Staff Writer
Every night when I go to sleep I think to myself: Tomorrow I'm going to get up 30 minutes earlier and make myself a nice breakfast. And every morning I snooze through those extra 30 minutes, plus 10 more.
I will miss breakfast once more.
Apparently, I am not alone. An ABC News poll found nearly 4 in 10 Americans skips breakfast. It's a slippery slope and the worst way to start your day.
"Breakfast is crucial for fueling your body, providing energy, maintaining metabolism and even improving concentration," explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Pamela Ofstein. "If you skip breakfast, you may find yourself lacking energy, hungrier and more apt to overeat later in the day."
Since most Americans are time crunched in the early hours, we've put together our five favorite ways to start the day because the most important meal is breakfast. While eating anything is better than nothing, these recommendations will give you what you need to power through your day.
"Eating a balanced breakfast is the goal -- protein, carbohydrate and fat sources," Pam says. "But if time is a constraint or you need something convenient, you don’t always have to go with the typical breakfast – grab a piece of fruit, yogurt and some nuts or wrap a slice of turkey and cheese in a tortilla."
My favorite fast breakfast is cereal, but I've given up the sugary magic marshmallow happy-O's for slightly more mature grownup fair. Whole grain cereals are the healthiest; full of fiber and teamed with skim milk you get a great dose of protein. Add your favorite fruit for more nutrients and a touch of sweetness.
When I eat in the car, it's a Kashi granola bar, a banana and low-fat string cheese. There isn't anything much quicker than that.
Even the college breakfast staple cold pizza is better than nothing. (While this wasn't Pam's favorite recommendation, she does agree that, in a pinch, this will work. Just don't make pizza for breakfast a habit.)
Do you eat breakfast? What's your favorite fast way to start your day?
Like this post? We think you'd also enjoy:
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-- My Favorite Healthy Breakfast
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Comment: Monday, July 14, 2008 11:06:00 PM - 
said...
hi I think that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, I start my day off with a delicous fruit smoothie. In this smoothie I blend frozen strawberries, a banana, strawberry yougurt and soy milk. If I am really hungry that morning I also have a soy joy bar. Thanks to the invention of smoothies all my mornings are great. GO SMOOTHIES!!
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:29:00 AM - said...
I like a slice of 9 grain bread, toasted, with natural peanut butter, sliced bananas and a quick drizzle of chocolate. It lasts all morning and leaves a smile in my stomach.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 4:49:00 AM - Gemma said...
My favourite morning kick-start has to be proper porridge oats with skimmed milk uncooked, with raisins and craisins, sometimes topped with a bit of honey, and a glass of pure pineapple juice.
Either that or a lovely bowl of muesli with some extra craisins and the glass of pineapple juice.
Porridge oats with skimmed milk, a chopped up banana and honey microwaved for a minute or two and then stirred around is wonderful too... perfect for cold dreary mornings :].
Nimble wholemeal bread is lovely aswell, only 48 calories per slice, toast it in the morning with some low fat spread and lime marmalade, oooft... its gorgeous. Alongside my glass of pineapple juice... heaven :].
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:54:00 AM - said...
My favorite fast breakfast is a bowl of cheerios or small bowl of instant oatmeal with 2% milk. You have to watch out for some of those little individual bags of oatmeal. Some are loaded with suger. Others are okay. I love my oatmeal first thing in the morning.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:28:00 AM - said...
A bran muffin or banana muffin with coffee and on the go...
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:17:00 AM - said...
I have found it takes just minutes to make an "egg-white omlette". I buy the liquid egg-whites pour into the pan, add a pinch of mozzarella cheese cook into an omelette; toast 2 pieces of rye toast. I am done in just minutes, cut up my omlette w/my toast or if I am really in a hurry make it into a sandwich and out the door I go.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:44:00 AM - said...
Yes, breakfast is my favorite! My decision is different most mornings. I make sure I always have skim, low-fat cereal with fiber, fruit, rolled oats, eggs, etc. on hand. My mornings are busy with two 7 year olds. My key is everyone eats the same breakfast! It's faster. So, a morning where I have 10 minutes to prepare and eat. We eat cereal, skim, fruit or a granola bar, skim, fruit. A day that I have time to cook, we have 3egg whites, 1 multi-grain english muffin, borden cheese slice, mushrooms, garlic & onions, 1 slice canadian bacon(healthy egg McMuffin). That totals to a 200 calorie sandwich! When I start my family's day healthy we feel it and can continue it throughout the day. Know how to use your time wisely as well as your choices, then you won't miss a meal.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:52:00 AM - said...
