Celebrate ‘Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2010′ with Fine Ingredients from Speciality Food Supplier Cotswold Fayre

Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day, yet according to the HGCA* up to 33% of us miss it out!

24-30 January 2010 celebrates the eleventh annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week. The awareness week is organised by the HGCA and acts as an opportunity to educate the nation into the importance of eating a healthy breakfast.

Cotswold Fayre, the fine food supplier, stocks a range of breakfast products and is supporting the HCGA campaign. Here are some of Britain’s must have breakfast foods that can be bought directly from the website.

Porridge

Porridge’s growth in popularity has changed the face of British breakfast habits. This low fat, oaty breakfast cereal, which releases energy slowly, keeps you feeling fuller for longer and stops the hunger pangs till lunchtime. The high soluble fibre content of oats is also beneficial as diets low in fat and rich in soluble fibre have been shown to help reduce high blood cholesterol levels. Oats also provide useful amounts of thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 plus calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc and small amounts of vitamin E and folic acid  – making porridge a super nutrient-dense food, full of natural goodness.  In addition, long gone are the days where you had to stand over a hot stove stirring a pot of porridge.  Most rolled porridge oats are pre-steamed, which means that they can be cooked in minutes on the hob or in the microwave.

Bread or Toast

Nothing beats the tempting smell of hot toast.  It’s synonymous with breakfast and nearly one in six people say it’s their favourite breakfast smell (according to an online survey conducted by OnePoll).
Bread is an important source of energy and other nutrients.  For the health conscious, wholemeal toast is best – it is a good source of dietary fibre, protein, B vitamins and one slice makes up one of your recommended three daily servings of wholegrain. Why not make your own bread at home? Not only will it smell great but you can tailor the ingredients to create your perfect loaf!

Wholegrain cereals

Breakfast cereals account for over half (53.6%) of breakfasts eaten at home (TNS Worldpanel 2008). The choice is astounding, so look out for the many wholegrain cereals made from wheat, oats and barley.  Several studies have shown that those who eat lots of wholegrains, such as wholegrain cereals or bread, reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 30%. Breakfast can be a rushed affair for many - 40% of people spend less than 10 minutes preparing and eating their breakfast during the week (Breakfast Facts from www.farmhousebreakfast.com) so wholegrain cereals provide the perfect solution.  A bowl of wholegrain cereal served with semi-skimmed milk only takes minutes to eat.
Cotswold Fayre stocks a wide range of cereals including tasty porridge as well as different varieties of bread flour, check out the fantastic range of breakfast products here: http://www.cotswold-fayre.co.uk

About Cotswold Fayre

Further information about Cotswold Fayre can be obtained from the website, the most comprehensive trade website for speciality food in the UK, and from Paul Hargreaves blog, Speciality Bites.  The product range is also available to the public via orders from the sister company Real Food Direct.

For further information on Cotswold Fayre, its products and services please contact MD Paul Hargreaves of Cotswold Fayre Ltd, Units 9-11, Manor Farm, Peppard Common, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5LA.

Tel: +44 (0)8456 121201    Email: paul@cotswold-fayre.co.uk

Editors Notes:

•    Farmhouse Breakfast Week is organised by HGCA
•    *HGCA aims to improve the production and marketing of cereals. It provides market information, assists cereal product development, promotes exports and funds research and development. It is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
•    For more information about Farmhouse Breakfast week 2010 visit http://www.farmhousebreakfast.com