Steps To A Quick & Healthy Breakfast

By Tara Hari

Most of the people skip breakfast due to their busy schedules. In this health conscious age, people might feel that skipping a meal will aid their weight loss endeavours. But skipping breakfast is one of the worst mistakes a person could make while trying to eat healthy. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you need to have a proper meal loaded with nutrients to perk your body up for the day.

Most people will give the excuse of not feeling hungry in the morning. But this is because of packing in the late night snacks. Try to make a healthy breakfast an unbreakable routine as this is an excellent way to kick-start your metabolism and keep it running throughout the day.

There are a number of ways by which you can make boost the health factor in your breakfast without going the extra mile. You do not have to worry about waking up early to prepare a proper, healthy meal. All you have to do is make a few simple changes. Avoid greasy breakfast foods like bacon, muffins and hash browns. Replace these with healthy alternatives which are delicious, but contain fewer calories. Here are a few tips for a quick and healthy breakfast.

Start Pouring

Start Pouring

Replace regular, full fat milk with skim milk. Add milk to your cereal or oats. Avoid tea or coffee, and drink a glass of plain milk instead. Milk is packed with calcium and vitamins that are necessary for strong teeth and bones. Yogurt is also an option if you do not like the taste of milk. You can opt for flavoured yogurt if you are feeling adventurous. Simply mix your cornflakes/ porridge with skim milk or yogurt.

Introduce Nuts

Introduce Nuts

Nuts are loaded with healthy fats that are essential for the proper functioning of your body. They are especially beneficial for a healthy heart. You can add nuts to your oatmeal or top your cereal with a few nuts to add the extra nutrients to your breakfast.

Go White

Go White

Instead of using an entire egg for omelettes, scrambled eggs, use only the egg whites. If you need the flavour of the egg yolk, use one egg yolk with two whites. This ensures that you consume fewer calories, fat and cholesterol.

Skip Sweeteners

Skip Sweeteners

Avoid adding refined sugar to your milk, cereal or oats. Artificial sweeteners should also be avoided as they are not the healthy alternative. Drink pure orange or fruit juice instead of the sweetened version. Replace sugar in your green tea/ lemonade with honey.

Fruit Fiesta

Fruit Fiesta

Add fresh fruits to your breakfast to notch up the health factor. Fruits are the perfect way to improve any breakfast. Add fresh fruits to oats or cereals. Yogurt is another best option to team with cut fruits. If you do not want to lose out on the nutrients, then you can eat a whole fruit at breakfast. Research has shown that breakfast is the best time to eat fruits.

Add Spices

Add Spices

Healthy spices can be added to your breakfast like cloves, pepper or cinnamon. Cinnamon powder can be sprinkled over porridge to add flavour and aid in weight loss. Pepper can be added to omelettes to spice them up.

Smarter Cereal

Smarter Cereal

Replace your usual bowl of cold cereal with a hot bowl of oats. Oats are rich in fibre which acts as an excellent aid to digestion. It is also beneficial in reducing cholesterol. Oats will keep you feeling full for a longer time, which will help your weight loss efforts.

Whole Grains

Whole Grains

Replace white bread with brown bread. White bread contains refined carbs which has no health benefits and extra calories. Wheat products and whole grains have fibre which is good for digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer. Replace your usual blueberry muffin with whole wheat muffin for added health benefits.

Story first published: Monday, June 17, 2013, 18:30 [IST]
Read more about: health diet