I absolutely LOVE a cup of yogurt (I like the Danon Lite and Fit cause it's sugar free and has only 60 calories) with a few tablespoons of a low fat granola mixed in. For less than 165 calories it's a great breakfast AND a great dessert when you need to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 3:13:00 PM - said...
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So I start mines off with one Yoplait yogurt, one oats+chocolate FIBER ONE bar(helps tame my chocolate habit and I get some good old fiber to cleans the colon and lower my cholesterol), and one banana. The fiber bars taste great and I kill two birds with one stone when it comes to staying healthy.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 4:59:00 PM - 
Rachel said...
I am so excited that I started eating breakfast! I love coffee, so while I cook I drink some with skim milk and one teaspoon of sugar (splenda IF I have it). I either have an egg-substitute omelet with spinach and a little cheese (whatever I have- feta is actually rare in my house, but delicious) and a slice or two of multigrain toast. Sometimes I have a multigrain waffle instead, or some hot cereal. I also love regular cereal with skim milk and fruit. There is so much that is so quick! I'm glad to see that others take time as well.
Comment: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:10:00 PM - said...
A quick and easy brekky i enjoy is chopped up fruit-of choice- mixed with some sultanas and yoghurt, then topped with a little extra yoghurt and crushed cereal over the top- yum. Jules
Comment: Monday, July 21, 2008 3:35:00 PM - said...
Every morning,I have a granola bar a cup of tea (green, ginger peach, or whatever I can get my hands on at the office) and whatever fruit is in season. In the winter its grapefruit/orange/tangerine, in the summer its cherries, strawberries, grapes, etc. Keeps me happy til lunch.
Comment: Monday, July 21, 2008 3:37:00 PM - said...
Oh, most important part on that comment with granola, tea, & fruit. I sweeten my tea with organic raw blue agave sweetener, it is a low glycemic, but NATURAL, sweetener.
Comment: Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:44:00 AM - said...
I always have a large Fat-free yogurt container mixed with Lemon flavored Crystal-light (one packet)in the fridge. For a quick breakfast, top a cupful with some Grapenuts, cinnamon, blueberries (maybe a few almonds) and you have a quick, healthy, low-cal meal. It can also be a great dinner dessert --- full of anti-oxidants, fiber, protein...and it's sugar-free!
Comment: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:59:00 PM - said...
I mix plain yogurt with raw oatmeal, add a little Splenda and it's a great quick and nourishing breakfast...
Comment: Saturday, August 23, 2008 9:17:00 AM - said...
My favorite is whole wheat or multi-grain waffle with 1 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter---I love peanut butter but to me it tastes better if I take a small amount and spread it well. I sometimes add sliced banana or raisins. I have to fight my kids for these!!! I also like to fix my husband and I fried eggs using one whole egg and one or two egg whites.
Comment: Monday, August 25, 2008 7:55:00 PM - allieD said...
every morning i have the same breakfast at my desk- it's easy to pack in the morning and quick to eat. vanilla nonfat yogurt with blueberries and a whole wheat bagel with a some sugar free preserve and a little soynut butter. it keeps me going all morning long and i oddly look forward to it each morning.
Comment: Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:04:00 PM - said...
I eat a bowl of low-fat yoghurt with oats. And then I drink green or white tea(leves you with a feeling you do not want to eat anything with sugar, lasts for acouple of hours. Do not add sugar or milk into your tea), and then a whole-grain slice of bread with red paprika and a 6-calorie slice of ham. It is a great way to start your day. Just don't forget the tea, it makes a big difference.
Comment: Friday, September 05, 2008 10:27:00 PM - said...
My breakfast varies day by day, I'll have a fruit smoothie with protein and flaxseeds or kashi instant oatmeal with blueberries and flax seed with watered down oj or french toast and fruits such as blueberries, strawberries etc and oj or scrambled eggs with sliced tomato and fruits with oj or hard-boiled eggs with toast and a fruit. Etc. Try to keep it healthy.
