Best Breakfasts on the Menu

When it comes to New Year's Resolutions, losing weight and just generally getting healthier tends to be at the top of everyone's list.

Whether you want to lose 40 pounds or 5, it always comes back to the same principle: balancing calories in with calories out (aka exercise/activity).

The first step is to amp up your calories out with little exercise additions throughout the day or week, adding a few steps here or there adds up.

The calories-in tends to be a little bit more difficult, not to consume but to get rid of.

Every little bite can add up and without becoming a calorie-counting junkie, it can get a bit confusing as to what you should perhaps forgo (the additional margarita), and what you should add (healthy fats and proteins).

Well, we've decided to give you a hand.

Now that you know that breakfast is perhaps the most important meal of the day, helping rev up your metabolism and boost your energy all day long, you need to know how to keep the calories in check...and how to enjoy your fist dish of the day!

Here are our 4 favorite breakfasts- all 350 calories or less and delish!

Egg white Breakfast Burrito- Kick your breakfast up a notch with an egg white burrito. To make a breakfast for two, combine ½ cup egg substitute with 1 tablespoon of milk. Cook in a skillet coated with cooking spray. Crumble 2 tablespoons of Sharp cheddar cheese down the center of a whole wheat tortilla (look for one that has 150 calories or less), top with scrambled eggs, diced tomatoes, and a tablespoon of salsa. Enjoy!

Yogurt Parfait- Take one 6-oz container of non-fat Greek Yogurt and top it with ½ cup of fresh fruit. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 tablespoon chopped almonds.

Oatmeal with Almonds and Cinnamon Combine 2 cups nonfat milk with 2 cups regular oats in a medium size saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add ½ tsp. vanilla and ¼ cup raisins. Cover and reduce heat, simmering for 5 minutes or until oats are soft. Top with slivered almonds and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
*Other additions- Honey and Dried Apricots, Fresh Apples (Diced) and Walnuts, Creamy Peanut Butter (one tablespoon) and Honey.

Banana Walnut Muffins- (from Food to Live By by Myra Goodman) These muffins are delicious and moist. Top with a tablespoon of almond butter for an additional dose of protein.

Makes 12
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup low-fat milk
¼ cup canola oil
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana
¾ cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375˚F. Spray muffin cups with nonfat cooking spray. Place flour through cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk. Place eggs through vanilla in a medium-size bowl and whisk. Add the bananas to the bowl and stir to combine. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the walnuts. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin and bake until golden brown, 20-30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

For more tips and articles like these, visit HealingLifestyles.com.