Queen Camilla's winter breakfast choice of plain porridge with a spoonful of her own honey has been endorsed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for its cardiovascular benefits, thanks to the high fibre content. Her son, Tom Parker Bowles, revealed this humble yet healthy meal in his 2024 book 'Cooking & The Crown'.
Royal Breakfast Revealed
In his book, Tom Parker Bowles wrote: 'In winter, my mother, Queen Camilla, eats porridge every day - plain, aside from a little of her own honey. The hives sit at the back of a field at Raymill, the house in which my sister and I spent the latter part of our youth.' He added that the honey is 'delicate and mild, as fine stirred into a good Darjeeling tea as it is mixed with porridge or yoghurt.'
Heart Health Benefits
The BHF has ranked porridge above granola, corn flakes, muesli, and bran flakes as the best option for a heart-conscious breakfast. This is due to beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that can lower cholesterol levels when consumed in quantities of 3g or more daily as part of a balanced diet. While Queen Camilla uses full-fat milk and a pinch of salt, the BHF recommends using water or low-fat milk and adding fruits like bananas for natural sweetness to maximize health benefits.
According to the BHF, 'As well as beta-glucan, you’ll be getting the fibre from the whole grains, plus there is no added sugar or salt. Instead of adding sugar or salt to your porridge for flavour – instead, try adding a banana or other fruits for extra sweetness. For every 80g that you add it will be one of your five-a-day at the same time.'
Honey and Heart Health
Beyond porridge, honey itself may support heart health. A 2020 study suggested that honey is a 'potential candidate to be explored further as a natural and dietary alternative to the management of cardiovascular disease,' acting as a cardioprotective agent. However, further research is needed to confirm this link.
About 'Cooking & The Crown'
Tom Parker Bowles' book 'Cooking and The Crown' is a culinary tribute to over a century of royal dining, from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. It includes both extravagant dishes like 'Pommes Elizabeth' and simple recipes that readers can try at home.
