WHILE I’m no expert on nutrition, it’s fairly safe to say that if your breakfast consists of a bowl of non-sugary, fibre-rich cereal and a mug of tea or coffee (also non-sugary) it’s probably better for your physical health than a Full English/Welsh fry-up complete with black pudding and a slice of fried bread.
Anyone hungry?
But what can you do for your mental health, first thing in the morning, to prepare you for the day ahead?
Well folks, I’ve conducted an experiment on behalf of my loyal readers . . . and those who are sometimes disloyal.
That’s you, Mrs Betty Evans of Fishguard Harbour!
Every day last week I watched the breakfast news shows on BBC One, ITV One, Sky News and GB News, switching between them from time to time, between six and eight am.
I’d have watched for longer, but two hours of misery, doom, gloom and Andi Peters in some exotic resort, urging viewers to spend ‘just two quid plus your network charge’ to enter a ‘phone in competition with a prize of £20 million (or was it £20,000) for five mornings was more than enough.
My conclusion?
If you want to start the day in a cheerful, positive state of mind, don’t watch breakfast news.
As Del Boy says, “You know it makes sense!”
If you must know what’s happening in the world, just take in the headlines and switch off!
I was recently talking to a gentleman in his 80s who revealed that if they’re not going out, he and his wife watch news channels all day long!
Yikes!
When I asked why they didn’t occasionally listen to music or plays on the radio, read, or watch the free film channels (Talking Pictures TV would suit them perfectly) he just shrugged and said they’d never think of it.
Then he said, without irony, “Every day is Groundhog Day. One day is no different to another!”
There’s a lesson there for all of us.
To maintain a positive outlook whatever age you are, limit your TV news viewing.
Now, then . . .
Who’s for a fry-up?