Healthy Breakfast Swaps to Start the Morning

Everyone has heard that a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and we at Veggiebuzz agree with that! No matter what way you spin it, it's always important to begin the day feeling ready to take on all of the challenges coming your way. If you're running off of donuts and frappuccinos, you're likely to crash by noon!

Image: POP Sugar

That's why we've made a list of some of the swaps you can make for the less-wholesome breakfasts out there.

• Cereal

Swap this childhood favourite for muesli or homemade oatmeal. Also, check out our feature on why overnight oats are so great!

• Muffins/Pastries

Replace these treats with homemade, wholegrain, sugar-free, healthier versions. Use fruit for sweetness. Alternatively, try wholegrain bread with nut butters and fruits.

• Fruit Juice

Eat the actual fruits, or make a smoothie instead.  That way you don't lose out one the fibre that gets lost in the juicing process!

• Breakfast Burrito

Avoid the excess dairy, and exchange cheese and sour cream for beans, guacamole and/or taco sauce. Who doesn't love protein or an added kick?

• Buttered Toast3

We recommend wholegrain toast with nut butter or avocado for the same creaminess that butter provides. Make sure that your nut butter is free from added sugars and preservatives.

• Jam

Use sliced fruit instead- strawberries and bananas are always winners.

• Frappuccinos

These are just milkshakes in disguise, people. Have iced coffee or herbal teas instead. If you normally take your coffee with heaps of sugar, ease yourself off the sugar slowly.  Alternatively if you go cold turkey on the sugar, the chances are, you won't miss it by the end of the week!

• Fruit-Flavoured Yogurt

Eat the fruit and the yogurt, but not the fruit-flavoured yogurt because it tends to come with nasty preservatives and added sugar. Add chia seeds for some protein power as well!

• Pancakes

Use a recipe for healthier pancakes, like the ones we've suggested here!

• Instant Oats

These little packets have all sorts of preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients in them. Instead, opt for overnight oats for the same convenience.

• Fruit Smoothies

While being packed with vitamins, fruit smoothies are also laden with sugars, albeit natural ones. To reduce this, swap out a fruit for a leafy green, like spinach.

• Eggs

Boil or poach your eggs instead of frying them! If you do choose to fry, use a good non-stick pan to reduce the amount of oil you need. Furthermore, with scrambled eggs, go low on the dairy mix-ins, and instead add some chopped up veggies. Hot sauce also tastes great with eggs!

• Cold Pizza

We get it, this happens sometimes. We recommend adding extra veggies to the pizza, at the very least. Additionally, try to order your pizzas with wholegrain crusts as well.

• Doughnuts

Wholewheat bagels with fruit provide the sugary-carby mix we all love.

Did you try any of these suggestions? If so, let us know how they went! We promise that your taste buds will adjust. Take it from someone who used to have cake every now and then for breakfast, and now has spinach and tomato omelettes with fruit on the side!