The Healthy Foodie:  Nutritious Breakfasts Made Easy

By Pama Mitchell

For the Clifton Chronicle

Cincinnati, OH

            You’ve heard it a million times: breakfast is the most important meal. Among other things, eating a good breakfast jump-starts your body and helps you avoid over-eating later in the day.

            But a lot of us busy urbanites don’t build much time into our schedules to enjoy the morning meal. If you’ve been skipping breakfast, or have fallen victim to the drive-through egg biscuit or the pop-tart on the fly more times than you care to admit, here are a couple of recipes that can make it a lot easier to eat right early in the day. Whip them up on Sunday, keep in the fridge, and they’ll last through the week.

            The breakfast spread turns cottage cheese into a surprisingly tasty topping for morning breads and pastries. Slather some on whole-wheat or multi-grain toast, add a piece of fruit (even something as easy to grab as a banana) and your favorite hot beverage for a delicious and satisfying light meal.

            Finally, try this oatmeal mix as a more healthful alternative to instant oatmeal packets. Those are okay in a pinch, but you’ll get a lot more fiber, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients from the apples, berries and nuts in this recipe. And once you’ve got the mix in your fridge, making each day’s cereal won’t add even 30 seconds to your morning routine, compared with making instant oatmeal.