles as a common thread to expect in the mornings.  Thais start with spice even in breakfasts.

Lentils, ground into a healthy mush, plus grain based fibre strong grains like oats, can be more healthy to be taken on a daily basis, improving gut health and bowel maintenance.

Sweet based dishes like waffles, pancakes and cakes now have moved from teatimes to early mornings in many cafes. Preserves and fruit based jams have always been spread on buttered scones, breads and wheat based bakes.

Breakfast dishes are packed in takeaways for an increasingly busy market.

And tea, milkshakes, juices and more compete with coffee in the beverage scene first thing in the morning.

And finally there is the increasing concept of "all day breakfasts".

#yongkevthoughts

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Eating Choices Revisited

 I am not sure if public service hygiene inspectors anywhere cover dietary and nutrition aspects.


I do home cooking most of the time.  When eating out across greater Sydney, 

I do find I get more thirsty an hour or two after eating out.


Aussie society is caught up with the American obsession for fast food.


Unhealthy food in Aus is generally accessible, cheaper and made addictive.


Creative ways of making salads using fresh produce are available in my side of the woods at home and when eating out.


It was reported recently that the intake of fruits and veg has fallen amongst kids in Australia, despite the blessings in this continental island for produce from tropical to temperate climes.


Aus styled barista made coffee tastes better than coffee in other western societies.  As such, coffee drinking obsession is evident in the mornings anywhere across Australia.  


How healthy is drinking too much barista made coffee?  The jury is still out.  


What is definitely

unhealthy is the Aussie penchant for having bacon and other processed small goods in their daily intake.  Every society has a historical culinary addiction to preserved, pickled and processed meats like sausages, condiments and marinates.

When not taken in moderation, they can spell trouble for the human body, especially when consumed regularly over as many years.


Another main culprit is deep fried dishes, by whatever label they come to us - crispy, oil soaked or battered.  Southern Chinese Yum Cha has its fair share of deep frieds if one avoids the steamed versions.  Banana fritters, 

deep fried chicken bites, fish and chips in the Anglo tradition, Japanese tempura and supermarket snacks are just some examples. And yes, I got my KFC deep fried chicken wings yesterday.


The ever persistent danger is the sugar level in our constant diets.  Sugar is so cheaply available and can be said to be added in varying amounts in things we eat outside, whether they are, for example, in Thai dishes, French patisserie offerings, Taiwan  bubble tea drinks or in the obvious Krispy Kream doughnuts.


 Supermarkets are stacked aplenty with items "trying to balance" between sugar, salt and fat.


#yongkevthoughts

Alternate Routines in the Daily Life

 At times, I do wonder whether my daily regime would be the same if I did reside in another city, another country. Melbourne The streets of ...