Breakfast on the Go - 10 Fun and Healthy Ideas

!±8± Breakfast on the Go - 10 Fun and Healthy Ideas

Its 6:30 a.m. and your alarm goes off with that horribly annoying buzz sound. You hop out of bed, flick on the coffee maker, jump into the shower, and then run around soaking wet trying to figure out what to wear. By the time you make it out the door (5 minutes late), you have forgotten about breakfast, as usual.

Whether you're the cereal snacking type, the coffee and chocolate lover, or the salty, crunchy craver, here are 10 quick and healthy breakfast suggestions.

Please note - We don't want you to have to do any thinking in the morning. All preparations should be done the night before!

1. Fresh and Tangy Fruit Smoothie - Combine your favorite cut up summer fruit in a juice blender the night before, with some soy milk, water or fruit juice. Instead of hitting the coffee pot when you wake up, simply add ice to your fruit mixture, blend and pour into a to-go cup. You'll have a delicious, antioxidant and protein-rich drink to sip on throughout the day!

2. Quick and Chocolaty - For those of you who prefer something chocolaty flavored, try mixing up a vitamin-enriched meal supplement with some low fat milk, hot cocoa powder and ice. You'll have a vitamin rich, ice cold, invigorating shake to keep your energy levels going throughout your day!

3. The perfect duet, Crunchy but Smooth - 1. In a brown paper bag, prepare a plastic spoon, a Ziploc bag of granola, and a container of your favorite Bio yogurt 2.Grab the bag as you run out the door!

4. Breakfast lover's sandwich - Using olive oil, 2 eggs, salt and pepper, fry up a golden brown omelet. Place omelet on a whole wheat roll decked with two slices of tomato and a layer of crisp lettuce. Wrap in foil and refrigerate. Grab sandwich before running out door! - This complementary duet of protein and complex carbohydrates should keep you well energized and satisfied throughout your morning!

5. Coffee and Chocolate - If you're one of those people with chocoholic cravings, this breakfast is for you. Fill a snack sized zip loc bag with antioxidant rich, dark chocolate-covered Raisinets or Craisins to tote along with your morning cup of coffee. This palate-pleasing duo will help get your brain going, and keep your energy levels raised all morning long!

6. The Salty Crunch - For those of us with salty / crunchy cravings, try packing a bag of multi-grained crackers combined with a container of low fat cottage cheese for a protein- and fiber-packed heart-healthy meal on the go!

7. A colorful combination - For both a visual and palette pleasing breakfast, in a disposable container combine strawberries, kiwis, pomegranate seeds and a handful of chopped walnuts. This antioxidant, fiber- and protein-rich is a sure winner for keeping energy levels up and preserving your youthful glow.

8. The Breakfast Bar - Too lazy for preparations? Try Fig Newtons, Nutri-Grain, Nature Valley or Chewy granola bars for a vitamin-enriched energy boost to get your morning going.

9. Cereal Medley - A personal favorite of mine, due to its infinite variety.. Mix up your favorite whole grain cereal (I like oatmeal squares or honey nut shredded wheat) along with a variety of dried fruit and nuts to create your own vitamin- fiber- and energy-rich breakfast medley.

10. Instant oatmeal - Instead of filling your cup with coffee, try hot milk. Add a packet of instant oatmeal and stir with a plastic spoon for a filling protein- and fiber-rich breakfast you can eat on the go!

Breakfast on the Go - 10 Fun and Healthy Ideas

Fisher Price Trackmaster Free Shipping

Breakfast Cereals-2007's Best

!±8± Breakfast Cereals-2007's Best

The most healthful breakfast is whole grain cereal. If you're trying to lose weight, control cholesterol or diabetes, or just need a lot of energy, your best bet is a hot cooked cereal of whole grains, such as oatmeal; or barley, brown rice or wheat berries cooked and served like oatmeal. Flavor it with raisins or other dried fruits, cinnamon, and perhaps a handful of nuts such as pine nuts.

If you prefer cold cereal, you need to check the list of ingredients carefully. The FIRST ingredient should be a whole grain. Then scan through the entire list and if you see the words "partially hydrogenated," put the box back on the shelf. We recommend that you avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils (or "trans fats"), and they still show up in many cereals (see the list below.)

Once you've eliminated all the brands made with refined grains or partially hydrogenated oils, check for ADDED sugars (you want little or none) and fiber (you want a lot.)

Raisins or other dried fruits will add a lot of grams of sugar to the listing on the nutrition panel; they are not distinguished from added sugars, so you can only estimate the amounts.

The fiber content listed on the nutrition label can be confusing because it's based on serving size, and very light cereals (such as puffed wheat) show little fiber per serving, but an acceptable amount when you adjust for weight. Cereals made from bran (the outer covering removed from whole grains) will have higher fiber content than cereals made from whole grains (which have the germ and starchy parts of the grains as well as the fiber), but they can be hard to digest.

2007 Update:I'm delighted to note that partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) have been taken out of many cereals. The old list included 56 brands with PHO's; the new list has only 13! Most of the popular General Mills, Post and Quaker cereal brands no longer have them. Kelloggs is the one major cereal maker that has not yet removed them from many of their leading products; hopefully they will respond to consumer pressure soon.

