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10 best healthy breakfast options to Stay Energetic & Healthy

Dr. Ajay KohliMay 27, 2024

Breakfast is really important because it gives you the energy to start your day. Eating a healthy breakfast with lots of good vitamins and minerals helps keep your blood sugar levels steady and gives you the energy you need for the day ahead. So, make sure to have a good breakfast to feel your best all day long! It's all about eating the right stuff in the morning to keep you going strong and feeling great throughout the day. Read ahead to know about 10 best healthy breakfast options to stay energetic and healthy.

Contents

About Breakfast
The Perfect Breakfast
Is Breakfast Really That Important?
Making Time for Breakfast Despite Busy Mornings
List of 10 Healthy Breakfast Food Items
Nutrients to Limit or Avoid for the Healthiest Breakfast
Difficulty Eating Breakfast in the Morning
- Adjust Evening Meals
- Explore New Foods
Impact of Breakfast on Food Choices
Breakfast's Influence on Brainpower
The Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Breakfast

Breakfast plays a vital role in our daily nutrition, earning its reputation as 'the most important meal of the day' for good reason. It kickstarts our metabolism, replenishing glucose levels to boost energy and brainpower. Plus, it delivers crucial nutrients essential for overall health. Studies consistently highlight its many benefits, from immediate improvements in focus and energy to long-term weight control and lowered risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart problems.

Despite these perks, many skip breakfast due to various reasons. However, simple steps like prepping overnight oats or waking up a bit earlier can make it easier to fit into our routines. Making breakfast a non-negotiable part of our day is vital for long-term health and vitality, ensuring we start each day on the right foot.

The Perfect Breakfast

To ensure that you are getting the right mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fibre, along with a small amount of fat, your breakfast should include food items from the following four groups.

Wholegrains: Such as whole grain bread, rolls or bagels, and wholegrain cereals.

Lean protein: This includes eggs, fish, nuts, and lean meat.

Low-fat dairy: Dairy products such as milk, low-fat cheese, and plain yoghurt.

Fruits and vegetables: Consuming whole fresh fruits and vegetables or in the form of smoothies and juice.

Is Breakfast Really That Important?

Yes, breakfast is your first meal of the day. It fuels you for an action-packed productive day. Skipping breakfast might be harmful for most people, especially kids. A nutritious breakfast is key to good health.

Making Time for Breakfast Despite Busy Mornings

Many people find themselves rushing through their mornings, often skipping breakfast due to time constraints. Whether it's early starts, lengthy commutes, or simply a busy schedule, there are still ways to ensure you prioritise this essential meal. Here are some practical strategies to fit in breakfast, even on the busiest of mornings:

1. Prepare in Advance

One effective way to ensure you have time for breakfast is to prepare some quick and healthy options the night before or during the weekend. Examples include zucchini slices, healthy muffins, or overnight oats. Overnight oats are particularly convenient, as you can simply soak rolled oats in milk overnight in the fridge and add fruits or nuts before serving. Having a pre-prepared breakfast allows you to grab it and enjoy it at home, on your commute, or once you arrive at your destination.

2. Stock Up at Work

If your workplace permits, consider keeping some breakfast foods at the office. This could include items like oatmeal packets, granola bars, or individual servings of yoghurt. Having these options readily available makes it easier to enjoy breakfast once you arrive at work, even if you don't have time to eat at home.

3. Wake Up Earlier

Getting into the habit of setting your alarm 10 to 15 minutes earlier than usual can provide you with the extra time needed to enjoy breakfast at home. While it may require some adjustment initially, gradually waking up earlier can become a manageable part of your routine, ensuring you start your day off right with a nutritious meal.

4. Prioritise Breakfast Over Time-Wasting Habits

Identify any time-wasting habits you engage in during the morning, such as scrolling through social media or checking emails, and replace them with time dedicated to breakfast instead. By consciously reallocating your time, you can prioritise your health and well-being by making room for breakfast.

5. Evening Preparation

Lastly, streamline your mornings by preparing for the next day the night before. This could involve laying out your clothes, packing your bag, or prepping ingredients for breakfast. By completing these tasks in advance, you can free up valuable time in the morning to enjoy a nourishing meal before starting your day.

List of 10 Healthy Breakfast Food Items

It is important to have the right mix of essential nutrients in your breakfast and look for a variety of food options so that the first meal of the day doesn’t become boring. Here, we list the top 10 food items to include in your breakfast to maintain healthy body weight and balanced blood sugar levels.

