In my first year at Cambridge, I was shocked by the number of students who skipped breakfast. When you wake up, your body has been fasting all night, optimistically for eight hours, but, realistically for students, five or six. This drastically slows your metabolic rate, which means that throughout the day you will burn fewer calories and feel less alert. Eating a healthy breakfast is delicious and can prevent this, so there’s really no excuse for missing it. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming either, most of these suggestions can be prepared in less than then minutes.

The most effective advice I can give is to choose whole foods, which are unprocessed and natural. This means no sugar-filled cereal bars purporting to be the new slimming fad. Added sugars don’t provide you with real energy, and will make you more likely to snack later in the day.

Eating fruit, nuts, or Greek yogurt requires no cooking, no plates, and most importantly no washing up. Yogurt has the benefit of being a filling protein, but it’s best to buy plain yogurt and add your own flavours if necessary, such as honey, jam or fruit. Berries are a good option to add to your morning cereal, porridge or yoghurt. These superfood fruits are low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants and phytonutrients.

If you find it hard to eat in the morning, why not try a smoothie? There are lots of different brands out there, so make sure you read the sugar content. If you have the time (and a hand-held blender), why not try making your own? Even if the fruits you like are out of season, you can buy frozen berries to add to the smoothie of your choice, and with a few spoonfuls of natural yoghurt and a splash of juice, you can whizz up your own tasty, healthly drink in minutes. Go to health shops to find other supplements as well, like spirulina for energy and wheatgrass for the immune system.

One of the best breakfast foods is porridge, as it releases energy slowly throughout the morning, helping you to escape those midmorning hunger pangs. Porridge is packed with soluble fibre, which helps lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels.

Although convenient, avoid high-sugar instant packets, and opt for plain oats prepared with low-fat milk or water. Taking just two minutes in the microwave, it’s a simple way to start the day, which has numerous benefits.