How do we love Hannah Waddingham? Let us count the ways… her acting, her singing, her excellent bob, her smile, her workout tips, her… choice of breakfast?
We know, that last one might seem a touch rogue. But stay with us. The Ted Lasso actor has provided us with a glimpse of what she likes to eat in the morning, and it’s a great source of nutrition inspiration.
While being interviewed by The New York Times, Hannah, 52, tucked into a breakfast of coffee, pressed juice and a chorizo hash (that’s chorizo, crispy diced potatoes, onions and eggs). That lines up nicely with what the actor previously told The Guardian she likes for breakfast, saying in an interview: ‘I’m all about breakfast. I’ll have scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, spinach, cherry tomatoes, avocado, olive oil and a little drizzle of balsamic and chilli salt, with a lovely oat milk latte.’ And in another interview a couple of years back, Hannah referenced a similar preference for her morning meal: ‘I’m a fan of scrambled eggs and a lovely avocado with toasted sourdough.’
Brianna Bryson
What can we gather from that? Hannah Waddingham loves a breakfast of eggs plus some form of carb and nutrition-packed extras, such as avocado, to make things more exciting. A nutritionist reckons she’s nailing it.
‘Overall, this is a nourishing breakfast that contains several nutrient-rich foods,’ Rhiannon Lambert, a nutritionist, bestselling author and the founder of the Rhitrition Clinic, tells Good Housekeeping. ‘What I particularly like is that it combines protein with healthy fats, which can help slow digestion and provide more sustained energy, compared with a breakfast that’s predominantly made up of refined carbohydrates.’
So, what will each ingredient on Hannah’s typical breakfast plate do for your health? Let’s break it down bit by bit.
The health benefits of Hannah Waddingham’s breakfastEggs
Rhiannon says: ‘Eggs provide high-quality protein, which helps support muscle maintenance and can promote fullness throughout the morning to help avoid those mid-morning crashes! They’re also one of the richest dietary sources of choline, an essential nutrient that plays an important role in normal brain function, liver health and cell membranes, yet one that many people don’t consume enough of.’
Chorizo
Judging by the absence of chorizo in that interview with The Guardian, Hannah’s chorizo hash was more of a treat than an everyday breakfast choice, which Rhiannon says is spot on: ‘Chorizo certainly adds plenty of flavour and can contribute to protein intake, but because it’s a processed meat, I’d recommend enjoying it in moderation rather than as an everyday breakfast choice. We have strong evidence linking higher intakes of processed meat with an increased risk of bowel cancer, so it’s best viewed as an occasional addition rather than something to rely on regularly.’
Some good alternatives for an added protein boost at breakfast? Cottage cheese, smoked salmon, or – as Hannah prefers – a handful of spinach.
Potatoes or bread
Rhiannon advises balancing proteins with ‘a source of wholegrain carbohydrates, such as wholegrain sourdough or rye toast’. Potatoes (with the skins kept on!) will also do the job. ‘That would boost the fibre content further and help contribute towards the recommended 30g fibre a day, a target that around 96% of adults in the UK currently aren’t meeting,’ Rhiannon notes.
Avocado
Hannah is a big avocado fan, as is Rhiannon. ‘Avocado is an excellent addition, providing heart-healthy monounsaturated fats alongside fibre, potassium and vitamin E,’ the nutritionist explains. ‘Fibre is particularly important, as most adults in the UK don’t meet the recommended daily intake, and increasing our intake supports gut health, digestive health and can help us feel fuller for longer.’
One more bonus benefit: recent research suggests that eating one avocado a day may lower your risk of heart disease.
Vegetables
We don’t know the exact makeup of Hannah’s choice of chorizo hash, but we hope it’s packed full of yummy vegetables like peppers and tomatoes. We do know, though, that Hannah likes to add veg to her plate, typically rounding out her eggs and toast with spinach and cherry tomatoes. Rhiannon backs up these picks, chucking in mushrooms, too.
Any of these vegetables will further help towards your fibre goals, as well as packing in a whole host of vitamins and minerals, depending which you pick. Mushrooms, for example, can be rich in vitamin D, while spinach has a good amount of iron, and cherry tomatoes deliver vitamin A and C, both of which are great for skin.
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