What would you choose to kickstart your day? A strong coffee? A bowl of Cornflakes? Marmite on toast? Overnight oats? Perhaps some yogurt and fruit? Cat Deeley has shared her breakfast on Instagram – and it’s scrambled eggs with a difference.

On the advice of nutritionist Emily English, the 49-year-old This Morning presenter added a scoop of cottage cheese to her eggs, before serving them up with a drizzle of sriracha mayo and a slightly toasted slice of sourdough.

‘I love cottage cheese, it’s absolutely delicious,’ she told the This Morning audience. And she’s not the only fan – sales of cottage cheese are up 200% in UK supermarkets, and the retro ‘diet’ food has become a hit on social media thanks to its low calorie count, high protein content and versatility.

‘When we’re thinking of upping the protein content of our meals to make them more satiating, cottage cheese is the hack you need,’ Emily English said on This Morning. ‘Two eggs actually only contain around 12g of protein. Normally we recommend 20-25g protein for breakfast. If you’re looking to give yourself an extra boost, add a tablespoon of cottage cheese. It melts into the scrambled eggs so it makes them a bit more silky and creamy, and gives you that additional boost. Add two big tablespoons and you’re going to be getting another four to five grams of protein.’

And there are few breakfasts better to serve up in a heatwave. ‘During a heatwave, it’s important to eat as usual, even if you don’t feel very hungry,’ says nutritionist Anna Mapson. ‘Do try to have breakfast – and easy-to-digest protein, such as eggs, can stop you feeling too heavy and full. Eggs contain healthy fats and protein, and a new study recently suggested that choline in egg yolks might also support brain health. Regularly eating eggs has been linked to a lowered risk of Alzheimer’s in the over-65s.’

And as for cottage cheese, Cat’s magic added extra? ‘This will help to add some calcium, sodium and more B12 to the meal, increasing the nutrient profile,’ says Anna. ‘Lean proteins can help to add energy without the higher fat content, which can leave you feeling more sluggish.’ It’s a win!