Is it really whole grain? Manufacturers have also responded to the call for more whole grains in our diet, so you will find a lot more choices that meet my recommendation of "whole grains as the first ingredient". However, many that claim to be "whole grain" still include refined grains. You may need to do some detective work to see what you're getting. One-ingredient whole grain cereals (i.e., shredded wheat, puffed wheat, oatmeal) are sure bets. If you see milled corn, corn meal, wheat flour or rice in

Recommended: Cereals made from Whole Grains
(No trans fats, little or no added sugars; but check the list of ingredients -- recipes can change.)

Cheerios - General Mills

Chex, Wheat or Multi Grain - General Mills

Cinnamon Toast Crunch - General Mills

Cinnamon Grahams - General Mills

French Toast Crunch - General Mills

Golden Grahams - General Mills

Grape Nuts - Post

Grape Nut Flakes - Post

Great Grains, all varieties - Post

Healthy Choice Toasted Brown Sugar Squares - Kelloggs

Kashi (all varieties) - Kashi Company

Life - Quaker

Mini-Wheats, all varieties - Kelloggs

Muesli - Familia

Nutri-Grain, all varieties - Kelloggs

Oatmeal Crisp, all varieties - General Mills

Oatmeal Squares - Quaker

Organic Healthy Fiber Multigrain Flakes - Health Valley

Puffed Wheat - Quaker and others

Shredded Wheat, all varieties and sizes - Post and others

South Beach Diet Toasted Wheats

Total - General Mills

Uncle Sam - U.S. Mills

Weetabix

Wheaties - General Mills

Barbara's, Cascadian Farm, Mother's, Nature's Promise and other smaller brands that specialize in "healthful" cereals (but always check the list of ingredients).

Recommended: All Bran or High Bran Cereals
(no trans fats, little or no added sugars. )

100% Bran - Post

All Bran, all varieties - Kelloggs

Bran Flakes - Post

Chex, Multi-Bran - General Mills

Complete Wheat Bran Flakes - Kelloggs

Complete Oat Bran Flakes - Kelloggs

Cracklin' Oat Bran - Kelloggs

Crunchy Corn Bran - Quaker

Fiber 7 Flakes - Health Valley

Fiber One - General Mills

Fruit & Bran - Post

Granola, Low Fat - Kelloggs

Oat Bran - Quaker

Oat Bran Flakes - Health Valley

Oat Bran Flakes with Raisins - Health Valley

Organic Bran with Raisins - Health Valley

Raisin Bran - Kelloggs

Raisin Bran Flakes - Health Valley

Raisin Bran, Whole Grain Wheat - Post

Raisin Nut Bran - General Mills

Shredded Wheat 'n' Bran - Post

Total, Raisin Bran - General Mills

Weight Watchers Flakes 'n' Fiber

100% Natural Granola - Quaker

Not Recommended - Cereals that Contain Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fats)*
Many also are primarily refined grains and high in added sugars.

Basic Four - General Mills

Cocoa Krispies - Kelloggs

Corn Pops - Kelloggs

Froot Loops - Kelloggs

Golden Crisp - Post

Granola with Raisins, Low Fat - Kelloggs* (see note below)

Healthy Choice Mueslix - Kelloggs

Healthy Choice Almond Crunch with Raisins - Kelloggs

Healthy Choice Low Fat Granola with Raisins - Kelloggs

Mini-Swirlz - Kelloggs

Smacks - Kelloggs

Smart Start - Kelloggs

Special K - Kelloggs

Not Recommended - Cereals Made from Refined Grains
Many of these also contain a lot of added sugar

Apple Jacks - Kelloggs

Cap'n Crunch, all varieties - Quaker

Chex, Rice or Corn - General Mills

Cocoa Frosted Flakes - Kelloggs

Cocoa Blasts - Quaker

Cocoa Pebbles - Post

Cocoa Puffs - General Mills

Cookie Crisp/Chocolate Chip - General Mills

Corn Pops - Kelloggs

Corn Flakes - Kelloggs and others

Count Chocula - General Mills

Crispix - Kelloggs

Frosted Flakes - Kelloggs

Fruity Pebbles - Post

Honey Bunches of Oats - Post

Honey Comb - Post

Honey Nut Clusters - General Mills

Kix - General Mills

Lucky Charms - General Mills

Product 19 - Kelloggs

Puffed Rice - Quaker

Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs - General Mills

Rice Krispies, all varieties - Kelloggs

Total Corn Flakes - General Mills

*When I checked these cereals on 1/26/07, Kelloggs' Low Fat Granola with Raisins contained partially hydrogenated oils while their plain Low Fat Granola had none. I hope this means that Kelloggs is following the lead of the other cereal makers and that PHO's will soon be gone from all of their products. Meanwhile, protect yourself and check the list of ingredients! Cereal recipes change.

Breakfast Cereals-2007's Best

Glass Cookware Pyrex Reviews Coastal Scents Neutral Palette Review Hot Spot Spas Get It Now!