Is Grapefruit For Breakfast Actually Healthy?

Healthy breakfasts aren’t always an easy habit to inculcate, but especially not if you’re playing by the rules of the silver screen. We’ve seen it in movies and TV shows where someone sits down to breakfast and is presented with a slice of big pink grapefruit, but is that really good for you or have we just been duped by Hollywood into thinking it is?

Aside from their colour, grapefruit can look quite similar tony other citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, but the taste is very unique. Ranging from sour to sweet, it often has bitter notes that can be a little difficult for some people to warm up to, especially first thing in the morning, but it turns out that it’s worth it after all.

High in Vitamin C, grapefruit is a great anti-inflammatory and lower in sugars than other starchier fruits like apples or bananas, so you get a dose of health without dealing with excess carbohydrates. The folates help with generating new cells and the high fibre content helps regulate digestion while also keeping you full for longer. Plus, every grapefruit is around 92% water – one of the highest of any fruit – which can replenish the hydration you lose at night. 

But if the idea of spooning the sour fruit out plain makes your toes curl know that you can harness this nutrition in other ways too. In a salad as a vinaigrette, or as part of juice or smoothie bowl. But if you’re determined to go the traditional route, here’s a quick and easy morning recipe for you to try.

Ingredients:

  • 2 grapefruits
  • 4 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • Honey
  • Ground cinnamon/cardamom

Method:

  • Preheat the grill in your oven or prepare a non-stick grill pan
  • Halve the grapefruits using a paring knife and cut the sections away from the membranes and pith so they are easy to spoon up. 
  • Place grapefruit halves, cut-side up, on a baking sheet. 
  • Mix the vanilla essence into the sugar and sprinkle each grapefruit half with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, then drizzle with melted butter and a little honey. 
  • Sprinkle cinnamon or cardamom over the tops.
  • Grill the grapefruit for 2-5 minutes until the sugar melts and caramelises.
  • When the sugar forms a golden crust, remove the grapefruit from the oven and serve immediately.