Stop and think for a second about what nutritional value a bowl of highly processed, sugar filled breakfast cereal provides for body as you fuel up for the day… not much. The majority of cereals, although marketed as “a complete breakfast”, are simply a bowl of sugar, dyes and preservatives offering little to no nutritional value.
#1 MUESLI
Muesli is the German’s twist on cereal. Typically a mix of oats, dried fruit, nuts & seeds offering a supply of complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to help you start your morning off with some energy! Enjoy with milk, almond milk, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, coconut yogurt or just dry!
My personal favorite is the Trader Joe’s Muesli with only 3g of sugar per serving.
#2 RICE PUFFS
These rice puffs might not perfectly replace your delicious Cheerios or Fruit Loops, but your body will definitely be more appreciative of your choice. The brown rice will break down slowly in your body keeping you full throughout the morning.
Enjoy with your choice of nut milk, coconut flakes and/or berries for extra flavor! If you have a sweet tooth, include a packet of stevia for fun. They are cheapest when you buy in bulk on Amazon- $25.42 for 12 6oz bags!
#3 OVERNIGHT OATS
Overnight oats are the perfect solution for the busy professionals who don’t have time to make breakfast in the morning. As the title hints, you can make them the night before, let them sit in the refrigerator overnight and then enjoy them on the go in the morning.
You can tailor your overnight oats to your palate, but the base is:
- ½ cup of instant oats
- ½ cup unsweetened nut milk
- 1 TBSP chia seeds
- 1 TBSP nut butter
- Optional: chia seeds, protein powder, ground flax seeds, honey, berries, raisins, banana slices etc.
#4 PROTEIN YOGURT
This is another great solution if you constantly find yourself running out of time for breakfast! It is packed full of protein and healthy carbs to give you an energy boost for your morning.
All you have to do is mix plain Greek yogurt, ½ a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein and ½ cup of your choice of berries. For extra flavor add cinnamon or chopped nuts.
#5 APPLE ALMOND OATMEAL
Apple almond oatmeal is just a delicious, healthy spin off of the sugar-filled apple cinnamon pre-packaged oatmeal.
The recipe is simple, just mix 1 serving of cooked instant oats with ½ scoop of vanilla protein, ½ apple finely chopped, 1 TBSP sliced almonds & 1 tsp cinnamon and ENJOY!
Author Michelle Mudge is a Senior VP at Tops Fitness Management and is a nutrition coach.