10 Fitness Experts Share Their Go-To Healthy Breakfasts

You might have read about the recent research that appeared to knock breakfast off its pedestal as the most important meal of the day. While the research is mixed, and there are plenty of variables involved, most experts support the idea that getting at least a little something in your belly in the few hours after waking, especially if you have a morning workout.

We asked the fitness experts what they enjoy for their first meal of the day. After all, these experts know their bodies and how they operate optimally, so you might want to steal some of their ideas or at least experiment with a few to see what works for you!

Since your body loses water while you sleep, having a glass before eating anything helps to rehydrate you and boost your energy. "I always drink a big glass of water with fresh lemon juice first thing when I wake up," says Holly Jean Cosner, a Pilates master instructor.

"Then I like to eat a little something after about a half hour. I usually have a cottage cheese (for fat and protein) with a handful of blueberries mixed in," she says. "When I crave a little more savory, I put some black olives in the cottage cheese instead of berries."

There's something to be said for maintaining a morning breakfast routine. "I like a coconut muesli every other day, alternating between a collard scramble or a seitan sausage sandwich on the other days," says Joel Harper, a celebrity fitness trainer. The chlorophyll in collard greens can help to balance out the heavy protein in eggs while keeping you full, and it acts as a natural breath freshener, he says.

Read more: Lose Weight With These 13 Easy Breakfasts

Whole grains are a great way to start the day with a healthy dose of carbohyrates, giving you sustained energy to power your morning. Celebrity fitness trainer Juliet Kaska says that her go-to breakfast is a half cup of brown rice or quinoa with a quarter of an avocado mashed into it for a helping of healthy fats.

"It is very filling, (no late morning snack required) flavorful and delicious," Kaska says. She also likes to have a turn of Himalayan sea salt on top and suggests adding lemon juice for additional flavor and digestive stimulation.

Having greens for breakfast is a wonderful way to add nutrition into your body from the very first bite. "My current obsession is sauteed kale, chard or mustard greens, with onion and red pepper over whole-wheat pasta," says Kate Hamm, a certified yoga and fitness instructor. "The savory foods are definitely what my body wants." Kale and other dark greens start you with over 100 percent of your daily need for vitamin A, which boosts immunity and can make your whole day feel stronger.

When you're training extra hard, you may need fuel both before, during and after a workout. USA Cycling Expert Coach Menachem Brodie says, "My most standard breakfast on the cycling team — on bike training days — is a 16-ounce shake (consisting of 200 grams of 1.5 percent fat yogurt, a half cup chocolate almond milk, quarter cup of frozen blueberries and quarter cup of frozen cherries) and 8 ounces of French Press coffee with milk.

"On the bike, I'm eating dates and drinking 32 ounces of water. Then post-ride, I enjoy three over-easy eggs with paprika, granulated garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper, with two to three pieces of toast with hummus or butter, two to three pieces turkey bacon (during high strength training or high-ride volume times of year) and a 12 ounce orange, apple or other fruit juice."

Read more: 10 Easy On-the-Go Breakfasts (And They're Healthy Too!)

Sweet breakfasts can be good for you and satisfying, too. "I enjoy chia seed pudding in coconut milk with coconut shavings, smashed raspberries, topped with gluten-free granola, or Paleo chocolate blueberry pancakes," says Julia Chan, a certified personal trainer and registered yoga instructor.

Coconut milk can help boost your immune system, while chia seeds are a nice source of omega-3 fatty acids. Raspberries and blueberries are both high in antioxidants.

A liquid breakfast can give your body the fuel it needs faster. "If I am going to work out early in the morning, I eat half a banana and have a drink of milk and prune juice," says Shari Portnoy, a registered dietitian and certified fitness trainer. "I always have water with me. On the days I am not going to work out in the morning, I just have the drink." Both prune juice and banana can promote regularity, while the prune juice is also a good source of vitamins K and C, encouraging strong immunity and energy.

Consuming protein first thing in the morning is a great way to ensure that your muscles have fuel for their daily functions. "Most mornings I have a shake with a frozen banana, a cup of almond milk, small scoop of peanut butter, and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, within 30 minutes of waking up," says Matt Tanneberg, a sports chiropractor and certified strength and conditioning specialist.

"The combination of the protein from the powder and the peanut butter, plus the healthy fats from the protein and the carbohydrates from the banana are a great combination to get me going and keep me replenished throughout the day."

Read more: 14 Protein-Packed Breakfasts to Power You Through the Morning

Dinner for breakfast makes sense when you want to set yourself up for both satisfaction and nutrition right from the start. "I have definitely redefined what breakfast is for me," says Sonia Satra, an AFAA certified group fitness instructor. "Now I make sure my breakfast includes protein and greens.

"I have eggs with a large salad, or quinoa with lots of vegetables. My latest fixation is with lentil or chick pea soup and a large green juice that has spinach, kale, parsley, cucumber, apple and half a lemon in it."

Saving as much time as possible in the morning is important to Michael Jodscheidt, a certified personal trainer, weight-loss specialist and fitness nutrition specialist, so making his meals ahead of time works for this busy dad.

"I want something that is healthy and will fuel my body properly for my long busy days, so I make overnight oats loaded with fruits, nuts, Greek yogurt and oats that I can bring with me on the go if needed, with organic hard boiled eggs, and coffee in any way, shape or form." Oats are rich in antioxidants called avenanthramides and a great source of soluble fiber that can help lower cholesterol.