The problem with ready-to-eat breakfast bars, according to a dietitian

Lauren Jumps is a skipping content creator. The 34-year-old shares her day on a plate.

8.30am I’m not an early riser. Coffee with frothy full-fat milk and sugar, plus Greek
yoghurt with a couple of breakfast biscuits – something quick and light before the gym.

10.30am A high-protein snack: cottage cheese with honey after my leg session at the gym.

1.30pm After a skipping session, choreographing and filming a routine, lunch is leftovers from the night before – a ginger, lime and garlic coconut chicken curry with baby corn, spinach and rice.

7.30pm Dinner is sesame honey roasted duck breast with hoisin noodles, pak choi and
mushrooms.

9.30pm A couple of squares of dark chocolate.

Dr Joanna McMillan says:

Top marks for… Fuelling your active mornings with protein – the yoghurt and cottage cheese support muscle repair and recovery from gym and skipping sessions. You’re also getting a good mix of vegetables and iron-rich foods such as duck and spinach which are essential for energy levels given your training load.

If you keep eating like this you’ll… Likely maintain strength and muscle mass, but you’re missing out on fruit and falling short on fibre, key for gut health and immune function. The reliance on refined carbs (biscuits, white rice, noodles) could lead to energy dips across such long, active days.

Why don’t you try… Swapping the breakfast biscuits for oats topped with fruit alongside your Greek yoghurt – an easy upgrade that boosts fibre, vitamins and steady energy. You could also carry that wholegrain theme through the day with brown rice or buckwheat noodles.

Lauren Jumps is in Australia for Dairy Farmers’ “Get More Oomph” campaign to promote
kids’ health and vitality.

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