Power Up with Breakfast

Breakfast gives you energy to start the day, and is important for everyone!

Get the morning nutrition you need with these quick breakfast ideas:

• Make oatmeal with milk or  water. Mix in raisins or dried cranberries. Top with chopped walnuts.
• Layer low-fat yogurt with your favorite crunchy cereal and sliced fruit or berries.
• Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana.
• Top a bowl of whole-grain cereal with blueberries, sliced peaches or any favorite fruit. Pour on low-fat or fat-free milk.
• Top a toaster waffle with low-fat yogurt and fruit.
• Stuff a whole-wheat pita with a sliced, hard-cooked egg and low-fat shredded cheese.
• Spread a flour tortilla with peanut butter. Add a whole banana and roll it up.
• Spread almond butter on a whole-grain toasted bagel. Top with apple slices.
• Add lean ham and low-fat Swiss cheese to a toasted whole-grain English muffin.

If your taste buds just don’t crave breakfast foods, try these: 

• Peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole-grain bread.
• Leftover veggie pizza.
• Deli turkey, a slice of low-fat cheese and lettuce wrapped in a tortilla.
• Leftover rice mixed with low-fat yogurt, dried fruit and nuts. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

You can also try this recipe!

Springtime Cereal:
(Makes 2 servings)
3 ⁄4 cup wheat and barley nugget cereal
1/4 cup 100% bran cereal
2 tsp toasted sunflower seeds
2 tsp toasted almonds, sliced
1 Tbsp raisins
1/2 cup bananas, sliced
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 cup raspberry, strawberry, or plain yogurt, low-fat

Mix the wheat and barley nugget cereal, bran cereal, sunflower seeds and almonds in a medium bowl. Add raisins, bananas and half of the strawberries. Gently stir in the yogurt and divide between two bowls. Scatter the remaining strawberries over the top and enjoy!

Information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). The Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.