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 1:34:00 AM - Gina said...
My fav is a 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal with cinnamon, ground flax seed, fresh or dried blueberries, cranberries, chopped apples and almonds with vanilla soy milk. I never liked oatmeal much until I tried it like this. Try it with a variety of fruits to spice it up. It's delicious and nutritious!
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 8:35:00 AM - Lindy said...
I make ahead and refrigerate or freeze breakfast pizza bars- Roll out low-fat crescent roll dough into a crust shape and bake at 350 for a few minutes, then cover with veggies (I use a frozen onion and peppers mix thawed first), refrigerated hash brown potatoes (I use southwest style), low fat shredded cheese, and pour egg substitute all over it and season with salt and pepper and crushed red pepper if you like it spicy. Then bake for 30 minutes. Yum!
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 10:15:00 AM - Paul said...
My weekday breakfast is usually a 3 minute prepared microwaved egg on toast. I first stick a fresh slice of multi grain bread in the toaster. I then break an all natural egg in a corian bowl, whip it with a fork so the yolk is spread smooth, (this keeps it from exploding) nuke it for 40 seconds. I then add a half slice of cheese and 1 slice of lean turkey nuked for 15 seconds. I also use super lean organic ground turkey that I precook on weekends for sprinkling into the egg or lunch time wraps. This meat doesn't have preservatives or other stuffff that I can't pronounce.
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 11:19:00 AM - said...
hey guys, for my breakfast, i just make the easiest thing, scrambled egg and 2 toast and a cup of cappucino or coffee and run run run for my classss.....
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 11:20:00 AM - said...
I use my small slow cooker -in the evening after dinner cleanup I put steel cut oats with water and whatever seasoning I like and cook it on low. In the morning it is ready to go and stops me from grabbing something less healthy.
I also find it satifies throughout the morning and eliminates snacking.
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 11:48:00 AM - said...
I agree breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In fact, I even look forward to waking up and eating breakfast before going to bed at night! I usually make my favorite breakfast (old fashioned rolled oats cooked with water for 22 seconds in the microwave-topped with 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, and a dash of pure maple syrup....and a cut up banana or blueberries to top it off)to put in a tupperware container the night before so I can grab and go in the morning on my way to the gym. It's sooo delicious!
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 12:28:00 PM - said...
My favorite breakfast is 1/4 cup of fat free cottage cheese sprinkled with poppy seeds or caraway seeds, 2-3 graham cracker squares, and a piece of fruit. Yummy and fast.
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 2:24:00 PM - said...
When I have no time in the morning to eat I always grab a Braeburn or Cameo Apple and a small bag of natural Almonds to eat for a quick start! I usually have coffee at my desk in the morning... I love Orange juice if I'm out of apples. Otherwise I do blend a Soy Shake with a 1/3 cup of frozen mixed berries.
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 2:28:00 PM - said...
I like a Soy Shake with 1/3 cup of mixed berries blended in for my morning pick-me-up. If in a hurry I grab a good Apple with a small bag of Almonds to start my day. Something is always better than nothing. I usually have my coffee at my desk in the A.M.
Sing me ~ CatInHiding
Comment: Saturday, September 06, 2008 8:41:00 PM - said...
Comment 6 August
For a very good breakfast I crush a handful of almonds in the blnder then I add grape, apple, kiwi, banana,papaya add soya milkfor a great smoothie. Raymond
Comment: Sunday, September 07, 2008 11:27:00 PM - said...
Like you I never ate in the morning,but now i cant go without breakfast.Try the new whole old fashion oats (instant) taste better, are fast, and healthy.
Comment: Monday, September 08, 2008 11:15:00 AM - said...
i have a variety of breakfast treats but my favorite for on the go is plain fat free yogurt (preferably greek style), sliced up fruit (peaches or bananas or berries usually), granola or walnuts sprinkled on top, and a drizzle of honey...mmm. it's easy to take with you if you make it in a tupperware...
Comment: Monday, September 08, 2008 11:59:00 AM - julie said...
Breakfast is a great way to start the day. I buy egg whites in the carton and cook 1/2 cup in a small skillet while I'm packing my kid's lunches. I toast a whole wheat english muffin and grab a piece of fruit. If I'm really running late, I thow all three in a bag and eat them on the way.
