Start the Year as You Mean to Go On

The start of a new year often arrives with good intentions. We promise ourselves healthier habits, more movement and better balance, yet resolutions can quickly feel overwhelming. One of the simplest and most achievable ways to set a positive tone is by rethinking how the day begins.

A nourishing breakfast does more than curb mid-morning cravings. Choosing foods that are filling and supportive of gut health can help stabilise energy levels, reduce snacking and support everything from exercise goals to overall wellbeing. When the first meal of the day works with your body rather than against it, the benefits tend to ripple outwards.

This is where raw honey comes into its own.

Why raw honey matters

Organic honey brand Honey Heaven has created a range of breakfast recipes designed to make mornings both delicious and nourishing. Unlike most commercial honey, which is pasteurised using high heat to extend shelf life and improve texture, Honey Heaven’s honeys are raw and unprocessed. This means their natural goodness is preserved.

Honey Heaven’s collection of 17 organic raw honeys comes from a single artisan beekeeper in Hungary and is bottled straight from the hive. As a result, the honey retains pollen, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are often lost during processing.

Raw honey also plays a role in gut health. Its natural carbohydrates help feed beneficial bacteria already present in the gut, while also supporting the survival of probiotics from other foods such as yoghurt. It is a gentle yet powerful ingredient that fits easily into everyday meals.

A naturally better way to start the day

The following breakfast ideas combine raw honey with fibre rich fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds to create meals that are satisfying, energising and kind to digestion. Whether you prefer something warming, fresh or indulgent, these recipes make it easier to begin the day well and maintain healthier habits throughout the year.

Berry Honey Smoothie Bowl

What better way to begin the day than with this vibrant, mouth-watering combo of fruits and nuts, sweetened with our own Organic Honey Heaven Acacia Honey? A smoothie bowl so good you’ll wish it could be breakfast every mealtime!

Ingredients:

1 cup of frozen berries
1 and 1/2 frozen bananas
1/3 cups of almond milk
1 tbsp of Organic Honey Heaven Acacia Honey

Toppings:

1/2 banana
handful of blueberries
handful of granola
strawberries
Organic Honey Heaven Acacia Honey liberally drizzled

Method:

Blend together all the ingredients until smooth
Serve in a bowl
Add the toppings with a finishing drizzle of honey

Chia and Honey Pudding

This super healthy pudding is packed full of goodness from fresh fruit, nuts and chia seeds. These magic little seeds are a genuine superfood bursting with protein, fibre and antioxidants and are known to boost mood. Adding a tablespoon of our stunning lavender honey results in a sublime combination that could be eaten just as easily at breakfast as at the end of the day.

Serves: 2 | Prep time: 10 min | Soak time: 1 to 12 hours

Ingredients:

1 cup of coconut milk
1/4 cup of chia seeds
1/3 cup of coconut yoghurt
1 tbsp of Organic Honey Heaven Lavender Honey
Blueberries, pumpkin seeds and extra honey for topping

Method:

In a bowl or jar, stir together the chia seeds, milk and honey. If you’re using a jar, put on the lid and shake to combine everything.
Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and stir again. Cover and rest in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.
Separate into two bowls or jars and serve with blueberries, pumpkin seeds and extra lavender honey.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Porridge

Nothing starts the day quite like porridge, especially in winter. Warming, filling and with the addition of walnuts this aromatic porridge is a good source of protein while the delicious flavour of cinnamon from our honey elevates the whole bowl.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Oatmeal:

80g thick cut rolled oats, GF
1 medium Granny Smith apple, grated
800ml almond milk
2 to 3 tbsp Organic Honey Heaven Cinnamon Set Honey
Pinch of sea salt

Toppings:

Caramelised apples and walnuts
1 medium Gala apple, sliced with skin on
2 tbsps unsalted butter
2 tsp of Organic Honey Heaven Cinnamon Set Honey
Pinch of sea salt

Method:

Add the oats, sliced apples, milk, honey and sea salt to a medium saucepan.
Heat the saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil and reduce heat to low, simmering for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Heat the butter in a medium skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the honey and sea salt. Stir until combined and bubbling. Add the sliced apples and toss to coat. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until tender and the sauce thickens.
Portion the oatmeal into two bowls. Top with caramelised apples and toasted walnuts and drizzle a little more honey over the top.

Sourdough Toast with Ricotta, Figs, Honeycomb and Thyme

Sourdough is often considered a healthier alternative to conventional bread due to its fermentation process, which makes it easier to digest and potentially better for blood sugar control. Combined with ricotta, a natural probiotic rich in beneficial bacteria, fibrous figs and honeycomb, a powerful prebiotic and source of vitamin B, this breakfast is exceptionally gut friendly.

Ingredients:

2 slices sourdough bread
4 tablespoons ricotta cheese
2 fresh figs, sliced
Honey Heaven organic honeycomb pieces
Fresh thyme, chopped

Method:

Toast the sourdough bread to your desired level of crispiness.
Spread a layer of ricotta cheese evenly over the toasted bread.
Place the sliced figs on top of the ricotta cheese together with a piece of fresh honeycomb.
Sprinkle a pinch of chopped fresh thyme on top.
Enjoy immediately.

A healthy year does not begin with restriction or extremes. It starts with small, thoughtful choices that are easy to sustain. By focusing on a nourishing breakfast and supporting gut health from the very first meal of the day, those bigger resolutions become far easier to keep.

All Honey Heaven honeys and honeycomb are available at www.honeyheaven.co.uk. Selected varieties can also be found at Planet Organic in London and independent retailers nationwide.