START YOUR DAY WITH A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

You've probably heard it a million times before, but it really is true: breakfast is the most important meal of your day!

When you wake up, you probably haven't eaten for at least 8 hours, so your body & brain need some carbs & protein to function properly. (This is especially true if you're headed straight to AAY! for your BootCamp workout!)

Breakfast also gets your metabolism kick-started in the morning. Saving calories by skipping breakfast is not a good strategy for losing weight. In fact, studies show that people who eat a healthful breakfast are more likely to lose weight and keep it off.

Take the time each day to eat a healthy breakfast at home, or to pack a breakfast to eat at work, or on the way to work. If your mornings are rushed, get into the habit of preparing your breakfast the night before.

Your breakfast should contain a combination of healthy carbohydrates, protein and at least one serving of fruit or veggies.

Here are some of our favorite breakfasts:

• whole grain cereal + milk (almond, soy or dairy) + ground flax seed + 1/2 a banana: We like Heritage, Bite Size Shredded Wheat and Flax Plus from Trader Joe's.
  

• whole grain toast + nut butter + a piece of fruit (whatever is in season): Ezekiel is our favorite bread. If you want to be super healthy, use the low-sodium. If you need more flavor, the sesame seed and the cinnamon raisin are both delicious. For nut butters, you can choose peanut butter, almond butter, soy butter, or others. Make sure it is natural, with no added sugar. Or, if you like your peanut butter sweet, try "Better 'N Peanut Butter" made from defatted peanut flour with about 1/2 the calories of regular peanut butter.
  

• egg white vegetable omelet: It's super easy to saute frozen veggies (we like Soycutash from Trader Joe's) and egg whites for a filling & delicious breakfast. See recipe in this week's AAY! Newsletter.
  

• oatmeal + raw walnuts or sunflower seeds + dried fruit: Steel cut oatmeal is less processed than rolled oats and is more effective at reducing cholesterol. You can get quick-cooking steel cut oats from Trader Joe's. Add dried fruit while it's cooking and there will be no need for extra sweetener.
  

• cottage cheese with strawberries & blackberries: Use low-fat cottage cheese. Or, if you use nonfat, then add a few nuts or seeds because you need some fat to sustain you until your next meal.
  

• Greek yogurt + slivered almonds + blueberries: Greek yogurt has twice the protein of regular yogurt. You can use low-fat or nonfat, but as with cottage cheese, be sure to add the almonds (or other seeds or nuts) if you choose nonfat.

A well-balanced, healthy breakfast will get your day started right so that you'll have the energy and brain-power to handle anything that comes your way.