THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY

It's the most important meal of the day. But recent studies suggest an increasing number of people skip breakfast altogether. Whilst I am guilty of not always choosing the healthiest option for my morning meal, or even having a full breakfast, I still try to get something in to keep me going.

I often hear people blaming a lack of time for skipping breakfast. But it really doesn't require much to get the food you need. Even grabbing breakfast bars, the right ones mind, can help keep you fueled  I am currently obsessed with nakd bars, which are made up of fruit and nuts smooshed together. There is no added sugar and they are wheat and dairy free, so everyone can enjoy them. My favourite is the gingerbread flavour which really wakes up the taste buds.

A lot of companies don't mind people eating at their desk. I normally write my daily to-do-list, whilst eating an Oat So Simple express porridge pot by Quaker Oats. Toast is great, especially with peanut butter. But it’s just not as filling. And cereal is fine, but so much of it is processed and can end up tasting too sweet. The porridge pots are great because they're wholesome, filling and all I have to do is add hot water. It really couldn't be less time consuming.

I love milk, but rarely do I fancy a cold glass of it first thing in the morning.  I much prefer hazelnut milk. The taste is best described as a mildly rich nuttiness, but without that overpowering dry sensation. It is much smoother than rice or soy milk, so try it out. I normally pick up Tesco’s own label, but Alpro’s offering tastes fantastic too.

I’m also becoming a fan of oat milk, This has a pleasant unsweetened flapjack-like taste, and works really well in hot drinks. ProVitamil’s Oat Drink is great because it's not only low-fat and unsweetened, it's also enriched with calcium and vitamins D and B. So it’s a pretty good drink to kick-start the day.

The mere thought of a fry-up is enough to make my stomach turn. I know it’s a dish much loved by the nation, but I don’t particularly like the smell of cooked fat and grease so early in the day. No, my ideal hot breakfast is a little more refined. For me, nothing beats eggs benedict. A lightly toasted muffin, succulent thick cut ham, on top of which sits a beautiful poached egg happily covered in hollandaise sauce. No other dish can give me such satisfaction in the morning.

If, like me, you often make a mess when attempting to poach eggs, then try the Poachpod® from Lakeland. It makes the job so much easier. And who has time to make the sauce. Just pick up a jar hollandaise sauce with a hint of lemon by Maille and slather it on.

On the mornings when I can’t face food (yes it happens), I still need something to keep me going ‘til lunch.  Of course coffee helps, and so does fruit. I always have some clementines to hand so I can get in some vitamin C. However a recent study suggests that another fruit might be better at keeping hunger pangs at bay. 

Research carried out at Queen Margaret University, has found that an extract from pomegranates makes people less hungry, and even results in eating smaller portions. But instead of rushing to buy pomegranates (very hard to cut in the office) try PomeGreat instead. The extract is unique ingredient in all their juice drinks and they taste fantastic. I particularly like their pomegranate and cherry juice blend. Find out more about the PurePlus®  extract here. 

So there you have it. This is my pick of the best and easiest breakfast food to fuel me up for the day ahead. I hope that if you normally skip breakfast, you’ll try to squeeze in some of my picks to see you through to lunchtime.

KITCHEN GADGETS - FOR WHEN A KNIFE JUST WON'T DO

I have a real passion food, and for cooking. One of the perks of living at home is free use of my mother’s large fully stocked kitchen, overflowing with spices and fresh exotic vegetables all at my disposal.

My mother enjoys cooking too, almost as much as she enjoys buying random kitchen utensils to make kitchen chores that little bit easier. We even go to the Ideal Home Show every year to buy these supposedly life changing items, only to get bored of them six months later.

Thankfully I can say that I have not and probably never will buy any of the following gadgets. They are my pick of the weirdest and most useless kitchen items.

BANANA SLICER
Don’t you hate it when you want to slice a banana, but for some reason, a knife just won’t work? Well then buy a Kitchencraft banana slicer. Slice a whole banana in seconds, because traditional methods are so time consuming. Order yours now! £6.29 from wayfair.co.uk 

BANANA GUARD

If you really are in a rush and have to take the whole banana with you, pack it in it’s own case. Because there is nothing wrong about pulling something shaped like this out of your bag at the office or at lunch break. Protect your banana, get a guard at Lakeland.

TWIRLING SPAGHETTI FORK

I initially thought this could only be a novelty item. But then I was informed that this is great for the elderly, who have trouble twirling their forks. Surely spaghetti can be cut. Whilst brilliant in theory, the automated Twirling Spaghetti Fork makes a complete mess if it isn't dipped all the way into the noodles. That's bolognese sauce everywhere... And what happens if the batteries run out midway through the meal? Lakeland was selling them at £5.99 each, but have since discontinued the range. Back to the traditional fork then. 

ELECTRIC LIGHT UP PEPPER MILL 
I actually think the majority of Salter products are very good. Their kitchenware range by Heston Blumenthal is paticularly striking and helpful. 

But this is the company behind the electric salt and pepper mills that light up when you're seasoning. Why pray tell might this be a good idea? Do many people use these items in the dark or areas with poor lighting? Or are we just that interested in how much and where exactly our seasoning is falling? According to Tesco, it is ideal for candlelit dinners. Yes, because nothing says romance like a buzzing sound and spotlights on our food. 

THE SCIZZA
An average of 1643 pizzas are consumed in Britain every day. Surely then we should be able to cut pizza using a knife, or a rolling pizza cutter. But for those of you that still don’t get how these two items work, there is the pizza scissors, or 'scizza'. Much like the over-sized helpful items from kindergarten, these scissors mean that hungry carb-loaders can snip slices, or even create origami creations with their dinner. Throw away the knives and  order yours  for £19.95 

ONION GOGGLES
I hate cutting onions as much as the next person. Yes it upsets my eyes. But if you don’t want to wear a £23 pair of goggles from John Lewis, pop your onion in the freezer half an hour before cutting. It works a treat and saves you looking like an absolute idiot / snowboard instructor in the kitchen.

