WHAT CENTENARIANS EAT FOR BREAKFAST

What’s the secret to living past 100? According to longevity expert Dan Buettner, who has spent decades studying the habits of the world’s longest-living people — in the so-called Blue Zones — the key might lie in what you don’t eat for breakfast.

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Forget eggs and bacon. Buettner says the ideal breakfast for a long and healthy life is plant-based and rich in fiber.

In regions like Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), and Ikaria (Greece) — where people frequently live beyond 100 — mornings often begin with simple, wholesome, plant-based meals: whole grains, vegetables, legumes, olives, local honey, and herbal teas.

Buettner himself often starts his day with a bowl of minestrone soup made with beans and vegetables — a far cry from the sugary cereals or processed breakfast options common in many modern diets.

WHY SKIP EGGS, BACON, AND PROCESSED CEREALS?

Eggs and bacon are high in saturated fats, which studies from Blue Zone regions suggest are not ideal for longevity. Processed cereals, on the other hand, are often packed with sugar and refined ingredients — a combination that can shorten, rather than extend, your life.

HOW TO BUILD A LONGEVITY-BOOSTING BREAKFAST

Start with fiber-rich, plant-based foods.

Include legumes, vegetables, and whole grains.

A bowl of hearty minestrone soup can be just as energizing as a traditional breakfast.

In short, if you want to eat like a centenarian, skip the frying pan — and reach for the soup pot instead.