Part of being Healthy For Good™ is creating simple daily habits you can stick with. One important habit that can help kickstart your day is eating a healthy breakfast. The good news is that it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. There are plenty of simple, nutritious breakfast options that can be made ahead of time so they’re ready to grab and go when you’re flying out the door. Think outside the (cereal) box with these quick and easy ideas.

Here are some healthy breakfast ideas to try:

• Make muffins with healthy ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grain flour, and freeze them. Throw one in your bag, and it will be thawed and ready to eat by the time you get to work or school. Try this easy cranberry muffin recipe.
• Make instant oatmeal in a travel coffee mug to take on the go. Buy it unsweetened, and keep walnuts, applesauce, cinnamon and frozen fruit on hand to mix in.
• Pack a homemade smoothie in a thermos. It can be as simple as blending your favorite frozen fruits, or you can add other healthy ingredients such as low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt, nut butters, applesauce, a few ounces of 100% fruit juice, fresh herbs, such as mint, and even vegetables. Here are a few recipes to try:
  • Banana Bread Smoothie
  • Avocado Coconut Smoothie
  • Tropical Green Smoothie
  • Blueberry Mango Smoothie
• Keep a stash of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge. To fancy them up, slice an egg and serve on whole-grain toast with sliced avocado and tomato, sprinkled with a pinch of paprika, pepper and other favorite herbs and spices.
• Spread a whole-grain waffle, whole-grain English muffin or piece of whole-grain toast with nut butter or low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese and sliced fruit. Cut each slice in half and create a mini-sandwich for less mess on the go.
• Over the weekend, fill small mason jars with plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt, frozen fruit, nuts, rolled oats and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a few days’ worth of healthy yogurt parfaits.

If you choose packaged breakfast foods, watch out for salt and added sugars! Check the Nutrition Facts label on packages and choose items with less of these ingredients. Look for whole-grain products that give you dietary fiber and other beneficial nutrients.