Best Breakfast Foods

Most health experts agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Therefore, what is the best breakfast one can have? Unfortunately, the jury is still out on this! There are many options that you can choose from if you are unsure about what would be the best breakfast foods. Keep in mind that there are several best breakfast foods that you can choose from when planning the best breakfast for yourself.

However, choosing the best breakfast foods goes beyond eating only what tastes good and what you like. The best breakfast will be one that contains foods that are loaded with healthy nutrients which include proteins and quality fats. Many people consider eggs the best breakfast food as they contain high quality protein and fat. A breakfast that contains eggs will help to keep you satiated until lunch due to the protein and fat in them. Remember that a healthy breakfast or the “best breakfast” allows you to start off your day with a nutritious and healthy meal. The best breakfast possible is one which contains fruits, vegetables, proteins, and wholegrain products. By having such a healthy breakfast, you can reap benefits such as:

Having lower cholesterol: This reduces your risk of cardiac problems, especially heart disease.
Controlling your weight: This reduces your risk of obesity related problems.
Increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals: Strengthens your immune system and helps maintain optimal health levels.

Here is some more information on just what makes up a healthy breakfast. Make sure to include these items as they will make up the best breakfast for you.

Low fat dairy products: These comprise of skimmed milk and low fat cheese (natural cheeses and cottage cheese) and yogurt.
Whole grains: such as crackers, cold or hot whole grain cereals, whole grain rolls, fat free bran bagels, and so on.
Fruits and vegetables: These include fruit and vegetable smoothies, and both fresh and frozen vegetables.
Low fat protein: Lean meat, poultry, fish, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs and so on are considered to be among the best breakfast foods.

The foods listed above provide fiber, protein, and carbohydrates as well as modest amounts of healthy fats. Select one food from each of these categories to ensure you have a really healthy breakfast.

What then are some of the best breakfast recipes you can use? Some easy and quick ones are given below:-

Try making an omelet with vegetables. This way you get both the benefits from the egg as well as the fiber, minerals, and vitamins from the vegetables. Alternately, you can have some oats pancakes for a change. Simply blend a cup of oats into a powder. Then mix with eggs, pour the resulting mixture into a pan and make a pancake. Add a mashed or finely sliced banana, cinnamon, or even some raisins for flavor. Another best breakfast recipe is to make a smoothie. All you need to do is to blend whichever fruit and vegetable you like with water or raw milk. You can choose from blueberries, strawberries, bananas, apples, and so on. Bear in mind that even the best breakfast will eventually become dull if you do not include variety in your daily breakfast recipes.

Breakfast is also a very important meal for children. Research has shown that a child that has a healthy breakfast is far more likely to concentrate better, meet their daily nutrient requirements, have superior cognitive skills and is more alert. Such children are also more creative, have better eye-hand coordination, and have a higher attendance rate in school as compared to other children. What then is the best breakfast for kids? The best breakfast for kids is one that contains carbohydrates, protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates provide energy to the body instantly; protein and calcium help in the development of bones and muscles. It is also essential to include one fresh fruit along with the child’s breakfast. Fruit juice is another option if your child is more inclined to juices rather than the fresh fruit. Children who skip breakfast are more likely to be absent from school and are also less likely to burn fewer calories throughout the day. They tend to perform poorly at their school work and often have trouble memorizing and retaining information. Therefore it is vital for parents to provide a healthy breakfast for their children.

Some of the best breakfast foods for children include:-

Cereals: These are rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and are low in fat. Most cereals contain minerals like iron and zinc. Serve the cereal with milk and your child will also get his/her calcium requirements.
Eggs on toast are another alternative. This breakfast is quick to fix and is full of protein (the egg) and rich in fiber as well (whole grain bread is recommended).

Most fast food breakfasts are not really healthy. Perhaps the best fast food breakfast would be one that contains items that have more protein and fiber and not a great deal of saturated fat.

Submitted on June 20, 2011