Oatmeal/Porridge: Wholegrain oats are packed with proteins, vitamins, fibre, minerals, and antioxidants. The fibre contained in oats helps reduce your cholesterol, which prevents heart diseases and regulates the sugar levels in blood. Oats are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, folate, and antioxidants. They have low glycemic index (GI) which makes it a good option for diabetics. The best way to make oatmeal is to cook it with milk without any added sugar. For added flavour, you may add a hint of cinnamon, yoghurt, nuts, or fruits.
Eggs: Besides being a rich source of protein, eggs contain antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients such as choline. Choline helps maintain a healthy liver and brain. However, having too many eggs in a day is not advisable as eggs can increase cholesterol levels. You can have your eggs in hard-boiled form or as poached or scrambled form along with wholegrain toast.
Toast and nut butter: Wholegrain bread and peanut butter that does not contain any added sugar and oil is a good way of providing healthy fats and energy to your body. Additionally, you can top it up with fruits such as strawberry slices. Other nut butters that you can use are almond butter, cashew butter, and unsweetened cocoa and hazelnut butter.
Cereals: A bowl of cereal with low-fat milk can be a very healthy breakfast option. While buying cereals, look for whole grain options that do not have added sugar in it.
Yoghurt: All yoghurt, especially creamy Greek-style yoghurt is laden with proteins. Opting for low-fat versions of the same is a healthier option. Some of these yoghurts contain ‘live cultures’ of bacteria which are good for the gut. Avoid having yoghurt that has added sugar or flavour in it. Instead you can eat it with nuts, berries, or seeds, to give it a healthier, crunchier twist.
Smoothies: Smoothies can be very filling and a good way of consuming your 1/5 portions of fruits and vegetables in a day. When coupled with milk or yoghurt, they contain extra protein. A small glass of smoothie (approximately 150ml) is equivalent to 1 of your 5 portions of daily fruit and vegetable intake. It is advisable not to go overboard and stick to one glass of smoothie only as it can be high in sugar. A great way to make a vitamin-enriched smoothie is by blending together some semi-skimmed milk with spinach, banana, and blueberries. You can top it up with flax seeds as these are good sources of healthy fats.
Fish: It is recommended to consume two portions of fish in a week, as it has many health benefits. Besides being a very high source of protein, fish is a rich source of omega-3 fats that are good for heart health. All things considered, it may be a little difficult to eat fish at the start of the day.
Cottage cheese:A powerhouse of proteins, cottage cheese can be as filling as eggs. Fortified with vitamin A and B as well as calcium, it can be eaten as such or tossed with pepper and spring onions. It can also be mixed with fruits and nuts.
Berries: Berries including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are an excellent source of antioxidants. They are packed with fibre and are low in calories. The antioxidants present in berries are known to lower the risk of heart attack in young women. Berries can be had along with oatmeal, cereals, yoghurt, or included in smoothies too.
Home-made breakfast bars: Most of the readymade ‘breakfast’ bars or granola bars available in the market are high in sugar and processed ingredients. Hence, making your own breakfast energy bar makes a lot of sense. Mix together some oats, chopped nuts, dried fruit such as dates along with peanut butter and spread it on a tray to bake it. The end product that you get is rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Nutrients to Limit or Avoid for the Healthiest Breakfast

Highly refined cereals
Highly processed foods
Foods with high sugar content
Packaged foods with high sodium content
Foods laden with preservatives
Foods not fit for the current weather

Difficulty Eating Breakfast in the Morning

For some, eating in the morning can be challenging for various reasons, such as late-night meals or a lack of appetite for traditional breakfast foods. Here are two strategies to consider:

Adjust Evening Meals

Try reducing meal size and eating earlier in the evening to increase hunger in the morning.

Explore New Foods

Experiment with different recipes and stock up on alternative breakfast options to stimulate your morning appetite.

Impact of Breakfast on Food Choices

Eating breakfast correlates with healthier overall diets, improved eating habits, and reduced likelihood of snacking throughout the day compared to skipping breakfast. Children who skip breakfast are prone to making poor food choices both in the short term and long term. Without breakfast, individuals may resort to unhealthy snacks high in fat and salt to combat mid-morning hunger, leading to lethargy and reliance on high-energy foods.

Breakfast's Influence on Brainpower

Breakfast fuels the brain, providing essential glucose for optimal mental performance. Studies indicate that skipping breakfast can impair attention, concentration, and memory, making tasks feel more challenging. Regular breakfast consumption among children and adolescents is associated with improved academic performance and a greater sense of connection with school authorities, leading to overall positive health and academic outcomes.

The Bottom Line

A good breakfast will ensure you have a great start to your day. Make sure to fill up your plate or bowl with all the essential nutrients needed to fuel your day. Good food contributes to a good mood!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here’s a list of common questions and answers about a healthy breakfast.

Why is it important to have breakfast?

Breakfast replenishes the stores of energy and nutrients in the body after the night-time fast. It is important to not skip breakfast because one meal less during the day can lead to a failure to meet the daily requirements of vitamins, minerals, and fibres.

How does eating breakfast help in controlling body weight?

People who have a habit of regularly eating breakfast are less likely to become overweight or obese. There are two reasons behind this. Firstly, eating breakfast prevents large fluctuations in glucose levels, thereby controlling your appetite. Secondly, if you have regular breakfast, it will give you a feeling of fullness and not allow you to binge on fatty foods during the course of the day.

Does having breakfast boost your brainpower?

Having breakfast affects your mental performance by improving your attention span, memory power, and ability to concentrate. On the contrary, if you skip having breakfast, you might feel dull and sluggish throughout the day. This is because your brain does not receive the required energy (glucose) to boost your brainpower.

Does having breakfast help in making better food choices?

People who generally have breakfast on a daily basis make better food choices. They are less likely to be hungry during the day and snack on foods high in fat and salt. Children who skip breakfast tend to grow up making poor food choices. People who do not have breakfast but feel hungry during mid-morning or afternoon, turn to high-energy food and drinks to stop them from feeling tired and lethargic.

Does having breakfast reduce the risk of having certain diseases?

Compared to people who don’t have breakfast regularly, those who do, tend to have lower risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast are also likely to develop cardiovascular diseases.

References:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet. Please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.