Wazzup Pilipinas!
Herbalife Nutrition released findings from its Asia Pacific Healthy Breakfast Survey, conducted in February this year with more than 5,500 respondents in 11 markets – including 500 from the Philippines.
Aimed at uncovering insights into the attitudes and habits of eating breakfast among consumers in the region, the survey revealed that the majority of respondents understand the importance of a healthy breakfast in promoting their well-being and in managing their weight, however, many of them have encountered obstacles to eating it daily, and would be encouraged to eat it more regularly if it was more convenient and accessible.
Benefits of consuming breakfast
Based on the Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Healthy Breakfast Survey, the majority (69 percent) of consumers in the Philippines consider breakfast extremely/very important, with 86 percent choosing it as the most important meal of the day. In comparison, only 11 percent opted for lunch and 2 percent for dinner. When asked about the benefits of consuming a healthy breakfast, 99 percent said that eating breakfast “gives them energy in the morning” while 96 percent felt that “it contributes to their personal well-being”.
Looking at the breakfast habits of consumers in the Philippines, the survey found that 84 percent do indeed make it a priority to eat their first and most important meal of the day at home, with 67 percent doing so within one to two hours of waking. The rest would just grab their breakfast either at work (10 percent) or on the way to work (4 percent). Only 2 percent of the respondents do not eat breakfast.
What are the consumers in the Philippines eating for breakfast?
The survey also showed that although 41 percent of respondents consider protein as the predominant nutrient needed in their breakfast, carbohydrates in fact made up most of the actual breakfast nutrients in the consumption pattern of the respondents. Carbohydrates such as bread or toast and hot beverages top the list of breakfast foods regularly consumed.
Obstacles to a daily breakfast
While the survey indicated that a good majority are eating breakfast, it also found that many had encountered obstacles to eating it daily. The top three barriers are “lack of time” (44 percent), “don’t feel hungry in the morning” (30 percent) and “trying to maintain my weight” (18 percent).
To overcome these obstacles, 54 percent of the respondents said having “If my breakfast contributes to my health and well-being” and “If breakfast helps give me more energy” would help them eat breakfast daily, other motivation factors include making breakfast “readily accessible” (53 percent) or having something that is “more convenient and easy” (48 percent).
“It is heartening to see that most Asia Pacific consumers are aware of the importance of eating breakfast. At Herbalife Nutrition we believe that there are many benefits of eating a healthy breakfast daily. A healthy breakfast with balanced nutrition not only provides the much-needed nutrients for the day, but also has wide-ranging benefits in the long run, including supporting healthy metabolism, better brain health and improved weight management,” said Mr. Rosalio Valenzuela, Country Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines.
“However, the survey also revealed that many are still not consuming breakfast daily. One can easily overcome the obstacles by waking up 15 minutes earlier to prepare something fast such as a protein shake. Eating a healthy breakfast regularly can really set the stage for healthier eating all day long, and promote and maintain a lifetime of wellness,” added Mr. Valenzuela.
According to the Herbalife Nutrition Philosophy, every meal consumed should have a calorie intake breakdown of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fats. Carbohydrates should include, at the very least, some fruits or vegetables.
Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour
To educate Asia Pacific consumers on how to adopt positive nutrition habits for a healthier and happier life, Herbalife Nutrition will be conducting its ninth Asia Pacific Wellness Tour from April 13 to April 29. The Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour features a series of medical symposia and nutrition talks held in cities across Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
During the Tour, Herbalife Nutrition fitness experts and members of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) will share their expertise on a variety of health-related topics, with a focus on the importance of a healthy breakfast.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
