Whole Health Bundle

9/20/2011

Healthy Breakfast Ideas Challenge

Eating the right stuff for breakfast healthy foods can be quite a challenge what with all the muffins, bagels, and sugary cereals out there. But it’s very important to start your day off with the correct nutrients and ingredients to keep you satisfied and feeling fabulous. A big misconception many people have is that skipping breakfast will help them lose weight. Skipping breakfast is a bad idea!

Even though it seems like you’re eating more throughout the day, jumpstarting your metabolism early in the morning will help you burn more calories the whole day through.

So how do you know which breakfast healthy foods to eat and which to let stale in the coffee shop? It’s simple. Here are some healthy foods breakfast ideas that are easy to remember and easy to make. Follow the rule of fives.

Healthy Breakfast Items Have 5 Grams of Protein or More:

Cottage cheese, skim milk, low fat yogurt, egg whites, Canadian bacon, extra lean ham, and many other breakfast foods deliver 5 grams or more. Read the labels and skip any sugary cereals that don’t pack the protein. You’ll be hungry and your metabolism will fade.

Healthy foods Breakfast Items Have 5 Grams of Fiber or More:

Whole grain cereal and whole wheat bagels deliver the fiber while whole wheat bread and oatmeal do not. Check to make sure what you’re eating is not just tasty but fiber rich as well.

Fruit is a great addition to your breakfast healthy foods but on its own, it doesn’t supply you with the right nutrients to get your body going. Enjoy it with the right foods and you’ll be getting all the proper nutrients.

Here are 5 examples of balanced breakfasts that give you fiber, protein, and more…

1 cup Whole-grain cereal with 1/2-cup skim milk and 1/2 cup fresh fruit. This easy breakfast idea has 276 calories, 10 grams fiber, and 11 grams protein.

1 SMALL whole-wheat bagel, 1 tablespoon reduced-fat peanut butter, plus 1 cup fresh fruit. This healthy foods breakfast has 384 calories, 12.3 grams fiber, and 20 grams protein.

Yogurt breakfast parfait made with 6 ounces low fat yogurt, 1/2-cup fresh chopped fruit and 1/2-cup low-fat granola. A yummy start with 302 calories, 7 grams fiber, and 10 grams protein.

Breakfast sandwich made with 1 whole-grain English muffin, 1 1/2-ounces light turkey breakfast sausage and 1 ounce reduced-fat cheese. This treat packs 300 calories, 5 grams fiber, and 21 grams of protein.

1 higher-fiber granola bar (like Fiber One), a banana, and 8 ounces of skim milk. This healthy foods breakfast will give you 365 calories, 12 grams fiber, and 13.5 grams of protein.