The Power of Breakfast

Why You Gotta Have It

By the time you lift your head off the pillow, your tank is on empty. Without a healthy breakfast like cereal, milk, and fruit that combines whole grains, protein, and a little fat, you’ll be nodding off before noon. A number of studies show that people who eat breakfast concentrate better and are more productive than those who go without. They also tend to have better control over their weight because they’re not ravenous by lunchtime.

For the typical adult, a healthy breakfast should fall between 300 and 400 calories. That’s not a lot of food—and that’s a good thing, particularly for those people who have a false notion that it’s not a real meal if it doesn’t involve cooking or serious preparation. A healthy breakfast often takes just a minute to put together, and just a few minutes to eat. So no excuses for skipping it!

Breakfast Ideas That Hit the Spot

A bowl of high-fiber, multigrain cereal, lots of strawberries, and low-fat milk.

A granola bar, an apple, and a glass of cold milk.

A cup of nonfat yogourt with fresh bluberries mixed in, and a slice of whole-wheat toast with fruit spread.

A scrambled egg, a whole-wheat roll, fresh fruit salad, and a cup of low-fat milk.