If you are striving to lead a healthy life, breakfast is where it all starts every morning. If you get off to a good start, eating a healthy breakfast and perhaps even getting in a quick exercise session, it’ll be much easier to keep this healthy behavior up during the rest of the day. Many people are too busy to spend much time on breakfast in the morning however. Don’t worry though, not all healthy meals take a long time to prepare. Here are a few healthy breakfast foods that will help you get a good start to your day.
Eggs
While eggs in the past have been made out to be bad for you because of the high amounts of cholesterol they contain, recent studies are indicating that eggs might not have such a bad effect on our cholesterol levels after all, with some studies even showing that they may lower body cholesterol levels. Eggs contain a number of essential nutrients and are packed with protein. Research shows that high protein breakfasts help you feel full for longer, thus preventing snacking throughout the day, and make you feel more energized. Protein is also important for building and maintaining muscle mass. Eggs are good for your oral health too, helping keep your teeth strong.
Bananas
Bananas are great as a quick breakfast snack and combine well with lots of other foods. They are rich in fiber and contain a lot of vitamin C and potassium. You can make banana/nut pancakes (just mix 2 eggs, 1 medium sized banana and some walnuts or almonds together) for a delicious and healthy breakfast chock full of essential nutrients. Don’t overdo it with bananas however since they are a quite sugary and thus can cause tooth decay.
Berries
Most berries contain lots of antioxidants, but are low in sugar. Adding some berries to your breakfast will help you load up with antioxidants and other vital nutrients such as vitamin C. Don’t eat too many however since they are quite acidic, potentially causing tooth decay, and can also stain your teeth. Rinsing your mouth with water after consuming them can help stave off any negative oral health effects they may cause.
Greek Yoghurt
Greek Yoghurt is a great alternative to eggs for a high protein breakfast. It also contains lots of calcium which is important for your bones and teeth. Make sure to get a variety that doesn’t contain any added sugars. Instead you can sweeten with berries or a banana.
Green Tea
Green tea is great for your health. It’s loaded with antioxidants and numerous studies have linked green tea with a lower risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and gum disease. Green tea also helps cleanse your mouth after a healthy breakfast. Don’t add sugar however. If you want to sweeten your tea, add a bit of raw honey instead.
There you go, a few ideas for quick and healthy breakfasts. You don’t need to spend much time at all to make a delicious meal out of the foods that were mentioned. Just use your imagination.
Zane Schwarzlose is a writer at The Lakeway Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, an Austin dental office. Zane loves Greek yoghurt.