It’s time to wake up. Your alarm is buzzing but you snooze it a few times, too comfortable to get out of bed. By the time you realize how much time has passed, you’re already late! You throw off your blankets, scramble to get dressed, brush your teeth and run out the door without so much as a sip of water. On the way to work, you grab two donuts and a large coffee. Not a good healthy breakfast, is it?
In our modern, fast-paced lives, it can be hard for us to prioritize our own well-being. We grab donuts and coffee because they’re tasty and convenient, but what about later? How do you think you’ll feel when all that sugar and caffeine cycles through you and causes an energy crash? You’ll likely be hitting the vending machines for more sugary snacks before lunch!
Eating a good healthy breakfast every morning is one of the easiest and most effective ways to set yourself up for a day of success. Filling up on protein, fiber, and vitamins will keep you full and energized all morning. With that energy, you’ll be better-equipped to make other good choices throughout the day. Think of it like building success momentum: Each accomplishment makes the next one easier!
How to Eat a Good Healthy Breakfast Every Morning
We get it: Eating a healthy breakfast every day is much easier said than done. Donuts are infinitely more convenient (and tastier!) than eggs or oatmeal. The sweet taste and energy burst that comes from simple sugars feels great in the short-term! But in the long-term? Those sugars make us sluggish and cause us to gain weight.
But how do we get from wanting to eat a good healthy breakfast every day to actually doing it? We have some tips:
Wake up earlier. We know, we know! No one wants to hear that they have to wake up earlier. But just giving yourself an extra 30 minutes of time can make the difference between rushing out the door with a bagel hanging out of your mouth and strolling out with your head held high, feeling full and energized.
Prep your breakfast ahead of time. You know what they say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Hard-boiled eggs, overnight oats, and baked omelet cups can all be made the night before or even days in advance. It’s pretty hard to skip breakfast on Thursday when it’s been ready to eat since Sunday night!
Fill your pantry with grab-n-go emergency breakfasts. If we’re being realistic, some days are just going to be disastrous. Maybe a power outage keeps your alarm from going off. Maybe your child suddenly throws up as they’re getting ready for school. Life happens. Having some fallback breakfasts in your pantry, like all-natural meal bars, can be a lifesaver when disaster strikes.
What Makes a Good Healthy Breakfast?
So, we’ve talked about how to incorporate a good healthy breakfast into our lives, but what exactly makes a breakfast good and healthy? The internet is full of conflicting and confusing information on healthy eating. Our understanding of food is changing constantly; it can be hard for science and popular culture to keep up with each other!
Here’s what we do know, though: The two more important parts of any good healthy breakfast are protein and complex carbs, especially fiber. These two macro-nutrients are what keep us feeling full and energetic all morning. Tossing in fresh fruits and vegetables can give you an extra nutrient boost!
In other words, when you’re looking for healthy breakfast options, just remember the following formula:
Good healthy breakfast = protein + fiber + fresh fruits and/or veggies
Here are some examples of quick and healthy breakfasts:
- Scrambled eggs with avocado toast
- Greek yogurt with nuts and berries
- Steel-cut oats with bananas, almonds, and honey
- Cottage cheese topped with nuts and fruits
- Chia seed pudding with berries
- Spinach and cheese omelet
So much of our daily energy levels, mood, and overall well-being comes from the food we eat. If we want to look better, feel sharper, and have more energy, we need to prioritize a healthy diet. A good healthy breakfast is a perfect place to start.
