Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should be eaten within an hour of getting up! Not eating breakfast or eating the wrong breakfast is like expecting your car to start without gas or with coffee instead of gas. Breakfast is the "break from the fast you experienced during the night, since you ate dinner." Eating breakfast and eating a healthy breakfast sets you up for the whole day.
So what should you have for breakfast? A balanced meal with lots of protein, fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Eggs are great and make it easier to add vegetables. Experiment with omelets, try a ziploc omelet and add salsa. Steel-cut oats or old fashioned oatmeal are good made with almond milk (they both can also be made in advance!) and add cinnamon and fruit. Fresh raw veggies add color and texture. Decorate the plate with fresh, clean baby spinach. Sugar has no place at the breakfast table, so avoid the obvious donuts and pastries, but also be smart about cereals and packaged breakfasts like instant shakes, instant oatmeal and breads, pancakes and waffles. I love egg muffins, which can be made in advance and refrigerated or frozen. They are quick and everybody likes them.
What if I just don't have time? Egg muffins, smoothies, ziploc omelets are all quick and make ahead ideas. There is never an excuse, especially if you do a little planning ahead of time. Smoothies are quick and simple and can be healthy with the right ingredients. Buy a single serve on the go smoothie blender and the blender part is also a to go cup with sipping lid. They are very inexpensive and super fast.
What if I am just not hungry in the mornings? That is because you haven't been eating breakfast and your body has programmed itself to not be hungry until there is nothing left and blood sugar levels are at their lowest! Do you like running out of gas and having to push your car into the gas station? Then why do it to your body? Start with something small like a smoothie or egg muffin. Then continue to add from there. I was never a breakfast eater until I needed to eat healthier to lose weight. I start most days with a fruit and vegetable smoothie with added protein and fiber. Breakfast is also a great time for a juiced vegetable drink because it fills you up and gives you great energy.
If you are a coffee drinker, limit your intake. I recommend one cup a day or less. Alternatives are green tea because it contains caffeine and is hot (cool it off and add it to your smoothie or juice) and warm lemon water (add the juice from half a lemon to a glass of warm water). The lemon water is good for your gall bladder, cleansing and gets the metabolism going.
For more information or a detailed one-on-one consultation on how to add breakfast back in a healthy way, email myhealthyhelper@gmail.com. All the recipes or foods I mentioned are available in the My Healthy Helper cookbook. Email me for details. Have a healthy and happy breakfast!
