7 Tips For Simplifying Breakfast

Everyone knows that eating breakfast is important, but for a lot of us, it can be incredibly difficult to make sure we actually do it before rushing out the door each morning when we're incredibly busy. Luckily, there are actually a lot of quick breakfasts for busy mornings that can ensure you get the nutrition you need, even when your time is super limited.

In an article in Today's Dietitian, Megan Moore, RD, LD, CDE, said, “Breakfast isn’t a meal to skip when trying to keep your metabolism healthy...” Gilbert also noted that, “Your metabolism slows down as you sleep, so there’s nothing like a healthy breakfast to jumpstart it for the day.” In the same article, Keren Gilbert, MS, RD, and founder of Decision Nutrition, said, “People who eat breakfast regularly get more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in their diets, because there are wonderful food choices to include in this meal that are nutritionally dense, like fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins.”

In the spirit of trying to incorporate this healthy meal into our diets every single day — even when we're crazy short on time — here are seven breakfast hacks to help simplify your morning routine.

1. Overnight Chia And Oats

Special Projects editor Adina Steiman at Epicurious, a creative cooking website, recommended trying overnight chia seed pudding in an article on making breakfast, even when you're too busy. Just throw some chia seeds, yogurt, and a sweetener of your choice in a jar the night before and voila! You have a delicious and nutritious morning breakfast. And if you're not a pudding fan, you can also always try overnight oatmeal instead.

2. Pre-Boil Eggs

This is an insanely easy one, especially if you like hard boiled eggs. Steiman recommended boiling up a dozen on Sunday, pre-peeling them, and eating them with salt and your favorite spices, "like za'atar or red-pepper flakes," each morning.

3. Make A Batch Of Breakfast Muffins

AllRecipes.com has an awesome whole wheat flour recipe for breakfast muffins that contains a ton of fruits and even veggies. Just make a batch on the weekend and keep them in an airtight tupperware container for a breakfast you can grab on the go all week. And if baking isn't your thing, you can also keep a stockpile of healthy bars for days when you're in a hurry.

4. Don't Forget The Power Of Cereal

A lot of us equate cereal with the sugary food we ate as kids, but according to healthy food blogger Holly Waterfall, there are a ton of smart, whole wheat and low sugar cereal options out there now for this super fast and convenient morning meal. She also noted that there are a ton of plant-based milk options out there these days if you have trouble with dairy — just watch out for added sugar content.

5. More Eggs!

In an article for Women's Health, Katie Cavuto, MS, RD said when she has a little more time she'll scramble up eggs instead of eating them hard boiled, as it's still super "quick and simple." And you can always use pre-cut veggies if you like a little more flavor.

6. Yogurt And Pre-Mixed Add-Ins

You don't have to spend your precious morning minutes hand chopping fresh fruit to throw into your yogurt; on Women's Health, Joy Bauer, MS, RD, and the nutrition and health expert for NBC's TODAY Show, recommended a fruit and nut mix to toss in for the added health benefits in a fraction of the time. And if you really prefer fresh fruit, then you can also always slice up your favorites ahead of time and keep them in a tupperware container right on top of the yogurt container for super easy access.

7. Pre-Made Smoothie Packs

Health and fitness blogger and POPSUGAR fitness editor Jenny Sugar recommended preparing your smoothie ingredients ahead of time for a super time efficient morning breakfast. "Prep all the fruit and greens you use in your smoothies, and freeze individual serving sizes in quart-sized freezer bags (glass mason jars work well, too). Note any ingredients that need to be added to the blender, and your smoothie is as good as done," she said.

Don't let lack of time make you miss out on a super healthful and enjoyable part of your day. With a few hacks and a little planning, you should never have to sacrifice this important part of your morning routine.

Images: with wind, Joy, Andrew Toskin, Vegan Feat Catering, Jose Carlos Cortizo Perez, Tuchodi, jeffreyw/Flickr