James Haskell has been playing rugby at the highest level for a decade and while the sport itself has changed dramatically in that period, the England flanker’s attitude to nutrition has not.

An ambassador for Meridian Foods, the UK’s leading producer of nut butters, Haskell has placed a high importance on eating well since breaking into the Wasps team all the way back in 2002.

While he is now back at Wasps, Haskell’s career has taken him all over the world, playing in France, New Zealand and Japan.

And with a new study carried out by Meridian showing that nearly half of Brits spend less than ten minutes eating breakfast each day, Haskell explained why it should be the most important meal of the day.

He said: “I would never, ever miss breakfast. A lot of people skip breakfast, they say they are not a breakfast person, but it’s a habit.

“I wouldn’t be able to turn up to training and train on an empty stomach, I’ve done it and I don’t feel great.

“I plan my days off around where I can get an amazing breakfast. I have a knowledge of different locations in London and where I can get a great breakfast. My first port of call on a day off is planned around giving myself two or three hours to have a great breakfast, a good coffee and then I can start my day.”

Meridian Foods’ survey into the nation’s breakfast eating habits found that while breakfast is still eaten at least four times a week by two thirds of Brits surveyed (62%), nearly half (47%) allow less than ten minutes for breakfast each morning.

The average time dedicated to breakfast was just 13 minutes, compared to 21 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for dinner. One in ten (11%) people surveyed don’t eat breakfast at all.

And Wasps and England international and Meridian Foods Sporting Ambassador Haskell admitted there was one thing in particular which tickled his taste buds.

“I’ve been a fan of Meridian for probably the whole of my career. Their nut butter range is the best for the nutritional value you get out of it, the fact you know exactly what you’re getting. There’s no rubbish in there, no palm oil,” he added.

“I became an ambassador about 18 months ago, their nut butters are a staple of everything I do, whether it’s breakfast in the morning or the last thing at night.

“They are trying to educate people on the importance of breakfast and that nut butters in combination with grains have a complete protein which can fuel your day.”

Meridian’s palm-oil free nut butters provide a natural source of protein and energy - perfect for inclusion in a range of healthy breakfast recipes so you start your day the right way. For inspiration and recipes visit www.meridianfoods.co.uk/recipes