5 Tips for a healthier breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? I argue - yes! You see, breakfast is not so much relegated to a certain time period of the day and can only be consumed during that time frame, but rather, it happens ANY time you break your fast to consume calories for the first time that day. And so, whether that is at 6am or 12pm for you, the first calories should be wholesome, nutritious, and serve the purpose to provide you the healthy fuel you need to get through your day. Here are 5 tips that will serve this purpose of getting you started on the right foot!

1)      Make your coffee or tea at home.

Not only is it waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper, you have knowledge of and can control the ingredients that go into it. Black coffee or plain tea is the best way to go, but if you need to sweeten it some, try using stevia and if you need some milk, watch out for the sweetened creamers since they have a lot of added sugar!

2)      Pay attention to the type of cereal or oatmeal you are eating.

If your cereal looks like it could glow in the dark, you shouldn’t eat it. If it has cartoon characters on the box, you shouldn’t eat it (and truthfully, neither should kids!). If you are going to eat cereal, choose those without added sugars. Instead of instant oatmeal, make your oatmeal on the stovetop!

3)      Avoid juice.

Juice has so much sugar. Even the ‘low sugar’ juice has too much sugar. Juice is not necessary, and hydration is best with water. What about the minerals and vitamins that juice boasts on its label? You get that PLUS fiber if you actually eat the fruit that was squeezed into the box. So push aside the apple juice and grab that apple instead!

4)      Whole grain all the way.

If you have a piece of bread, avoid ultra-refined breads such as white breads, croissants, muffins, and bagels. Whole wheat, multigrain, or whole sprouted breads have more fiber and will not cause such a large blood sugar spike.

5)      Switch up your spreads.

Aren’t you bored of butter and jelly? And don’t be fooled by jelly – just because it is made with fruit, does not make it healthy. It has so much sugar in it. Healthier spreads include avocado, hummus, or even no sugar added nut-butters. Sprinkle some flaxseed on top and you have a deliciously healthy start to your day!