The 19th century American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne was fond of his breakfast. Indeed he went so far as to say, “Life, within doors has few pleasanter prospects than a neatly arranged and well-provisioned breakfast-table.”

“Steady on, Nath old boy,” one might be inclined to retort, but you have to admit he had a point.

All the dietary and nutritional thinking has for years emphasised that breakfast is the most important meal of your day. Indeed it is often reckoned that we Irish eat our meals “back to front”. In other words, we have too much of a tendency to skip breakfast, fuel up with a bulky, leisurely lunch and top it all off with a stately dinner in the evening.

Part of the reason for this nutritionally suspect habit must be the pace of our modern life-styles. Even faced with convincing advice to the contrary, too many people people persist with an attitude that is clearly bad for them.

So let’s hear it one more time. According to all the experts, a healthy, nutritious and filling breakfast is essential. As the National Dairy Council Information Centre points out, many breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals and thereby provide you with a good healthy kick-start to your day. When milk is added you also get a supply of protein, calcium and additional vitamins. We are also importing the continental European breakfast which often includes fresh fruit, bread and cheese. Modern cooking facilities mean that making breakfast is hassle free and there is an ample sufficiency of alternative foods to cater for even the most wayward of tastes.

So here’s just a small sample of the delights waiting to reward your early morning palate.

One of the leading names in the cereals business is that of Kelkin. Kelkin Naturproducts Limited is an Irish company which has been at the forefront of the health food industry in Ireland since 1977, and which over the years has established a reputation for providing the Irish consumer with genuine quality health products.

Kelkin market a wide range of products under their own brand name, from dried fruits and nuts to no-added-sugar muesli. To take one example, Kelkin Olympic Gold Muesli is a blend of cereals, fruit and nuts, which is high in fibre and rich in fruits and nuts (43%). It’s available in three different varieties, Original, Tropical and Honeycrunch giving you no excuse not to get your day off to a healthy start.

In addition to the original and tropical varieties of Olympic Gold Muesli, Kelkin recently launched Honeycrunch Muesli, with the aim of bridging the gap between the connoisseur of muesli and the general consumer, looking for a healthy option.

Kelkin Naturproducts also distribute the superb Jordans range of cereals. Family millers since 1896, Jordans are among the few remaining family millers, firms who believe in the value of wholesome food products as an aid to healthy living. The Original Crunchy Cereal range is made exclusively with conservation-grade cereals. Set up in 1989, the Guild of Conservation Grade Producers aims to establish practices which are beneficial to the environment.

Jordans Cereals, through Kelkin Naturproducts, have experienced a recent increase in sales of 15% as they add to the loyal following the brand has with the Irish consumer. And it’s no wonder. Because there’s nothing like real quality when it comes to the food you put on your table.

Maxwell House is Ireland’s leading coffee brand. Consumed by one in two of all Irish coffee drinkers, it can justifiably claim to be Ireland’s favourite coffee. A well known household brand, it is one of the most popular and best supported brands in Ireland. Available in both powder and granule form, Maxwell House’s popularity has been built upon its ability to perfectly match the Irish consumers’ taste in coffee. Maxwell House is a mild-tasting coffee, well suited to the Irish palate and makes an excellent beverage at breakfast time or indeed at any time of the day.