Jumpstart your day with these super breakfast ideas and get through a work week bright and breezy!!

Mornings are usually rough. All of us hit that snooze button one too many times, gulp down an extra cup of coffee to get us going and then rush out of the house before even thinking about breakfast to fuel our day. Only a few of us are stickler for an orderly breakfast and wouldn’t leave home without some fiber in their systems.

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Breakfast is all important. It kick starts your metabolism and delivers nutrients and carbs you need so badly first thing in the morning after a 10 hour hiatus. Still looking for a more thoughtful reason to eat a hearty breakfast each morning!!. You must understand that this fast breaking habit helps to  reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. Those settling for measly morsel are 21 percent more likely to have type-2 diabetes in their lifetimes. It’s equally important to understand that what you eat for breakfast is just as important as whether you eat. Carbohydrates, proteins, fat… all have a vital role to fit in our breakfast.

Not all carbs are created equal. There are carbs that spike your blood sugar levels regardless when you eat them. Then there are the healthy ones that give you energy for longer period of time without hurting you. These are the breakfast eats that rally behind you. So, learn to plan your breakfast and include fat, protein and healthy carbs in your menu. The combination has amazing gastronomic value and the experience will keep you feeling happy and full without flirting with your blood sugar levels.

Here are a  few awesome healthy ideas that could change the way you look at your first chew of the day;

Cheap and healthy: Eggs are the best

Eggs are inexpensive, go easy on your GI tract and can be cooked in any number of ways. Hard-boiled, poached, or scrambled, these miracle orbs are the perfect morning eats.

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Eggs are a rich and complete source of protein and contain nutrients such as betaine and choline, which contribute to cardiac health. A single egg locks in vitamins such as B-2 (to ease food assimilation and turn it into energy), B-12 (to help in producing red blood cells), A (to improve eyesight), and E (to aid in preventing cell damage that could turn cancerous). The popularity of the eggs just doesn’t ends here. These amazing spheroids bookmark their presence on our menu list more importantly because of their ability to double up as a whole meal. Immensely popular with health freaks, egg leaves a lot of room for creativity and for squeezing in as many healthy ingredients as one likes.

Although omelets are one of the healthiest breakfast foods and work out as a wholesome breakfast, they often end up unintentionally with a lot more calories added to them than necessary.

Nothing betters Oatmeal as your regular choice

One pitch-in breakfast that is high on fiber, easy to prepare, needs few ingredients, and is high on nutrition is cold cereal or oatmeal with no more than 1 percent milk with a small handful of nuts thrown in. Oatmeal is a whole grain with a ever growing list of health benefits. Fix yourself a bowl every morning and you can lower your risk for high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. It could even help you in your weight loss plan and bad cholesterol management.

Image source: ’Oatmeal’ in Nourish by WebMD

Since it's so important to begin your day right with your body all perked up, oatmeal is an ideal choice as a healthy food for breakfast. A great source of fiber, it works well with nutritious toppings like fresh fruits slices, hearty nuts, and calcium-rich milk.

Eggs served with whole grain or wheat toast and fruit: Cue to change in your eats!

Another no frill meal with all the goodness you need to start your day is one or two boiled or poached eggs perched atop whole grain or wheat toast and fruit. With just 140 calories, two eggs serve you with 12 grams of quality protein, or 24 percent of the daily requirement for this nutrient on a 2,000-calorie diet. Add on like cheese, milk and vegetables raise the calorie count. The two orbs also provide you generous amounts of micronutrients, like 15 to 35 percent of the required value for several B vitamins and 25 percent of the minerals selenium and choline.

Image source: "Poached eggs on Toast” by dailycuppajo in ‘Eat this much”

Meanwhile a slice of whole-wheat bread chips in another 76 calories and 4 grams of protein. Spreads using butter or jam could make the calorie count jumps. Whole grain varieties of bread that carry the additional benefit of fiber, help in filling up and keep your guts happy.

If you’re worried that with eggs for breakfast you could be jeopardizing your cardiac health, rest easy. While eggs are high in dietary cholesterol, their effect on cholesterol levels is minimal. But if you're still worried about cholesterol, let go of the yolk and use egg whites instead which have only half the protein and fewer vitamins than whole eggs. The whites are cholesterol-free.

