Low Calorie Breakfast Ideas

I had every intention of blogging while I was away on business last week, and I felt terrible when I had to neglect my writing so that I could rest up for a long string of meetings. I am back now though and hope that everyone has had a wonderful week!

Today marked the last day of my goal to lose 30 Pounds in 3 Months. As of last week I had already surpassed my goal and had lost a total of 32 pounds over an eleven week period. Even though I’ve reached my goal, however, the work doesn’t stop here. Now it’s time to set a new goal for myself, a task that I will sit and do tonight.

At this morning’s weigh in my weight was…

206 lbs

Well, I’m up one pound from last week and I breathed a huge sigh of relief to see that I hadn’t gone up past my weight loss goal. That would have been really disappointing. I think the reason my weight stayed stable over the past week was that I wasn’t able to exercise as much when I was away on business. I made it down to the hotel gym twice, but I didn’t have the energy I usually do for exercise. My big accomplishment was that I managed to eat really well while away, which is a first for me and was surprisingly easy. One of the biggest changes in my eating patterns since I last went on a business trip is that I now eat breakfast. I’m not sure how I ever managed to go until lunch without eating food and just sucking back cups of coffee. That seems very unhealthy to me now.

There are many delicious low-calorie breakfasts that will give you energy and curb your hunger until lunch, such as breakfast smoothies that are very simple to make and can be enjoyed on the go.

It seems that the debate about whether breakfast is necessary or not is still not settled. Most nutritionists would recommend eating breakfast in the morning, particularly when you are trying to lose weight, however there are lots of people who cannot stomach the idea of eating food until later in the morning and claim that this eating pattern has no ill effects. I was one of these people for most of my life. My first meal was usually lunch, but by then my blood sugar was so low that I was ravenous and spaced out – a perfect combination for overeating. It was only a couple of years ago that I started eating breakfast again. This change came when I stopped drinking coffee. I now realize it was the caffeine in my coffee that was suppressing my appetite. Lots of coffee on an empty stomach for hours everyday is not what I consider healthy, and is the unfortunate reason that some people develop chronic heartburn.

There are a limitless number of low calorie breakfast ideas you can try if you want to eat in the morning but not blow your diet. Eating even a small breakfast in the morning will improve your metabolism and curb your hunger so that when lunch arrives you are not as likely to overeat. Eating breakfast also gives your brain energy so that you are able to focus and are not lethargic.

To help you along, here are some low calorie breakfast ideas to help you stay on track with your diet and feel better during the day. A good breakfast is going to contain protein, good carbohydrates, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals. The protein is going to keep you fuller for a longer period of time, meaning you will not have the urge to snack at 10 AM. The carbohydrates are going to give you a boost of energy to get you through the morning, and we all know why we need to have vitamins and minerals. You can also take your daily vitamin with breakfast to get the most benefit throughout the day.

Here are some low calorie breakfast ideas which are around 200 calories to get you started:

‘Diet’ cereal and half cup of skim milk with a half of a ripe banana. This type of breakfast is fast and easy. You can put the banana on your cereal or you can eat it separately. The cereal you choose will be key to keeping this breakfast near 200 calories. Think about brands like Special K. Read the box carefully for calorie count and serving size. The biggest reason people eat more calories than they think they are is due to overestimating serving size.

One egg, slice of wheat bread, and a small glass of unsweetened fruit juice. The egg in this breakfast can be hard boiled or scrambled, but do not add butter to cook. Instead, get a calorie-free cooking spray. If you want butter on your toast, get a low calorie margarine with zero trans fat. Juice can be hard to buy, so read the label to be sure no sugar of any type has been added and the juice is 100 percent real fruit juice.

Small plain yogurt, half a banana or handful of berries with glass of skim milk. This breakfast is tastier if you use your fruit in the yogurt. You can buy fruit already in the yogurt, but do not do so if it means extra calories. Adding your own is sometimes the best option. The skim milk is a good idea for calcium intake, but you could substitute a small glass of fruit juice if you know you can get your calcium in later in the day. Feeling adventurous? Add all of these ingredients to a blender to make a delicious breakfast smoothie.

A packet of instant oatmeal with a dash of skim milk. Oatmeal is an excellent source of fiber and many vitamins and minerals. Of its numerous health benefits, oatmeal contains soluble fiber that helps to reduce levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. Oatmeal in the morning has been a food I have grown to love. I use individual packets of instant oatmeal because it is easier to control portion size that way. Just add boiling water and a splash of skim milk for a delicious and healthy breakfast that will keep your hunger pangs at bay until lunch.