Tasty and Nutritious Breakfast Options for Working Parents

I know what it's like to run out the door first thing in the morning desperate to get to work on time. Most days it's a miracle I manage to double-check to see that I have my keys before I have to go. So I can sympathize with the group that has even more hassled mornings than I do: working parents. On crazy mornings, it's easy for a good balanced breakfast to fall by the wayside.

However, it's true what they say: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Assuming you had a decent night's sleep with no midnight snacks, you haven't had anything to eat for 6-10 hours. Your body's gearing up for another day of action - don't start it off with an empty tank! Heading out without breakfast means you'll get tired, cranky and hungry by mid-morning, leaving you vulnerable to sugary coffee shop snacks and poor morning job performance.

Eating breakfast will also restart your metabolism. Your body hasn't had any food for the whole night - this period of inactivity has put your body into "starvation" mode, meaning a much slower metabolism. Getting a good breakfast will speed your metabolism back up. This is an especially important consideration for parents who are watching their weight - you want your metabolism running high so you can keep the pounds off!

It's well and good to just tell you to eat a good breakfast every morning. The real problem is how to fit it in your hectic morning schedule. All you need for a good breakfast is some protein, some fiber, and not too much sugar or simple carbohydrates. Fiber and protein take longer to digest, so they'll keep you going all morning - sugar and simple carbs break down quickly, so you'll crash long before lunchtime.

The simplest way to meet this formula is a bowl of high fiber cereal and some milk. Cereal or granola in yoghurt works well too. It's tasty, it's fast, and it's easy to put in a Tupperware.

I'm also a big fan of instant oatmeal. Those little packets of oaty goodness kept me going many a winter morning. If you're not a fan of oats, instant cream of wheat or rice or instant grits made with milk (soy, nut or hemp milk if you're not dairy inclined) are great too. If you have a slow cooker, you can make the non-instant versions as well. By getting your cereal started the night before, all you have to do is scoop it in your bowl and grab a spoon and you're ready to go.

Toast with peanut butter and a glass of milk is another high protein breakfast favorite. You can change it up by using different nut butters (cashew butter is so good!) and different baked goods like bagels or English muffins. A variation on this is to make peanut butter and banana sandwiches for breakfast. I know sandwiches aren't a traditional breakfast option, but it's a fast and portable way to serve up a tasty and nutritious combination.

My absolute favorite fast breakfasts are breakfast bowls or burritos. Make some rice and mix it up with beans and salsa the night before. In the morning, heat up the rice and beans in the microwave while you scramble up an egg or two. You can put it all in a bowl or throw the whole mess into a wheat tortilla and make a burrito. It's high in fiber, protein, and tasty goodness.

No matter how much of hurry you're in, you can get your morning started off right. Eat your breakfast - it's the most important meal of the day, for you and your kids.