Pamela Hernandez owns Thrive Personal Fitness in Springfield, MO where she focuses on weight training for weight loss. She writes a blog for her web site, www.thrivepersonalfitness.com, sharing vegetarian recipes from her kitchen, exercise strategies, lifestyle tips and stories from her own journey. You can also follow Pamela on Twitter @ThriveFit or pick up more tips on Facebook, www.facebook.com/thrivepersonalfitness.
Breakfast seems to be is the most challenging meal of the day. We want to sleep as long as possible and shoot out the door to arrive at work or school right on the dot. There is often a corralling of kids, pets and spouses that has to happen to get out the door as well. With all of the chaos the most important meal of the day seems to escapes us. Coffee becomes the de facto substitute for solid food and by lunch time the grumbling in the tummy makes anything and everything look good. This leads to overindulgence at lunch and, perhaps, the rest of the day.
When it comes to fat loss, breakfast really can be the most important meal of the day. Data from the National Weight Control Registry shows that eating breakfast every day is the habit of 78% of their successful “losers”. The reason for this is twofold: After fasting for the previous 10-12 hours you need fuel to get your metabolism moving again. It keeps you from going into starvation mode and overeating later in the day.
Yet the obstacles to cooking a nutritious breakfast each morning probably aren’t going anywhere.
You need 5 easy breakfasts that you can grab in 5 minutes or less. If eating breakfast isn’t part of your morning routine, start today with one of these time saving options.
- 2 hardboiled eggs and a banana. Hard boil a dozen eggs on the weekend. They are an easy, inexpensive source of protein. The banana easily fits in one hand and gives you carbs to boost morning energy.
- Protein pancake and peanut butter sandwich. Make a batch of protein pancakes for breakfast on Saturday or Sunday (try my Vanilla Coconut Protein Pancakes) then warm up the leftovers with some peanut butter for a warm gooey breakfast.
- Oatmeal with almonds and dried fruit. Boil water in the microwave. Then add to oatmeal in a travel coffee mug. Add nuts and fruit. Fits perfectly in a cup holder.
- Breakfast wrap. Warm a whole wheat tortilla in the microwave, spread peanut butter, sprinkle chopped walnuts and add banana slices. Wrap in wax paper to keep warm or for easy eating as you walk or ride to work.
- Greek yogurt and granola. Grab a no fat plain Greek yogurt as you walk out the door and add a low sugar granola (which can be kept in your desk drawer). Great while you check email.
Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. These easy breakfasts will make sure you have fuel to tackle whatever your morning brings. Add a big glass of water and a cup of green tea to start the day in a healthy happy way.
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