Yummy Breakfast Meals

 I love egg dishes!  My children do too.  It is the best way to sneak in vegetables, cheese for dairy and other ingredients that your children may usually turn their nose up to.

My omelette's are the best.  I begin by sauteing (in a large fry pan) mushroom, onion, a little bit of red, yellow and orange pepper in a bit of olive oil until the vegetables are soft.  Then, I scramble in a bowl about 8-10 eggs (depending on large or extra large) and pour them over the vegetables.  Cooking over medium heat, I take a spatula and keep scraping the eggs from the sides; when doing so, I let the liquid egg run underneath so it can cook; I do not flip the egg or fold it as I keep the top moist.  Then, I add a little lunch meat; either ham or turkey that has been chopped up and I sprinkle the top with shredded cheese (your pick of kind).

When very little liquid is left on the top, I turn off the burner and turn on the broiler in the oven.  I place the fry pan with the handle sticking out of the semi-shut oven door, and put the oven rack on the 2nd slot so the eggs are not too close to the top element.  I let the top broil for about 10 or more minutes.  You will know when it is finished as the cheese will be melted and the eggs will rise up and look fluffy.  Take the pan out of the oven and then, taking your spatula, I flip 1/2 of the omelet over so it folds over the top to the other side.  The omelet will be very tall and moist and when you cut pieces to serve, the pieces will be ample.

 Smoothies are a way to take your breakfast on the road.  Not only are they packed with great things for you, they taste delicious!

I buy low fat or fat free fruit flavored yogurts.  I also use fresh fruit or frozen fruit; either taste great and have lots of flavor.  I also use low calorie juices and make sure my juice is 100% juice.  If I use milk, I use fat free milk.  All of these choices keep the calories low and the flavor high in your smoothie.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes....

Blueberry Smoothie

I use blueberry yogurt (1 carton), fresh or frozen blueberries (1 cup), 1/2 cup fat free milk, 1/2 cup grape juice and ice until I get the frozen consistency I desire.  Mix in a blender and enjoy.

Banana/Strawberry Smoothie

Use strawberry yogurt (1 carton), 1 ripe banana, 1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries, 2/3 cup of fat free milk and ice for your preferred consistency.  Mix in the blender.

You can experiment with any kind of fruit.  Yogurt makes the smoothie smoother and flavorful.  Ice makes it slushier.  Milk adds a fullness to the smoothie while juice spreads the smoothie out and makes it more fluid.

 Fruit salad is refreshing anytime.  When eaten for breakfast, your senses are awakened by the many flavors exploding in your mouth.

Making fruit salad takes a bit of preparation.  Fruit needs to be washed and cut into bite sized pieces.  Mix drained canned fruit with fresh fruit for different texture in your dish.  Toss together and add to cereal, oatmeal, waffles or eat alone.

 An old stand-by is french toast.  An easy and quick way to get your grains and protein too!  The best bread to use is Texas Toast.  It is double the thickness of regular bread and therefore, you require less bread and feel fuller.

Mix in a bowl 2 eggs and 1/4 cup of milk.  You can add a dash of cinnamon if you wish.  Preheat your griddle or large fry pan with a spreading of olive oil.  Spread the oil around with a paper towel.  Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture; coating both sides and put on griddle or pan.  Cook for about 3-5 minutes on medium heat, or until the bottom side is browned.  Flip over and cook the remaining side. 

French toast doesn't have to be eaten with butter or syrup.  That is the traditional way.  However, adding jelly or jam, cooked sausage rolled up in a piece of the toast, or topping with fresh fruit and using a natural fruit syrup on top makes this popular breakfast surprisingly tasty!

 Pancakes and waffles are best made with a mix like Jiffy, Mrs. Butterworth's or Bisquick.  The recipe is listed on the side of the box.  The difference between pancakes and waffles lies in the egg or milk added versus the water needed to add to the mix.

Pancakes are typically served with syrup and butter, as are waffles but don't limit yourself with what you can add to them.  My kids enjoy peanut butter and jelly pancake sandwiches.  Egg salad also tastes great between two pancakes.  Honey glazed ham is especially delicious between the two, soft pieces of cake.

Waffles are great with fresh fruit topped on them and whipped cream.  Enjoy them as well with peanut butter drizzled with chocolate and a scoop of ice cream as a dessert.  The possibilties are endless!

 Research shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  After fasting all night, your body and your metabolism need fuel to begin working.  Skipping breakfast not only provides you with energy to start your day, it is necessary if you are trying to lose weight; your body goes into starvation mode if you don't feed it in the morning and instead of kick starting your metabolism, it causes it to stop working as hard.  You need breakfast!  Hopefully this article provided you with some ideas that are quick and easy to prepare.  We are what we eat, so make sure you buy fat free or low fat ingredients.  With breakfast, you're on your way to a healthier life.