Popular Breakfast Foods
If you've been skipping breakfast lately, you're likely finding yourself at a standstill about halfway through your day, unable to muster up the energy you need to finish what you started. It may sound like an old adage ... breakfast is the most important meal of the day ... but often those old sayings are true. The fact of the matter is that, like your car, your body needs fuel and, just like when you're driving, if you find yourself on 'empty,' you're not going to get very far. Eating a healthy breakfast is one of the most important factors in adding the necessary amount of fuel to your body to get you headed in the right direction. However, like so many other things in life, quantity doesn't necessarily mean quality. In other words, it's not just important to eat breakfast; it's important to eat the right kind of breakfast, and gourmet cafes in Montville have just what you need to rev up your energy level. Following are some nutritious breakfast options, according to the USDA food pyramid.
Grains
Oatmeal has been proven to be one of the most perfect energy foods, making it ideal for breakfast. Oatmeal is not only low in fat. It's an excellent source of fiber and vital nutrients your body needs to remain active all day long. And, with today's many flavors of instant oatmeal, even folks on the go can grab a healthy breakfast that includes oatmeal that can easily be topped with a serving or two of fruit to add in another of the pyramid's most important food groups. If you're not a fan, an English muffin or even a toasted oat or wheat bagel is another good option for breakfast, especially if it's topped with a little peanut butter for protein. Whole grain pancakes or waffles can also be a good option for breakfast, so long as you keep the maple syrup to a minimum. A better idea for topping pancakes or waffles is honey or some all-natural fruit preserves.
Fruits and vegetables
You might not consider grabbing a head of broccoli and chomping on it for breakfast, but you can add some delicious and nutritious vegetables to an omelet. If you don't have time for a cooked sit-down breakfast, a fruit smoothie is the ideal way to get an extremely nutritious breakfast in a hurry. Start with your favorite healthy juice, such as orange or cranberry. Blend a few ice cubes with a cup of your favorite fresh fruit or whatever's in season. If you have frozen fruit, that may even work better for a number of reasons. First, you can use fruits that are out of season. Second, you don't have to use ice cubes. Third, frozen fruits often are more nutritious than even some fresh fruits, simply because they have not lost their nutrients, first from sitting on the shelf at the supermarket, and then from sitting in your fridge.
Proteins
Eggs are an amazing source of the protein that's necessary to energize you at the beginning of your day. In addition, eggs are excellent for the brain, making them a great addition to breakfast for their ability to help you keep focused. Try an omelet, a couple scrambled eggs, or even a fried egg or two cooked in healthy oil such as extra virgin olive oil. Add in some vegetables, and you've got the perfect fuel for the day. Egg white omelets are also good, especially if you're watching your fat intake.
Dairy products
Yogurt can be great by itself for breakfast, especially if you add in a serving or two of your favorite fruit. Yogurt is also an excellent addition to a smoothie, for a great breakfast that you can take with you. Of course, milk added to whole grain cereals is also a great idea for breakfast. If you're watching your weight, try a 1% or low-fat milk.
If you've taken a hiatus from eating breakfast, you've probably also experienced an energy hiatus right about midday ... you know, the energy you need to maintain stamina to get through your day. Of course, if you're like most people, you don't want to simply get through. You want to live an energetic life that not only allows you to get your work done, but also makes you feel good to live your life to the fullest. Coffee shops and bakeries aren't just for grabbing a quick cup of Joe or a cookie for dessert. They're a great place to sit down each morning, have a delicious healthy breakfast, and get your day started off right.
Grains
Oatmeal has been proven to be one of the most perfect energy foods, making it ideal for breakfast. Oatmeal is not only low in fat. It's an excellent source of fiber and vital nutrients your body needs to remain active all day long. And, with today's many flavors of instant oatmeal, even folks on the go can grab a healthy breakfast that includes oatmeal that can easily be topped with a serving or two of fruit to add in another of the pyramid's most important food groups. If you're not a fan, an English muffin or even a toasted oat or wheat bagel is another good option for breakfast, especially if it's topped with a little peanut butter for protein. Whole grain pancakes or waffles can also be a good option for breakfast, so long as you keep the maple syrup to a minimum. A better idea for topping pancakes or waffles is honey or some all-natural fruit preserves.
Fruits and vegetables
You might not consider grabbing a head of broccoli and chomping on it for breakfast, but you can add some delicious and nutritious vegetables to an omelet. If you don't have time for a cooked sit-down breakfast, a fruit smoothie is the ideal way to get an extremely nutritious breakfast in a hurry. Start with your favorite healthy juice, such as orange or cranberry. Blend a few ice cubes with a cup of your favorite fresh fruit or whatever's in season. If you have frozen fruit, that may even work better for a number of reasons. First, you can use fruits that are out of season. Second, you don't have to use ice cubes. Third, frozen fruits often are more nutritious than even some fresh fruits, simply because they have not lost their nutrients, first from sitting on the shelf at the supermarket, and then from sitting in your fridge.
Proteins
Eggs are an amazing source of the protein that's necessary to energize you at the beginning of your day. In addition, eggs are excellent for the brain, making them a great addition to breakfast for their ability to help you keep focused. Try an omelet, a couple scrambled eggs, or even a fried egg or two cooked in healthy oil such as extra virgin olive oil. Add in some vegetables, and you've got the perfect fuel for the day. Egg white omelets are also good, especially if you're watching your fat intake.
Dairy products
Yogurt can be great by itself for breakfast, especially if you add in a serving or two of your favorite fruit. Yogurt is also an excellent addition to a smoothie, for a great breakfast that you can take with you. Of course, milk added to whole grain cereals is also a great idea for breakfast. If you're watching your weight, try a 1% or low-fat milk.
If you've taken a hiatus from eating breakfast, you've probably also experienced an energy hiatus right about midday ... you know, the energy you need to maintain stamina to get through your day. Of course, if you're like most people, you don't want to simply get through. You want to live an energetic life that not only allows you to get your work done, but also makes you feel good to live your life to the fullest. Coffee shops and bakeries aren't just for grabbing a quick cup of Joe or a cookie for dessert. They're a great place to sit down each morning, have a delicious healthy breakfast, and get your day started off right.