Not trying to throw shade at the cereal, we all enjoyed a big bowl with some nice cold milk, but there are faster and better breakfast options. Remember those bowls with built-in straws so you could sip the sugar-filled milk created by cereal? I do. It may have been good for your taste buds, but not so much for your health.
Breakfast (Break-the-fast) is an important meal; it’s the first thing you feed your body after an overnight fast as it repairs torn muscle fibers and rejuvenates cells. It’s the energy that will fuel your morning and provide your body with much-needed nutrients. For avid sports enthusiasts, this prioritizes your morning meal when it comes to burning clean fuel.
Put an end to the best breakfast problems with in-form chef Joshua Bailey If you’re struggling to prioritize health for breakfast or aren’t quite sure how to do it, chef and personal trainer Joshua Bailey is a breakfast prep pro who sets the stage for you. create morning meals that are rich in flavor and nutritious.
Bailey prides herself on prioritizing a healthy breakfast to start her day. “I always try to include a source of protein, carbs and green vegetables, while my favorite breakfast usually consists of eggs, oatmeal and a protein shake,” says Bailey.
“Quick breakfast options such as cereals tend to be very high in added sugar and contain absolutely no nutritional value,” he adds. That doesn’t mean you have to give it up forever, it just shouldn’t be your daily meal.
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy an occasional bowl of cereal myself,” Bailey says, but try to figure out how often you include it in your diet.
So skip the cereal, because Bailey offers several simple yet effective tips that will take all the guesswork out of building your morning fuel.
Simple swaps, simple breakfasts, simply healthy
Building a better breakfast comes down to incorporating simple swaps and choosing high-quality ingredients. “Making simple swaps and being mindful of the ingredients you add to your food when cooking can make all the difference,” says Bailey. An example of this looks like swapping premade sugar-filled oats with regular steel-cut oats and dressing them with healthy toppings like sliced almonds and berries. When choosing foods for breakfast, “it’s important to make choices based on your body and your personal goals,” says Bailey. Now let’s move on to the building.
Better eggs for breakfast
Rich in protein and nutrients, enjoyed by millions. Although the yolk has a high nutritional value, to reduce unnecessary fat content, Bailey suggests limiting the yolks, depending on the number of eggs you normally consume). “I make a conscious choice to use only one egg yolk in order to eliminate unnecessary fat intake by eating eight egg yolks,” he says.
Opting for organic, free-range eggs is also a way to improve the health of your eggs. Supporting local farmers is a great way to boost your morning nutrients while supporting your community.
When cooking eggs, try using cooking spray instead of butter, again to avoid excess fat.
Better meats for breakfast
Because breakfast meats tend to be very high in sodium, Bailey avoids them and suggests that you try to make alternative adjustments whenever possible. If you want to include a morning slice of meat, opt for low-sodium turkey bacon instead. This way, your experience is packed with flavor, less fat, excess sodium, and calories.
If you have lean protein leftovers from dinner like chicken or steak, dicing the meat and tossing it in the pan with the eggs is a tasty protein addition without sacrificing health.
Better oatmeal for breakfast
Sure, those sugar-filled ready-made oatmeal might taste delicious, but it’s probably not the best choice if you have fitness goals to achieve (and you probably already know that). Bailey recommends eating traditional unflavored oats topped with a small amount of brown sugar and a very light drizzle of maple syrup to treat your taste buds without overdoing the sugar content.
A plain bowl of oats is a blank slate and plenty of clean toppings are at your service. Berries, nuts, nut butter, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg make for a tasty bowl. “Oats are a complex carbohydrate that will keep you full longer and your body absorb more nutrients from complex carbohydrates,” says Bailey. So, build your bowl with your favorite toppings and you’re good to go!
Best protein shakes and smoothies for breakfast
What’s great about protein shakes and smoothies is how much nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals you can add to a drink. Bailey’s morning protein shake normally includes fruits and vegetables that may be lacking in many diets.
“My favorite shake includes strawberries, blueberries and bananas. Spinach, peanut butter, almond milk, protein powder, and an occasional scoop of reds and greens,” says Bailey.
Depending on what you include in your shake, the drink alone can serve as breakfast on its own. The goal is to opt for proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Better breakfast bars
For mornings that don’t go as planned, there are bars that are a clean, take-out option. Start your morning (especially when you’re late) with this plant-based, soft and chewy breakfast bar. With 8g of plant-based protein, BC30 probiotics to support immune health, 14g of whole grains, and 4g of prebiotic fiber, The Complete KickStart is packed with goodness to start your day off right!
Building a better breakfast will build better health. All you have to do is be diligent about consuming clean, whole ingredients while replacing the not-so-healthy ones. One breakfast at a time.
