What happens when you’re sick of the usual breakfast options, are too busy in the morning to prepare one or simply don’t like breakfast foods? With a little imagination, your first meal of the day can be one of the best. Don’t be afraid to include some unorthodox breakfast foods. Just remember breakfast is an imperative part of losing weight. Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the day.

Studies show that breakfast eaters burn calories more efficiently throughout the day than non-breakfast eaters. In addition, breakfast eaters are more likely to be thinner than non-breakfast eaters. A breakfast consisting of fiber and protein is the ultimate combination because these nutrients will fill you up on the fewest calories.  Below are some healthy and tasty options for your morning meal:

I hate breakfast foods:
There are no written rules about what foods to eat and when you can eat them, so go ahead and mix your meals up. Freeze your leftovers and pop them in your microwave for breakfast. You may be surprised that a whole-wheat slice of pizza with veggies and low-fat cheese is a well-balanced combination of fiber and protein which will keep you feeling satisfied till lunch.

Breakfast foods are boring:
Breakfast doesn’t have to be a bowl of cereal and milk.  For a breakfast that will fill you up without filling you out, create your own omelet by using egg whites with a side of whole wheat toast. Spray a pan with Pam or use a non-stick frying pan, and dice up any of your favorite fiber-filled veggies like, spinach, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, peppers etc. and low-fat cheeses. 

Make oatmeal your way. Feel free to add a splash of skim milk; it’ll thicken up the oatmeal and add just the right amount of flavor. Try mixing in a handful of fruit such as blueberries, chopped up apples or bananas, 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped up walnuts or pistachios. You can also add 1 teaspoon of honey or brown sugar if the oatmeal has no added sugar already

I eat at the office:
Don’t grab the donut at your 9 am meeting! An office boardroom can wreak havoc on anyone’s efforts to eat healthy. Take advantage of your office refrigerator and stock it with non-fat yogurt, fat-free cheeses and skim milk. Pair these with instant oatmeal packets and high-fiber cereals that you can keep in your desk drawer for the perfect breakfast combination.  You can also create your own healthy trail mix to keep stashed in your bag.  (Think high-fiber cereal, whole-wheat pretzels, peanuts, and raisins)

I need caffeine:
Coffee alone, if made with nonfat milk, contains some protein, but has no fiber. Often one pairs their coffee with a muffin or donut which will only satisfy you in the short term and add 600 calories to your day.  Pairing your coffee with a fiber food is your best bet. Some delicious options are GNU Flavor and Fiber bars or 4 fiber crackers with peanut butter and sugar-free jelly.

I’m always on the go:
If a fast food restaurant is usually your first stop in the morning before your hectic day begins, be very careful. There are about 400 calories in a bagel before any toppings are spread on it.  Prepare your breakfast the night before. Wrap up your favorite veggies, egg whites and lean protein in a whole-grain tortilla. Stick it in the fridge and in the morning you have your very own on-the-go breakfast burrito.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com

Of the nearly two thirds of U.S. adults surveyed, 64 percent agree that they are filled with greater joy soaking up the summer sun, then bundling up in winter coats. According to studies done at Cornell University, the winter blues and its more severe foil, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), affects about four times as many women as men.

Although the science is still relatively new, research has begun to reveal how mindful eaters can choose their fuel to help achieve or maintain a desired mental state.  Our moods are linked to the production or use of certain brain chemicals. Scientists have identified many of the natural chemicals in foods that change the way we feel. Food influences neurotransmitters by attaching to brain cells and changing the way they behave. This opens pathways to those cells so that other mood-altering chemicals can come through the gates and attach themselves to brain cells.

So the next time you want to change your mood, take a walk to the kitchen — it might just save you a trip to the therapist!

To ease feelings of depression:  Eat more fish!  Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines and tuna) may help ease depressive symptoms.  A recent study showed that eating fish twice a week was associated with lower risk of depression and suicide. Magnesium, can also ease symptoms of depression. Enjoying a bowl of whole-grain cereal and soy milk topped with walnuts will supply you with magnesium and increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which will ease your frame of mind into the afternoon frenzy when your kids come home.

To get out of a bad mood: A lack of selenium can cause bad moods. Individuals suffering from too little selenium have been shown to be more anxious, irritable, hostile and depressed than people with normal levels of selenium. Pistachios, salmon, and shitake mushrooms can instantaneously get you out of this funk.

When you want to feel pleasant and alert: Eating foods that stimulate the release of dopamine may produce enjoyable feelings. Phenylnine is an essential amino acid found in the brain and blood that can convert in the body to tyrosine, which in turn is used to synthesize dopamine instantly increasing your energy and alertness. Start your morning off with a bowl of hot oatmeal to warm you up try adding skim milk and sliced bananas to add a boost of dopamine and to leave you feeling happy throughout the day. Breakfast is a must because it provides glucose to your brain, making you mentally efficient and vigilant.

When you want to feel happy:  When we don’t get enough exposure to sunlight our moods and physical health may suffer. More specifically, serotonin levels, a hormone associated with elevating your mood rises when you’re exposed to sunlight. So we often feel sad during the darker, winter months.  An amino acid, tryptophan helps raise serotonin levels in your body, causing you to feel upbeat once again. Eating foods that are high in tryptophan such as, simple carbs, low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, and chicken will help cure your winter blues.  A slice of whole-wheat toast with low-fat cottage cheese and jam is a sure way to boost your mood. 

Get Moving: Studies show that anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour of exercise every day can have a positive impact on your mood. When we exercise our body releases endorphins that help us to feel happy, but it also has been shown to reduce stress, which often intensifies feelings of depression brought on by the winter blues.  It can also increase your joy by making your skinny jeans and little black dress fit better, and is there any greater feeling then that?!

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.  She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.