What’s for breakfast? 5 healthy ideas that can be made in under 5 minutes
(To save time in the morning, prep a smoothing in the blender and leave it in the fridge at night. Just add ice in the morning and give a quick, 60-second blend).
By Brittany Anas
Breakfast consistently gets nutritionists’ nominations for the most important meal of the day. Maybe it’s because so many of us — challenged by hectic morning routines — are prone to skip the first meal of the day? Eating a healthy breakfast, though, with a protein and fruit or veggie, is a proven way to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. The meal gives your metabolism a morning wake-up call and keeps you full so that you don’t over-eat at lunch or mindlessly eat unhealthy snacks and treats between meals.
Here’s 5 ideas — one for every day of the work or school week — for those who aren’t completely sold on breakfast. Each of these meal ideas can be made in 5 minutes or less.
- Smoothie. The secret to blending a perfect smoothie is to put the frozen items — like ice and frozen fruit — on the bottom, closest to the blade. Pick up a pack of frozen berries, or a frozen fruit mix in the freezer aisle at the grocery store. Make sure you get natural, frozen fruits without the added sugar. (The smoothie will be sweet enough with nature’s fruit and some added yogurt). For a morning smoothie, add 1/2 cup of ice, 1/2 cup of frozen fruit, 1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt and 1/2 cup of juice. You can make whatever combination you like — but one of our favorite blends (pictured) is a tropical fruit mix (frozen pineapple and strawberry), mixed with a non-fat plain yogurt and low-calorie cranberry juice, which is just 5 calories per 8-ounce serving. Save big bucks on your next trip to the grocery store. Get grocery coupons from ShopAtHome.com here.
- Bistro Box. Coffee shops have made these popular for people on the go, and they are a great combo of proteins and fruits. But, be careful: Your morning coffee bill can start to top $10 when you add these to the order. Save money by prepping these at home and the night before a busy morning. In a divided tupperware container, make your combo of proteins and fruits or veggies. Some ideas? A couple tablespoons of raisins and nuts, a boiled egg, mixed berries or grapes, 2 ounces of mozzarella cheese and a couple whole grain crackers. The pre-prepped, little bit of everything breakfast is great for those days when you’ve got to eat breakfast in the car. (And, it’s much healthier than going through the drive-thru).
- Cantaloupe boat: Cut a thick slice of cantaloupe and score it into bite-sized pieces. Top with a few tablespoons of a low-fat strawberry yogurt, and top with fresh berries. Blackberries are one of the most fiber-packed fruits you’ll find with 8 grams of fiber per one-cup serving.
- Veggie egg scramble: When you’re prepping vegetables for dinner, set some extras aside in a Ziploc bag and save them for a vegetable egg scramble in the morning. We love veggie egg scrambles with onions, bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and more. Another time saver? But frozen, pre-cut veggie assortments in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. In a bowl, mix your veggies with a couple of eggs, add a dash of salt and pepper and a couple tablespoons of milk to make them fluffy. The vegetables add extra nutritional value and flavor to your breakfast. Watching cholesterol? Make your scramble with egg whites instead.
- Grown up grilled cheese: In a toaster oven or on a greased pan, melt some brie cheese onto a whole grain piece of toast. When the open-faced sandwhich is gooey, top it with some thin pear or green apple slices.
Find more healthy eating and grocery stories here.
Looking to lose weight? Add a teaspoon of chia seeds to a morning smoothie or your yogurt. They are high in fiber and help control appetite. Find chia seeds at Puritan’s Pride, where you’ll earn 8 percent Cash Back on your purchase through ShopAtHome.com.
Coming Friday: Healthy Weekend Breakfast ideas to enjoy with your family.
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