Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Skipping breakfast is a big no-no as it restores the energy in you and prepares your body for the entire day. However, due to busy, life most of us tend to skip this most important meal of the day that affects our daily performance. Laziness, weight gain and bad health are some of the consequences of skipping breakfast. Nutritious morning meals you can eat while driving, walking, or sprinting out the door. Make the choice for health! These quick and healthy breakfast ideas that are perfect for working people.

FRUITS

Lack of time makes us usually miss our breakfast. So, the best thing to do on times when you've running late is to pack some fruits like bananas, apples or pears. They don't require any preparation and all you have to do is wash them before eating. Fruits fill up the stomach quickly and provide energy and fibre. This makes them a way better option than munching on a burger or something similar early in the morning.

PIZZA

You could have a slice of last night's pizza (it's preferable to filling up on sugar or skipping breakfast). Or you could try a more sophisticated spin. Take a slice of crusty bread, spread it with 3 tablespoons of low-fat ricotta, and add tomatoes. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil (about 1 teaspoon) and a little salt and pepper. Broiling is optional.

SANDWICH

Sandwiches for breakfast are a great idea, but don't complicate it with elaborate preparations. Add only a few seasonal vegetables and sauces and make your own sandwich in a jiffy. For fitness enthusiasts, low fat sauces are also available.

HEAT CEREAL AT YOUR DESK

Take advantage of that hot water spigot on the company water cooler, and treat yourself to some hot oatmeal in the office. Buying a tub of oats is among the cheapest ways to eat breakfast, most any cubicle can find space to store one, and the meal can be spiced up with dried fruit. Or, if your office has refrigerator, there's no reason you can't bring a bowl and a box of cereal and eat breakfast while skimming through the morning e-mail. Because they're fortified, cereals can be among the most nutrient-rich sources of Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 and Iron.

SHAKES AND SMOOTHIE

Freshly made shakes and smoothies are super healthy and give you the energy required for the entire day. All you need is fruits, yogurt and milk and a blender.
For example: With a stash of berries in your freezer, you can jump-start your day with this nutritious, tasty smoothie in just minutes. It provides Vitamin C, Fibre, Potassium, and Soy Protein.

You can also try Strawberry Shake: In a cocktail shaker, combine a packet of vanilla or strawberry instant-breakfast powder (look for the no-sugar-added kind, such as Carnation) and 1 cup of low-fat strawberry cow's milk or soy milk. (You can also mix this the night before.) If you have time, use a blender to add strawberries or a frozen banana, for extra Fibre, and a scoop of protein powder, such as GeniSoy Natural. Such drinks complete the need of essential nutrients and are easy to prepare.

EGGS

Eggs are great source of protein and thus make the perfect choice for breakfast. Club an egg with bread and it becomes a complete breakfast meal. Egg makes a good start to the day and takes less time to prepare. Also, it doesn't make you feel hungry quickly and doesn't require great culinary skills. Hard boil them or make an omelette or scrambled egg, your breakfast meal will be ready in just a few minutes.

PLAIN DOUGHNUT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK

A plain cake-style doughnut is usually a better choice than a bakery muffin. At Dunkin' Donuts, for instance, an old fashioned doughnut has 280 calories, while a corn muffin has 510 calories. Add fiber by eating 1/4 cup of almonds or dried fruit. Instead of coffee, try 8 ounces of low-fat chocolate milk.

CHERRY CREAM CHEESE

Make your own flavored cream cheese by stirring in fresh, in-season cherries. We like the flavor of black cherries, but any kind will work (including thawed frozen cherries). Spread this on your morning bagel.

BARS AND COOKIES

We all love cookies and the delicious energy bars, and the best thing about them is that they make a good option for breakfast as well. However, be careful while choosing such items as the first meal of the day. Make sure they are enriched with essential nutritious value. Go for dry fruit bars, oatmeal cookies, healthy brownies, etc. Top it up with a glass of milk and you are good to go for the day.