It’s called the most important meal of the day for a reason.

I know skipping breakfast isn’t a good idea.

A healthy and filling breakfast can make the biggest difference to my entire day – but I just don’t have time to make it or to eat it.

So that’s why I recently set myself a challenge. For five days straight, I got up a little earlier and before doing anything for anyone else, I tried to make myself a healthy breakfast, sit down, eat it and enjoy it.

Related: 30 years on: What The Breakfast Club cast look like now.

It was tough, and some days it didn’t go according to plan. But here’s how it went down:

Day 1.

It’s Monday and I packed the school bags and lunches and ironed all the school uniforms last night (yes, I’m feeling pretty smug). I set the alarm for 5.45am instead of 6am to give myself time for breakfast. The house is so quiet at this time of the day, and I feel a bit giddy. What a novelty – having time to myself! I did some shopping yesterday for healthy breakfast foods. Today I’m having cereal with light milk and half a banana.

Cereal and fruit – a no fail combination.

Day 2.

I sleep in today. I pressed snooze until 6.30am and then jumped out of bed, putting the TV on loudly so the kids would wake up. No time for breakfast before the school drop off, and I’m meeting my sister at a café after. I resolve to just have a coffee and save my healthy breakfast for when I get home instead of pigging out on pastries.

Related: “I spend $3650 per year on coffee, and I’m not sorry”.

When I do arrive home it’s to a house that looks like it’s been ransacked. I would love to clean it first but that will take one or two hours. Breakfast first. It has to be a priority. I can clean later. I make myself some oats. I’d forgotten how delicious they are.

Dear Oats, Love you. Sincerely, Everyone everywhere.

Day 3.

I get up at 6am, because seeing my alarm go off at 5.45am is just depressing. I get up and make breakfast and I’m really hungry for a change, because I’ve made a point of not snacking after dinner so I wake up ready to eat. I’ve also noticed that instead of getting hungry for lunch at 11am, I don’t feel hungry until almost 1pm. This morning I make myself an egg on toast, and it’s perfect.

Fill up with eggs on toast. Image via Instagram @thewholetara.

Day 4.

I have a nightmare day today filled with all sorts of craziness from work to housework to ordering ID tags for my dog and cat. It’s the kind of day where I have a long list of things to do and I’m not quite sure where to begin. But breakfast was a good place to start. Today I sautéed some onions and frozen peas in a little olive oil, added two eggs and scrambled. I used to eat this with my dad, for breakfast or lunch. It’s always delicious.

Is that you Breakfast? It’s us, Hungry.

 Day 5.

I have to get up at 5.45am today. Philip has band and then I take Giovanni and Caterina to a cafe for breakfast. I just had coffee again, and I saved my baked beans on toast for when I got home. I really love toast but it’s not very filling with jam and other spreads, but baked beans are the perfect topping.

Baked beans are an undeniably good topping.

And the verdict? It’s been pretty great eating breakfast for five days straight. It really helps with my energy and I can think way more clearly. It’s been an eye opener, and I think this will be one habit I’ll definitely keep.

Here are some more healthy breakfast ideas to get off to a good start:

Image via Instagram @laurenwilly

Image via Instagram @garypeppergirl

Image via Instagram @deliciouslyella

Image via Instagram @thewholetara

Image via Instagram @thewholetara

Image via Instagram @deliciouslyella

Image via Instagram @deliciouslyella

Image via Instagram @iquitsugar

Image via Instagram @georgeeats

Image via Instagram @georgeeats

How do you make time for breakfast? What are your favourite breakfast foods?