TAPI 
My favourite of these items is the little device that turns a simple tap into a water fountain. That’s right, sometimes a glass won’t do, and heaven forbid cupping a mouthful of water into your palm! Just attach The Tapi and you have an instant water fountain, like the ones that everyone uses in the gym, or were commonly found at school playgrounds.  This is much more hygienic.

What weird and useless products have you seen? Do you have any of these or others lurking in your kitchen cupboards? Or do you think any of the above are actually useful?

Right, I’m off to practice cutting pizza and slicing bananas.

WIPE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE

Research carried out by Dove has found that the average man in the UK only washes his face 6 times a week. Now I don't care how you argue it, that is a little bit vile. The fact is, we go out and expose our skin to all kinds of pollution, and we touch our face an average 2 to 4 times a minute. Think of all the germs constantly being transferred onto our face.

I frequently see men who look old before their time. There is nothing attractive about a leathery face that clearly hasn't seen a wash cloth in weeks. Dry skin, wrinkles and dark circles do not look good on a young twenty-something.

The article goes on to complain that men only spend 5 minutes a day on their face, and spend an average of £2.44 a week. This is where I have to disagree. I see no problem in being economic with skincare products, and think that 5 minutes (outside of shaving) is sufficient.

Guys, if you think the first thing that a date is looking at is the body you've worked hard on, or what your clothes, you are wrong. The very first thing is always the face, because that is what they have to stare at for the evening. But looking good doesn't cost the earth. Here is my pick of the best products to keep your mug looking fresh.

WASH IT

I make a point of washing my face every morning and again before bed. And when I get home from work I make a point of taking a damp cloth and wiping my face clean. I strongly suggest others follow suit.

I swear by Neutrogena's Visibly Clear 2 in 1 face wash and mask. I use it as monthly face mask, but more of that later. This fantastic product smells good and a little goes a long way. Pick it up at Boots for £3.99

MOISTURISE

A lot of men have a problem applying cream to their face. Some of mates think this is a little girly, or reserved only for metrosexuals and the vain. My usual response is, "Well you have washed off the oily essentials from your face and now you plan on going out and exposing it to pollution  And if you live in London, imagine the smog and dirt of the London Underground seeping into your skin." This normally leads to them asking to borrow my face cream. Again, there is no need to break the bank here. And I personally don't think more than one cream is needed. 

The skin on your face is very delicate and sensitive. So don't be too abrasive  I suggest something like Nivea for Men Rehydrating Moisturiser. I use a pea-sized amount first thing in the morning, and maybe again later in the afternoon. Boots have it on special offer, down from £6.70 to £3.35. Or pick it up at Asda for £4. Again, there are no floral scents and the product doesn't leave any greasy residue. 

My colleague James also recommends Bulldog Anti-Aging moisturiser. The product certainly looks good, although James doesn't need to worry about aging. But it does come in at a higher price of £8.00 at Tesco. Check it out and let me know what you think

We are all aging and our faces are going to change. So long as you are good to your skin, your skin will be good to you. I would avoid any anti-aging products that claim to reverse the hands of time, or promise youthful looks instantly. 

SHAVE

A good razor/electric shaver keeps a guy from looking like he doesn't care. If you like a little stubble, there are some great electric trimmers out there. But don't pick ones that can do 101 things, if all you'll use it for is to keep your stubble in check twice a week. This will keep the cost down.

If you opt for a clean shaven look, make sure you use a good shaving gel. Any by Gillette will do. I actually don't use any aftershave balm. My moisturiser is often enough to keep skin irritation at bay. But everyone's skin is different. Try to select one that uses as many natural products as possible.

MASK

As I mentioned earlier, I think a face mask once a month does wonders for the skin. The Neutrogena 2 in 1 product contains clay, so it cleanses deep down within five minutes. Simple. And it also keeps blackheads and any spots from appearing. Just make sure you don't use anything too hard to wash the mask off. Don't forget to apply a moisturiser afterwards.

ANTI-SPOT?

A big mistake made by people who are prone to spots is using too many harsh products all at once. Thankfully I rarely suffered from spots growing up, but I know how strong the anti spot treatments are. The blue alcohol-smelling liquid for the face is not natural. It dries the skin and probably rids the treated area of all the essential oils too.  So don't cover your face in six face products. Your skin can only take so much beating. Just limit how much you use, and not too often. 

If you suffer from spots, opt for something a bit kinder to the skin. Try Boots' Pharmaceutical's Witch Hazel Gel. It isn't too tough on skin, and only costs £1.99

EYE EYE!

I can't stress enough how delicate the skin is around the eyes. Compared to the rest of the face that is made up of several layers of skin, the area around the eye is only made of two. So make sure you don't press too hard.

A number of companies produce roll-on serums. My advice is to avoid them completely! Just don't miss the area when applying a moisturiser. 

The best way to avoid crowsfeet is to get a good night's sleep. If you already have them, then just rock the look. They work for George Clooney, they will look great on you

LIPS

Keep you lips looking good and don't let them dry out. There is nothing less attractive then chapped lips. Pick up Palmer's Cocoa Butter lip balm, enriched with vitamin E for £1.69 from Lloyd's Pharmacy.

So you see, it doesn't take much time or effort to keep the face looking fresh and young. And the good people at Dove can rest easy, knowing that men everywhere now know not to spend a fortune on overhyped products.