5-Minute Breakfasts to Get You Going
Our bodies operate best when they have proper fuel to run on. It’s one of the reasons eating breakfast is so important. Starting your day on a full tank gives you energy to burn and gets your metabolism running. The key, however, is to put in the right fuel — premium fuel. Let’s just go with this car analogy, OK?
To do that, you need a combination of three things: fat, carbohydrate and protein. This is the magic combination you should think about for all meals, as it provides long-lasting energy (and prevents the spikes in blood sugar that an all-carb breakfast would give you). Of course, you want the quality of those ingredients to be super-nutritious: healthy fats, fiber-rich carbs, lean proteins.
Here are several quick breakfasts (some of them are fast because you assemble them the night before) that deliver this formula. Try them!
Chia Pudding
Chia seeds (fat) + soy milk (protein) + blueberries (carbs). Spending five minutes the night before to stir together chia seeds and some sort of milk gives you a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning. Try Giada De Laurentiis’ version of Chia Seed Pudding (pictured at top).
Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All rights Reserved
Overnight Oats
Rolled oats (carbs) + whole milk (fat and protein) + grated apple (carbs) + walnuts (fat) + cinnamon. Similar to chia pudding, overnight oats follow the mix-and-sit approach for a quick-and-easy breakfast. You should also try this blueberry almond version.
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Smoothies
There are endless variations of the yogurt (protein) + fruit (carbs) + seeds/nut butter/fat formula. Ellie Krieger’s Peanut Butter Split Smoothie is particularly simple. You can also add a couple tablespoons of rolled oats to boost the fiber in your smoothie.
See: 12 Healthy Smoothies
Jeffrey Neira, 2014, Watershed Visual Media, All Rights Reserved.
On-the-Go Breakfast
Try pairing a latte (protein) with a fruit-and-nut energy bar (carbs and fat), such as Marcela Valladolid's chewy Aztec Fruit Bars. If you’re out the door before you’ve had a chance to eat breakfast, this is a combination you can find on the go.
Who doesn’t love a good avocado toast? The avocado gives you healthy fat (and fiber), the whole-grain toast gives you carbs (and more fiber) and the egg is your protein.
Cottage Cheese Parfait
Low-fat cottage cheese (protein) + raspberries (carbs and fiber) + flax seeds (fat). You can always enhance it with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Kerri-Ann is a registered dietitian who writes on food and health trends. Find more of her work at kerriannjennings.com or follow her on Twitter @kerriannrd or Facebook.
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