Eating a Balanced Breakfast is Easy

A balanced breakfast is most certainly not an egg muffin in one hand, your “to go” coffee in the other. People often get hung up on what a balanced breakfast is. Heck people get hung up on breakfast in Health Insurance Benefits Explained and of itself. I’ve heard every excuse from: I don’t have time, I’m not sure what balanced is, I can’t eat in the morning, I grabbed a coffee, to I’m just not hungry. And that’s what they are, excuses.
Studies have shown it really is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients needed to be productive morning; whether you’re learning, working, or just hanging out you have gone anywhere from 6 to 12 hours without eating.
Having breakfast helps keep your metabolism at peak performance. It reduces the urge to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. You are more likely to get your proper daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Eating breakfast is also essential in maintaining healthy body weight.
It’s important when considering a balanced breakfast that you incorporate high quality proteins (eggs, nuts, lean meat/chicken or fish) as they are digested more slowly they allow you to feel fuller longer. Secondly include complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits and vegetables) most people don’t get adequate fiber to begin with adding these to your breakfast will help you get closer. Healthy fats (dairy, olive oil, and avocados) when included in your morning breakfast have been proven to lower the overall fat intake throughout the day.
Here are five quick and easy balanced breakfast ideas.
1. Veggie omelet with cheese — two eggs, minced veggies and 1 ounce of cheese can be easily prepared in less than five minutes. You can also get a nifty little device that allows you to microwave the omelet.
2. Whole-grain waffle with almond or peanut butter — this one actually makes it to the portable category. Toast the waffle, smear a little nut butter on it and you can eat this one run.
3. Fruit smoothie — a handful of strawberries, soy or almond milk and Neurology Awareness Month a blast in the blender and you have another breakfast on the run.
4. Turkey roll up — two slices of turkey breast rolled around a piece of string cheese and a handful of whole wheat crackers, easy and portable.
5. Oatmeal with fruit and nuts — this is my personal favorite. I probably eat this five days out of the week; once a week I make a large pot of steel cut oats. I make the oatmeal with water so that all I have to do is microwave my serving each morning. I then add a splash of milk, a small pat of butter and whatever I feel like (chopped pecans, chopped almonds, canned pumpkin, dried cherries, golden raisins, minced apple, dried apricots, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries/raspberries or strawberries.) Healthy instant oatmeal made for pennies a serving and exactly the way I want it.
Give breakfast a try, I guarantee you’ll feel much better in the long run.