Breakfast burrito is here!!

What could be a more delightful way to begin your Sunday morning and break long food hiatus since last night than a sumptuous  burrito !! Stuffed with beans, eggs low-fat cheese and a high-fiber tortilla this could be your best bet for a great meal for a leisurely breakfast when you have that extra time to spare. With just under 200 calories in a full breakfast burrito, you can feast on one of these alongside some salsa, fresh fruit, and maybe a cup of coffee for a filling.

Image source: ‘Breakfast Burrito’ by Ellie Krieger on food Network

Generally, vegetarian burritos are more  healthy because they're filled with beans, rice, and veggies. The nutritional value of course depends on the ingredients you add. One that will push up the calorie count is sour cream. There's hardly any difference between store-bought dairy and vegan versions.

Cottage cheese and fruit combination is all business when it comes to nutrition

Do yourself a favor and start eating this combination for your breakfast if you're not already doing so. Refreshing and inexpensive it can be prepared with any kind of fruit. It's high in many nutrients, including protein, B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, selenium, and phosphorus. If you're looking to lose weight or build muscle, cottage cheese is among the most beneficial foods you can eat. Calorie for calorie, it is mostly just protein with very little carbohydrates and fat. Eating plenty of cottage cheese is a great way to boost your protein intake. It is also very satiating, making you feel full with a relatively low number of calories. Cottage cheese also helps in soothing your blood pressure, for it is a lower-fat cheese.

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The recommended amount of this dairy per day is three 30g portions, but not cheese alone. It should also contain other dairy products like milk and yoghurt in a balanced diet.

Breakfast smoothies have everything

Smoothies could turn out to be an exquisite breakfast—it's all about the ingredients and keeping reasonable portions. Super healthy breakfast smoothies are quick and easy to make, and of course,  are delicious too!

Image source: ‘53 Best-Ever Breakfast Smoothies For Weight Loss’ by Olivia Tarantino

A healthy smoothie recipe is packed with protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. A supercharged breakfast smoothie tastes great, is meant to keep you full until lunchtime and includes these five essential nutrients.

Fruit:  Fruit has more to offer than simply adding sweetness. An excellent source of fiber and the 'good' carbs, it serves as an excellent fuel source. Bananas for instance are a smoothie staple and pair well with an array of other fruits.

Yogurt: Protein is the missing link in many smoothie recipes, but adding a small amount of yogurt—just ¼ cup—kicks in extra six grams towards your daily goal.

Liquid:  All smoothies need a wee bit of liquid to combine properly. Unsweetened almond milk is one good choice but you can use any variety of unsweetened nut milk, freshly-squeezed orange juice, or just plain water.    

Nut Butter: A scoop of your favorite nut butter would add satiating, unsaturated fats and an incredible bang-for-your-buck nutrition.

Greens: Slip in a handful of greens into your smoothie for that extra dose of fiber and key vitamins and minerals. Tender, mild-flavored greens like baby spinach would just do great.

Mix-ins :These are optional and include fresh herbs such as basil and mint or fresh ginger to give that extra punch to flavor without affecting nutrition.

Why should your breakfast never lack

Breakfast rallies importance for several reasons. A nutritious wholesome meal in the morning, it serves necessary fuel to our body and brain. It also helps regulate hunger and reduces the urge to snack intermittently throughout the day.

For a nutritious breakfast, try to choose whole unprocessed foods from each of these food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. Include proteins from foods like yogurts (hunt for less sugar added versions), eggs, nuts and seeds or legumes. Also add complex carbohydrates such as whole fruits and vegetables, and whole grains (i.e. oatmeal) that provide fiber and help you feel full longer.

 If you want to feel and look your best, always eat a proper breakfast to help get you off on the right foot. Carving out time to feed yourself nutritious foods in the morning gets your metabolism going strong and let’s your body know it’s okay to burn calories throughout the day.

After all, even if you love your morning spread as much as the person next to you, remember at some point of time you have to reign in your urge for fancy eats. Some of the answers to your search for nutritious food options and healthy fulfilling life may surprise you but then… You always eat some you always lose some!!