Pharmacist shares simple 10p breakfast that can cut 85 calories from lunch

Pharmacist shares simple 10p breakfast that can cut 85 calories from lunch Researchers tested two breakfasts with identical calories and found one could impact how much would be eaten at the next meal A common breakfast led adults to consume fewer calories at lunch despite having the same calorie content as another option. Researchers tested two comparable breakfasts and found one could reduce 85 calories from the midday meal. According to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the crucial meal was instant porridge - which Aldi stocks at just 95p for 10 sachets. It was compared against one ready-to-eat oat cereal in a small US study involving 48 adults with participants sampling both equal-calorie breakfasts on separate occasions at least a week apart. Those taking part were questioned and reported feeling more satisfied after the porridge breakfast. Scientists went on to serve lunch four hours afterwards and measured how much food energy was eaten. On average, participants consumed 85 fewer calories of food energy at lunch following the instant porridge than after the ready-to-eat cereal. None of those in the trial were using weight loss drugs, however a pharmacist suggests the results may benefit those who are either attempting to shed pounds without intervention and those who are on medication. Weight-loss advice from Happy Pharmacy at happypharmacy.co.uk recommends oats combined with milk or yoghurt as sensible ingredients for individuals using weight loss treatments, with portion sizes tailored to appetite and tolerance, reports Wales Online. Palvinder Deol, superintendent pharmacist at Happy Pharmacy, said: "Porridge can be a useful breakfast, but it is still worth looking at the whole meal. "Milk or yoghurt can add protein, and fruit can add variety. The aim is a breakfast you can comfortably eat that gives you useful nutrition, not one that leaves you trying to avoid food for the rest of the day." Researchers highlighted differences in the quantity and characteristics of beta-glucan, a soluble fibre found in oats, and in the consistency of the prepared breakfasts as potential explanations for the fullness difference. Since the two foods varied in nutritional composition, the experiment did not identify one ingredient as the exclusive cause. The findings don't suggest every bowl of porridge will surpass every breakfast cereal. The study examined two specific products, involved PepsiCo researchers and assessed appetite plus one following meal, not weight loss over weeks or months or everything participants consumed that day. The experiment therefore does not demonstrate that adding porridge makes either medication more effective, the pharmacy cautioned. For those whose appetite has decreased during treatment, Happy Pharmacy recommends manageable portions and incorporating protein rather than simply eating as little as possible. Its guidance also suggests introducing higher-fibre foods gradually if bloating or digestive discomfort becomes an issue. Deol added: "If a big bowl feels uncomfortable, there is no reason to force it down. A smaller portion that you tolerate, alongside enough food across the day, is more useful than treating breakfast as another target to hit."