Healthy recipesNutrition

6 ways to boost your breakfast

Start your morning off right with these healthy breakfast ideas.

Jan, 2026
LearnHealthy breakfasts6 ways to boost your breakfast
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Cover all the bases
Do smoothies right
Eat in
Limit juice
Embrace oatmeal
Aim for variety

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Between work, school, and other life obligations, mornings can get pretty jam-packed, tempting you to skip breakfast or pop into the drive-thru. The problem is, while it may seem harmless at the time, not paying attention to breakfast can negatively affect your health. 

"People who skip breakfast have a higher BMI, higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and a higher chance of getting heart disease," explains Maryland dietitian Leah Roberts, RD.

On the flip side, eating a nutritious, well-balanced breakfast can help manage your weight, supercharge your brain, and put more pep in your step. With that in mind, try these easy ways to make the most of your morning meal.

Written byOlivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed byGaby Vaca-Flores, RD.August, 2024
Sources: Ma X + 14
  1. Ma X, Chen Q, et al. Skipping breakfast is associated with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2020 Jan-Feb;14(1):1-8.
  2. Ballon A, Neuenschwander M, & Schlesinger S. Breakfast Skipping Is Associated with Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes among Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 149, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 106–113.
  3. Ofori-Asenso R, Owen AJ, & Liew D. Skipping Breakfast and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Death: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies in Primary Prevention Settings. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2019 Aug 22;6(3):30.
  4. Better Health Channel (Australia). Breakfast. Reviewed December 3, 2020.
  5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Wake Up to the Benefits of Breakfast. August 2012.
  6. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Power Up with Breakfast. Reviewed March 2021.
  7. University of Washington. What Does a Healthy Breakfast Look Like? Accessed September 1, 2022.
  8. Rutgers: New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Build a Better Smoothie. September 2015.
  9. UC Davis Health. Is fruit juice bad for you and your children? July 19, 2019.
  10. HealthyChildren.org (AAP). AAP Recommends No Fruit Juice for Children Under 1 Year. May 22, 2017.
  11. Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Oats. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  12. Paudel D, Dhungana B, et al. A Review of Health-Beneficial Properties of Oats. Foods. 2021 Oct 26;10(11):2591.
  13. Mayo Clinic. Start your day with healthy oatmeal. October 6, 2021.
  14. Agarwal S, Fulgoni Iii VL, Welland D. Intake of 100% Fruit Juice Is Associated with Improved Diet Quality of Adults: NHANES 2013-2016 Analysis. Nutrients. 2019 Oct 18;11(10):2513.
  15. Ruxton CHS, Myers M. Fruit Juices: Are They Helpful or Harmful? An Evidence Review. Nutrients. 2021 May 27;13(6):1815.

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