Now that we’ve officially entered the New Year, I’ve been giving a lot of thought as to what my New Year’s resolution is going to be. We’ve all heard the old adage, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” but how many of us really follow it? Most weekdays, I’m usually rushing out the door with only a cup of coffee to sustain me until lunchtime by which time I’m usually starving. Of course I’ve always heard about how important eating a good breakfast is but I never really thought it was a realistic goal for my lifestyle.
So why is it important to eat a nutritious breakfast? Studies show that people who eat a good breakfast end up eating fewer calories throughout the rest of the day. Eating a good breakfast keeps you feeling fuller longer so that you will avoid overeating later in the day. Although you may think that skipping breakfast will help you lose weight by cutting calories, it actually increases your risk of obesity. Eating breakfast boosts your metabolism, which makes you burn more calories throughout the morning rather than storing them.
Eating breakfast also helps boost your intake of important nutrients like vitamins and minerals. People who eat breakfast are more likely to eat a healthier diet overall, including less fat and cholesterol which is good for your heart and helps to maintain a healthy weight. Also, eating breakfast gives you more energy, which translates into increased concentration and productivity throughout the morning.
So what exactly constitutes a healthy breakfast? A good breakfast includes a balance of complex carbohydrates with protein, fiber, and just a small amount of fat. This combination will keep you feeling full for many hours as opposed to the high carbohydrate breakfasts that we sometimes grab in a rush such as muffins, bagels, and sugary cereals. These foods give you a short burst of energy, but in no time you'll be left feeling tired and hungry all over again. The components you want to include in your breakfast are:
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Low-fat dairy or soy products
- Fruits and vegetables
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| Photo by Enrica Proserpio (Instagram profile- enripro) |
If you include foods from all of these categories in your meal, you will be eating a healthy, well-balanced breakfast. Need some examples? Here are some specific examples of healthy breakfast ideas that are quick and easy to prepare:
- Bowl of whole grain cereal (watch the sugar content) with berries and skim or soy milk
- Whole grain toast with peanut butter and sliced apples
- Whole grain waffle topped with almond butter and sliced strawberries or banana
- Bowl of oatmeal with fresh or dried fruit and/or chopped nuts (apples, walnuts and cinnamon are a great combination; another good combo is blueberries and almonds)
- Whole grain toast with low-fat cottage cheese and sliced peaches or pineapple
- Parfait made with layers of fat free Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and chopped nuts or whole grain cereal
- Smoothie made with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, fat free yogurt and flax seed
- Whole wheat pita topped with low-fat cottage cheese or part-skim ricotta cheese and sliced tomatoes; serve with fresh fruit or a glass of fruit juice on the side
- Multi-grain English muffin with lean ham or turkey, reduced fat cheese and sliced tomato
- Homemade breakfast burritos (see recipe below)
My Jump-Start Your Day Breakfast Burritos are a hearty and nutritious meal to jump-start your day and set you on the right path for healthy eating all day long. And the best part is that if you’re not a morning person, you can prepare a whole batch of them ahead of time and freeze them. Then when you want to eat one, you just unwrap, pop it in the microwave and take it to go!
Recipe
Jump-Start Your Day Breakfast Burritos
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 6 whole eggs
- 6 egg whites
- ½ cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
- 6 (9-inch) whole grain wraps (I used La Tortilla Factory Smart Delicious Whole Grain Soft Wraps)
- ¾ cup your favorite salsa
- ¼ cup sliced scallions
- Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and peppers to the skillet and season them with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 7-8 minutes. Stir in the beans and chili powder and cook another 2-3 minutes until heated through. Pour the contents of the skillet into a bowl and set aside. Wipe the skillet clean.
- Whisk the eggs and egg whites together in a large bowl along with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Spray the skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the eggs and cook them, stirring occasionally, until soft curds form. Stir in the cheese and cook another minute until melted. Remove from heat.
- Spread each tortilla with equal amounts of the veggie/bean mixture and top with the scrambled eggs. Spread 2 tablespoons salsa, some sliced scallions and hot sauce (if using) on top. Roll the tortillas up burrito style- fold the side closest to you over the filling, then fold both sides in toward the center and roll up. Serve alone or with reduced fat sour cream, if desired.
- If not eating right away, wrap each burrito in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze. To reheat, unwrap and microwave until warm, about 2 minutes, turning over halfway through. For a crispier wrapping, heat in the microwave, then bake in a 450° oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Nutrition
References:
Wyatt HR, et al. Long-term weight loss and breakfast in subjects in the National Weight Control Registry. Obesity Research. 2002;10:78.
Purslow LR, et al. Energy intake at breakfast and weight change: Prospective study of 6,764 middle-aged men and women. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2008;167:188.
Zeratsky KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., Jan. 25, 2011.
Kerver JM, et al. Meal and snack patterns are associated with dietary intake of energy and nutrients in US adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2006;106:46.
Gibson SA, et al. What's for breakfast? Nutritional implications of breakfast habits: Insights from the NDNS dietary records. Nutrition Bulletin. 2011;36:78.
Visit Website says
i just love everything you do, it's all just so quirky and makes me smile! so glad you shared 🙂
Anonymous says
We regularly make breakfast burritos in large batches and use our FoodSaver to shrink wrap them individually and freeze. Then wrap a paper towel around it to microwave to keep it from making the outside mushy. Interestingly they are discovering that a healthy meal of this very type helps depression, alcoholism, fibromyasia and more. See the book "Potatoes Not Prozac". 🙂
Rook and Pawn says
these are delicious! even with egg substitute
sonaliruder says
Thanks! I've never tried them with egg substitute- great idea!
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sonaliruder says
Thanks for the invite- I'm heading over to your site now!
ur says
I love this recipe, easy to make. I can eat it on the run AND freeze each one for later use.love the nutritional values for each item.
The Foodie Physician says
Thanks for your comments! They really are convenient and freeze very well- I love that I can take them to go in the morning. Enjoy!
Lynda - TasteFood says
Thanks for the reminder - as I sit and sip my breakfast cappuccino 🙂
Emily says
Just what I needed! A yummy make-ahead breakfast that is also healthy. Will be buying ingredients today!
eddievas says
YUM. Now, more than ever I have to eat three meals a day. What a break from over easy eggs! I'm going to make breakfast burritos!