Three skin-supportive breakfasts to boost your glow naturally

In our role as skincare buffs, we’re always on the quest for glowing radiant skin, but even we will admit that topical skincare and products used externally can only take you so far. To really enhance the effect of your products and give your skin a boost, you need to nourish it from within too. The most important elements of skin-supporting nutrition? Protein - to supply the amino acids you need to make collagen; healthy fats- like a moisturiser from within, these nourish, soften and plump out skin, while giving us a natural protection from sun damage, thanks to vitamin E, an active sun blocker; zinc, for help healing blemishes and redness; Beta-carotene for vitamin A (think retinol) and vitamin C: for brightening and boosting collagen production.

Why not try these three skin-supporting breakfasts - courtesy of Koko*, the coconut-based milk alternative, that tastes surprisingly like dairy?

Monday - Wintery cinnamon and apple porridge

Try this winter warmer to kick off the week. To plump out fine lines and hydrate skin from within, top with walnuts are packed with vitamin E, zinc and fatty acids: all of which will help to protect, plump up and soften.

• ●  1 apple, cored and roughly chopped

• ●  1 tsp ground cinnamon

• ●  300ml Koko Original Milk

• ●  2 tbsp maple syrup

• ●  70g jumbo porridge oats

1. Put the oats in a medium bowl with 300ml Koko Original, stir and set aside to

   soak. Meanwhile, put the chopped apple, 4 tbsp cold water in a large saucepan, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat until the apples have softened.

2. When the apples are soft, pour the soaked oats and soaking liquid into the pan, then stir in the cinnamon and maple syrup.

3. Turn the heat to low-medium and gently simmer the porridge for 10 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon regularly to stop the oats from sticking and clumping together.

4. When the porridge has thickened, take the pan off the heat and leave to stand for a minute before serving.

5. Add an extra drizzle of maple syrup if you’d like it a little sweeter & decorate with sliced apples & an extra dusting of cinnamon.

Wednesday- Berry breakfast smoothie 

An excellent post-workout pick-me-up that will help to brighten your complexion, thanks to vitamin-c rich blueberries. Top with fatty-acid rich seeds and zinc-rich flaked almonds for a smoothie bowl that will help plump out skin. These are also brilliant for reducing inflammation that causes rosacea and acne.

• 1 medium banana

• 1 small pear

• 150g blueberries

• 3 dates

• 120g Koko Plain Yogurt Alternative

•  200ml Koko Original Milk

1. Peel banana and cut the stalk off the pear and put all ingredients into a Smoothie

   Maker.

2. Blend for 3 minutes or until mixture is smooth.

3. Pour into your favourite chilled glass, and for an optional extra garnish with fresh

   mint leaves and chia seeds.

Sunday - Protein-packed collagen-boosting chocolate coconut pancakes

These make a dreamy weekend brunch. Packed with collagen-building protein, and fatty-acid rich coconut, these delicious dairy-free pancakes will help to give your skin a more youthful structure.