Comment: Monday, September 08, 2008 12:18:00 PM - said...
Breakfast has got to quick and easy for me, so I grab a Dannon yogart and keep the new cereal "Just Bunches" in a plastic to go bowl or baggie and a plastic spoon and mix them up. It's filling and I get what I need to keep me going until lunch!
Comment: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:59:00 AM - Marina said...
breakfast is the most important meal of teh day
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Comment: Thursday, September 11, 2008 3:29:00 AM - said...
breakfast has to be packed of high proteins and complex carbs. I HAVE TO HAVE a big BREAKFAST if I don't i will definitely starve later in the day. FOR EXAMPLE tofu in the skillet with some tomatoes and onions and peppers mixed with some vegeterian chorizo and 2 slice of whole wheat bread with 1 cup of soy milk !
Comment: Monday, September 15, 2008 4:37:00 PM - said...
This article was timely. I was just here thinking that I should do a better job of breakfast. Thanks for the great suggestions especially the ones that have been prepared and frozen.
Comment: Monday, September 15, 2008 6:09:00 PM - DEEDEELA said...
BREAKFAST IS MY ESSENTIAL MEAL FOR THE DAY.
I JUST BOUGHT KASHI GO LEAN, ALONG WITH SOME KASHI BREAKFAST BARS AND SPECIAL K BREAKFAST BARS. THEY ALL HAVE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS IN THEIR CEREAL AND BARS. ALSO IN MY BREAKFAST I WILL OCCASIONALLY ADD YOGURT WITH FRUIT IN IT WHETHER IT BE PLAIN YOGURT WITH FRESH FRUIT, OR LIGHT YOGURT WITH FRUIT ALREADY IN IT. IT'S FILLING AND NUTRITIONAL.
JUST BE SURE YOU ARE FULL AND SATISFIED, HAVE A ANOTHER FRUIT FOR LUNCH OR A SALAD. ALSO SNEAK IN A PROTEIN FOR LUNCH AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK. WEIGHT WILL MELT OFF. IF YOU GET HUNGRY IN THE EVENING JUST BE SURE YOU EAT BEFORE 6, THAT WILL GIVE YOU TIME TO BURN OFF A FEW CALORIES BEFORE IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED.
Comment: Monday, September 22, 2008 2:37:00 PM - said...
I need a WHOLE meal for breakfast. I split 2 1/2 scambled eggs on multi-grain toast w/my husband, fruit smoothie (bananas, oj, straberries/blue berries), and coffee. I eat a snack before lunch, then lunch, then a snack before dinner, then dinner!! I have been the same size my whole life. I have always eaten breakfast. I have to have protein in my breakfast otherwise I wont last until lunch (energy wise). If I don't have time to cook, I may have a can of beans, or sardines :)
Comment: Monday, September 22, 2008 4:26:00 PM - said...
Hi I'm turned around about breakfast. My favorite is huevos rancheros. two corn tortillas topped with a poached egg, green chili and a spoonful of nice spicy beans.
Comment: Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:07:00 AM - said...
A whole grain waffle with natural peanut butter and a little maple syrup, and bananas...what could be better?
Comment: Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:57:00 AM - said...
Weekdays are for whole grain cereal w/skim milk and of course, strong coffee! Weekends my boyfriend and I love egg white omlettes over whole wheat/grain toast with a "different" juice (maybe guava, mango, passion fruit) and some grapefruit. One last thing to commentor Josette: um, thanks for sharing about cleansing your colon -- NOT!
Comment: Friday, October 03, 2008 12:29:00 AM - said...
I love to have cereal, but it can become a little boring, so i switch between oatmeal with a bagel, maybe a lowfat spread on it, or i will have whole grain waffles, but the syrup is hard to put aside. maybe i will start to use honey now...
Comment: Friday, October 03, 2008 7:36:00 AM - said...
Breakfast really is my favorite meal/time of day (unless you want to give me brownies later on!). I LOVE LOVE LOVE having oatmeal with flaxseeds in it. You get fiber from the oatmeal and the flaxseeds and essential fatty acids from the seeds. I sweeten it with low-cal sweetener, not sugar, so as to keep the calories low (the meal is approximately 250-300 calories, I'm estimating). It's so, so, so good, filling, and healthy.
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