Experts reveal six reasons why you should eat your breakfast outdoors amidst surging temperatures across the UK

With higher temperatures set to return in the UK in the coming days, it’s important that Brits make the most of spending time outdoors whilst they can.

Sometimes, particularly for office workers, it can be hard to make time to spend in nature. So why not start your day off right and eat your breakfast in the garden this August?

To encourage Brits to make the most of the last of the warm weather, Hayes Garden World has released six reasons as to why eating your breakfast outdoors is good for your health – and taste buds.

The leading garden centre has partnered with Registered Nutritional Therapist, Sophie Trotman, to find out more about how eating outdoors can impact the way we enjoy food, and has paired these with tips from their in-house Gardening Expert, Angela Slater.

Registered Nutritional Therapist, Sophie Trotman (@sophietrotmannutrition), has shared three science-backed benefits of eating breakfast outdoors:

1. Avoiding screen time encourages mindful eating

“When you eat outside, it is much more likely that you are eating away from a screen. This means that it is far more likely that you are engaging in what is known as mindful eating.”

“Mindful eating is a process of savouring each moment of eating during a meal, rather than just shovelling down food – as we’ve all been guilty of! Mindful eating has far-reaching benefits related to digestion, weight management and even stress reduction.”

2. Eating during natural daylight has health benefits 

“Eating your breakfast outside in the morning is a really positive start to the day, as it means that your body is getting natural daylight straight away. This is an excellent way to help to regulate our body’s circadian rhythm – our body’s internal body clock that helps to manage hormone balance, our sleep and much more. It is all too easy to hop straight on the laptop alongside a bowl of breakfast. Get outside first thing and your body will thank you.”

3. Holiday memories can make food taste more satisfying 

“Eating outside often evokes memories of holidays. This can make the food on our plate taste more satisfying. Satisfaction and pleasure form an important part of building sustainable healthful habits related to both food and routine, all of which can contribute to better physical and mental health.”

Gardening Expert at Hayes Garden World, Angela Slater, has shared three additional benefits of eating your breakfast in your garden each morning.

4. Being outdoors has countless health benefits 

“Getting outside is the best way to get vital Vitamin D, which helps to improve overall health and protect against things like osteoporosis. Eating breakfast in the garden means you start the day off with a boost of Vitamin D ready for the day ahead.”

“Fresh air is also known to support your immune system thanks to all that lovely extra oxygen. Heading outdoors with your overnight oats means you’re breathing in lots of fresh air without even thinking about it.”

5. The sensory experience starts your day right 

“Dining al fresco means you can enjoy the sights and sounds of your garden; bird song, the buzzing of bees and all those colourful flora and fauna will stimulate your senses. This can inspire creativity and present you with new ideas or experiences. You’re more likely to focus throughout the day when you’ve been woken by a gentle sensory experience and your outdoor space is perfect for that.”

6. Garden breakfast inspires connections and reduces stress

   “Breakfast outside is much more likely to inspire emotional and social connections. Taking in your beautiful surroundings can put you in touch with your emotions, inciting feelings of happiness and contentment.”

   “Eating breakfast outside with others is far more likely to produce conversation and social interaction which is known to have mental and emotional health benefits. Studies show that eating outdoors reduces stress so create a social space in your garden and grab a bowl of cornflakes.”

Hayes Garden World has released these tips to encourage Brits to make the most of the last of the warm weather, and start their day right by eating breakfast in their garden.