Although eating any kind of breakfast is better than not eating breakfast at all, some breakfast options are better than others. Getting the right combination of nutrients will help you to feel full of energy and just plain full until lunch, while eating the wrong foods for breakfast may have you reaching for a doughnut or other less healthy snack option a short time later.
Components of a Healthy Breakfast
A healthy breakfast should contain fruits or vegetables, low-fat protein and dairy and whole grains, according to the Mayo Clinic. This combination of fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fat will help provide the nutrients you need for good health and keep you from getting hungry too quickly. A healthy breakfast may help you to concentrate, aid in your weight-loss efforts and keep you from going through a mid-morning slump.
Benefits of Fruit for Breakfast
Fruit is one of the components of a healthy breakfast because it provides vitamins, minerals, water and fiber. Fiber helps to slow down the digestive process and keep you full longer. The vitamins and minerals help you to meet your daily requirements for these nutrients, which is hard to do if you skip breakfast. Eating fruit at breakfast also helps you to meet the USDA's recommendation for five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Considerations
Eating just fruit for your morning meal, without the other components of a healthy breakfast, is unlikely to keep you full for long. You need protein and fats, which fruits do not supply, to provide lasting energy. Consuming fruit alone may lead to a mid-morning crash as you run out of energy, and spikes in your blood sugar levels.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Oatmeal with fruit and milk, yogurt with fruit and granola, a fruit smoothie with toast and peanut butter and fruit juice with a breakfast burrito made with a whole grain tortilla all make delicious and nutritious options for breakfast. You can stock up on portable breakfast options to make it easier to fit this meal into your day, such as fruits that are easy to carry with you, granola bars and cups of yogurt.
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