We often hear breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but how often do we eat a filling, nutrient dense, balanced breakfast? Whether it’s lack of time in the morning, not feeling hungry yet, or looking for ways to cut calories – breakfast often is the lightest, least nutrient rich meal of the day! This month focus on either making time for breakfast or planning ahead for on the go breakfast options to give yourself an easy and healthy start to the morning. An ideal breakfast includes a protein source, a fruit or vegetable, and a healthy source of fat. Typical breakfast foods like cereal, granola bars, toast, and bagels are loaded with simple carbohydrates and added sugars, these foods can be calorie dense, nutrient poor, and are quickly digested so you’re often hunger 1-2 hours after eating! Instead try and base your meal around a protein and a fruit or vegetable, and don’t forget to view breakfast as one of your 3 meals, it should not be snack portioned!

March Healthy Habit: make breakfast a nutritious start to the day by either:

Never skip breakfast by planning easy on-the-go breakfasts that are protein dense and filling.

For example:

• Greek Yogurt + Fruit + 5-7 of Almonds
• Premiere Protein Shake + apple
• Egg Muffins (see recipe)

Improve the nutrient density of your breakfasts – how does your breakfast measure up compared to lunch and dinner? If your breakfast looks more like a snack than a meal look for ways to increase protein and fruits/vegetables, studies have shown that people who eat a larger breakfast tend to eat fewer calories throughout the course of the day because their hunger is better controlled.