But as September is designated as the Better Breakfast Month, I’m making a mental note to start preparing better breakfasts for myself even when there doesn’t seem to be enough time to sit down and eat, much less chop and cook. For those of you who are also always on the run, especially in the mornings, here are some tips I’ve unearthed, courtesy of Salisbury University (pdf file), which includes breakfast options you can whip up in a New York minute:

• Whole grain cereal (pick one with lots of fiber and not too much sugar), sliced banana and milk.
• Yogurt with fruit.
• Peanut butter on whole grain bread.
• A smoothie with fruit and yogurt.
• Hot oatmeal is great for a crisp fall morning. Add chopped nuts and dried fruit or spice it up with cinnamon and cloves.

Perhaps I can manage to have more than just coffee for breakfast for the entire month of September, at least!

Photo Credit: rizkapb via flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Better Breakfast Month Coming Up

Breakfast tip #6: Small whole grain muffin, carton of yogurt, carton of 100% orange juice.

Health Benefits:

• Whole grains are naturally rich in selenium, a mineral that thwarts cell damage and promotes a healthy immune system.
• In addition to protein, yogurt is a source of zinc, necessary for producing DNA, the blueprint for every cell in your body, among dozens of other functions.
• The vitamin C in orange juice keeps blood vessels strong and resilient.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.

Post from: Blisstree

Breakfast Tip #6: Fight Cell Damage and Promote a Healthy Immune System

Breakfast Idea #4: Waffle Sandwich. Toast two frozen whole grain waffles and spread with 1 tablespoon peanut butter; add a glass of 100 percent orange juice.

Health Benefits:

• Choose whole grain waffles fortified with calcium for an extra dose of this bone-building nutrient.
• Use protein-packed peanut butter, which is a good source of the B-vitamin folate needed to make healthy blood cells, or sunflower seed butter if nut allergy is an issue.
• Orange juice also supplies folate, as well as vitamins B6, thiamin, and riboflavin that your body uses for energy production.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.

Post from: Blisstree

Breakfast Tip #4: Power Packed for Your Muscles and Bones

Breakfast Idea #3: Fast-food breakfast sandwich. Scramble an egg in 1 teaspoon of margarine. Layer cooked egg with a slice of cheddar or Provolone cheese in a whole grain English muffin. Enjoy with 8 ounces 100% orange juice.

Health Benefits:

• In addition to high-quality protein necessary for building cells and tissues, eggs contain choline, a compound that has been linked to better memory. Eggs are also a source of 12 vitamins and minerals.
• Cheese supplies protein plus calcium, necessary to produce and repair bone tissue.
• Eight ounces of 100% orange juice satisfies nearly 25 percent of the USDA recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.
Photo Credit: bella_domanie

Post from: Blisstree

Breakfast Tip #3: Memory Booster Sandwich

Breakfast Idea #2: Combine a packet of plain instant oatmeal prepared with low fat milk in the microwave with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup slivered almonds or chopped walnuts stirred in. Round the meal out with 8 ounces 100% orange juice.

Health Benefits:

• Oatmeal helps keep blood cholesterol levels under control, heading off heart disease. One packet provides one of the three minimum servings of whole grains for kids and adults, as recommended by the food pyramid.
• Oatmeal is also fortified with iron, needed to carry oxygen to every cell in your body.
• The vitamin C in orange juice enhances the body’s absorption of iron from the oatmeal. Orange juice is also rich in magnesium.
• The raisins and orange juice provide two servings from the Fruit Group in the food pyramid.
• All nuts supply heart-healthy fat, but almonds also pack magnesium, necessary for normal heart rhythm and muscle function.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.

Photo Credit: Roswitha Schacht

Post from: Blisstree

Breakfast Tip #2: Heart-Healthy with Nuts, Fruits, and Fiber

Breakfast Idea #1: Orange-Pineapple Smoothie. Combine 8 ounces calcium- and vitamin D-fortified 100% orange juice, 1/4 cup pineapple chunks and 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt in a blender or food processor. Blend on high speed for two to three minutes and serve immediately.

Health Benefits:

• Yogurt is packed with protein for building bones and repairing cells and muscle tissue.
• In addition to phytonutrients, 100% orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, which promotes a robust immune system as well as healthy gums and connective tissue, such as collagen.
• Fortified orange juice provides as much bone-boosting calcium and vitamin D as milk.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.

Image: Orange Pineapple Crush from Tesco

Post from: Blisstree

Breakfast Tip #1: Orange Pineapple Smoothie

1. Excuse: “I don’t have enough time.”

Solution: No matter your lifestyle, mornings are often the most hectic time of the day. But there are easy ways you can squeeze in a nutritious meal every morning.

• Shop for healthy breakfast foods like whole grain breads and cereals, low-fat yogurt and orange juice. Having these items on hand makes a morning meal easier to assemble.
• In a rush? Bring breakfast in the car and grab a bottle or fill up your favorite insulated to-go cup with 100 percent orange juice for a natural source of vitamins and minerals. Just one serving is more nutrient dense than many commonly consumed fruit juices.
• Save time by preparing the evening before. Don’t just pack lunch, pack breakfast as well.

2. Excuse: “I don’t like to eat first thing when I wake up.”

Solution: If you like to hit the snooze a few times every morning, breakfast may be the last thing on your mind. Remember you do not have to eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. A healthy meal fuels the mind and body so just squeeze in a snack before lunchtime. Stock your kitchen or office with healthy, convenient foods and 100 percent orange juice.

3. Excuse: “I can’t spare the calories.”

Solution: Eating more may actually help you weigh less. A study from the University of Nottingham found that women consumed about 100 fewer daily calories when they ate breakfast2. To make breakfast beneficial, choose healthy options that help you increase your servings of vegetables and fruits. For example, just a glass of 100 percent orange juice provides almost 25 percent of the daily USDA recommended serving of fruits and vegetables and is more nutrient dense than many common fruit juices.

4. Excuse: “I don’t like traditional breakfast foods.”

Solution: Pancakes, eggs and bacon not tempting your taste buds or your hectic schedule? Non-traditional breakfasts and even last night’s leftovers like chicken pack the nutrients you need to get your day started right. Or grab a dinner roll from last night and spread it with peanut butter. Getting fuel in the morning is important as research shows eating breakfast every day contributes to increased attention and performance at work and school.

For more information, visit Florida Juice.

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Solutions to 4 Common Excuses for for Skipping Breakfasts!