The trees are on the turn, the weather is getting chilly and it is time to start the day with something warm that warms you up from the inside: porridge!
Some additions to make your porridge interesting:
Spices: according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, dried ginger 'warms the centre', and cinnamon sends heat to the peripheries - just what we need in cold weather. You can also add grated fresh ginger, which is also warming, or cloves and cardamon (just stick a couple of pods or cloves in the pan during cooking).
Fruit: grate an apple (cooking or eating varieties both work well) or a pear in; add blackberries (in season now), or any other frozen berries; dried fruit works wonderfully too - a handful of raisins sweetens the mix, or chopped dried apricots will boost the iron content of your breakfast. This helps you on your way to five-plus a day.
Nuts: add ground nuts and seeds to increase the Omega 3 content - walnuts and flax are the most valuable for Omega 3, but any nuts will increase the protein content and keep you fuller for longer.
Coconut: dessicated coconut adds real flavour, and benefits the immune system - the lauric acid it contains is the same as in breast milk, one of the reasons breastfeeding helps a child's immunity.
Molasses are what remains after sugarcane has been refined to make white sugar: it contains an abundance of trace minerals adn tastes delicious - you don't need much though as it is strong.
Whatever you do to your porridge, ring the changes and enjoy it.