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Calorie-laden feasts are just around the corner now and we already know exactly how you plan to compensate: 86-ing breakfast. Or maybe you're already committing this colossal crime and chocking it up to "time management." Hate to break it to you, but you're going to have to save the rationalizations for when you break that inevitable New Year's resolution. "No Excuse November" has a ring to it, right?
In all seriousness, breakfast really is an incredibly significant meal. Aptly named, it literally ends the "fast" that occurs while we sleep, a necessary jump-start of our metabolism for the day. Plus, as far as your diet goes, eating it rather than skipping it is what's going to make a difference. In fact, the National Weight Control Registry, which is composed of people who have on average lost a total of 66 pounds and kept it off for 5.5 years, has concluded through polling that 78 percent of its members have used "eating breakfast" as a means for keeping weight off.
Intrigued, but unsure of how to change your habits? Never fear, breakfast rookies, we're here to help. The three sample breakfasts below guarantee high satisfaction and low prep times.
Egg-ing You On
Omelettes may seem a bit daunting, but we promise they aren't the time suck that you think they are – ten extra minutes is all you need. Combine a couple omega-3 enriched eggs with spinach, low-fat cheese and some diced up peppers and onions for a boastful breakfast of calcium, protein and various vitamins. If you're shelling out that extra dough for those omegas, though, make sure you don't toss out your yoke; that yellow center is what you paid for, people.
When it comes to selection we're fans of Organic Valley Omega-3 Large Eggs, not only because their cage-free products have an extra boost of that brain and heart health boosting buzzword, but also because their sustainable business practices are quite admirable. The company's "triple bottom line" – social responsibility, ecological integrity and economic stability – is the kind of motto that we'd like to see more businesses living up to.
Just Enough Crunch
If you'd like, you can think of this first meal of the day as a thick and creamy treat. Lower in sugar and carbs, higher in protein and lactose-free, Greek yogurt holds the advantage over plain. We like Fage and Chobani, each of which come in flavors, but recommend that you save yourself from that extra bit of sugar by opting for plain Greek.
For an extra oomph, add some naturally sweetened granola to your yogurt, like agave and honey enhanced Love Grown. This company offers five delicious versions of their product: simply oats, apple walnut delight, raisin almond crunch, sweet cranberry pecan and cocoa goodness. The Colorado-based brand also has a mission for every child in their state to have access to a healthy breakfast – it's no surprise that we're on board with that.
Bonus points: This specific breakfast is gluten-free if you're under that particular dietary restriction.
GOLEAN Cuisine
Our last suggestion is as simple as it gets; you could virtually live at your workplace and still have time for a hearty bowl of cereal. Not to mention that a study released this year by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggested that eating a whole grain cereal for breakfast could reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure in middle-aged men. Researchers at BIDMC also admitted to the existence of evidence which shows whole grain cereal might protect against other chronic diseases like diabetes and heart failure. That's most certainly worth a spoonful.
For those of us who don't fit into that demographic, Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble cereal offers 9 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber and 18 grams of whole grains in just one serving. Plus, many Kashi products – including this one – are vegan. We like to accommodate everyone here at GLR, so we made sure this last option was friendly to a dairy-free diet. Pair your cereal with soy or almond milk and you're good to go!
We're going to cut you some slack if you woke up this morning and skipped our favorite meal. But alas, tomorrow is a new day – start it right.