Survey: What do you eat for breakfast?

[hhcowgirl]

Hey, y'all. Okay, I am really weird about breakfast. First of all, I am not very hungry first thing in the morning, but I realize that breakfast is essential so I force myself to eat it. Also, I am strange in that I simply cannot have a carb-rich breakfast or my energy suddenly plummets at about 11 and I end up hungrier, more tired, and crankier than if I hadn't eaten breakfast at all. Weird, huh? So I usually eat either a nonfat, sugar-free yogurt (Breyer's Light is my favorite; I also like Stonyfield Farms but they have sugar) and a piece of fruit or a half-cup of cottage cheese and some berries. I realize frui is also a carb, but for some reason it does not have that "energy plunge" effect on me. Anyway, I was just wondering what y'all usually have--I posted on this board b/c I have really grown to value your opinions and respect your expertise; I feel like this smaller group of dynamic women really has it together!!

[This message has been edited by hhcowgirl (edited 01-30-2001).]

[Angelina]

Breakfast is the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning!! If I don't have it at home, I will end up buying something on the way to work that I should not be eating, like chocolate croissants, which I just adore, or huge muffins..

On these cold winter days, I usually have oatmeal (plain or flavored) with a chaser of coffee or soy milk. Or toast with Brummel&Brown and different kinds of jams..or frozen waffles! I try to eat some fruit too, even if it's a bit of raisins..

In the summer, I prefer cold cereal with fruit in it. Or toast. I just need my carbs in the morning. Otherwise I will feel as if I never had breakfast at all.

[BeckyM]

I'm more like Angelina. I definitely need those complex carbohydrates for breakfast. I usually have oatmeal with some wheat bran stirred in during the winter, and I have cold cereal in the spring & summer. I normally just drink water or have some tea with breakfast, then I have a piece of fruit as a mid-morning snack.

If I don't eat breakfast, I get "grumpy & disoriented" according to my husband. I know he's right though -- I think my brain just doesn't work well if I don't have breakfast.

[emilycat]

Oh, how I love breakfast...I simply do not feel complete without it. And you don't want to be around me if, for some odd reason, I missed it.

I eat a relatively large breakfast, and unlike virtually every other runner I know, I must eat before I run, or I'll get light-headed. I did this in Europe for a month, and while it was tolerable, I didn't have as much energy on my runs.

Anyway, to answer your question, I usually start of with a bowl (serving size) of wheat or oat bran flakes (right now the box in my pantry is Health Valley Organic Amaranth flakes, since I'm sure everyone's dying to know) and a banana. Then a bagel-- usually Earthgrains Wheat or Cinnamon Raisin, because they have 4 grams of fiber, and are the most bagel-like pre-packaged ones I've found -- as opposed to Thomas's, which are rolls with a hole in the middle.
I sometimes have a light Yoplait, too, if I'm really hungry; if not, I'll have it for a snack later.

Long enough explanation for ya?

Emily

[Kerri]

I eat instant oatmeal made with milk and then Calcium fortified OJ. I have tried a lot of different things for breakfast, and oatmeal is the easiest to make and it keeps me from getting hungry at about 9:30. I don't feel compelled to eat in the morning, but I do in order to make it too lunch.

[mightyh]

I usually have a bowl of honey puffed Kashi with milk and some sort of fruit...lately it's been clementines or blueberries.

Sometimes I go on yogurt fruit smoothie with protein powder kicks, but not lately.

[MelissaAS]

I'm a real "high fiber cereal with skim milk" girl- otherwise I don't get enough dairy/calcium in. Usually either Shredded Wheat and Bran, Raisin Bran, or Grape Nuts. In the winter, I like oatmeal too- it really does stick to my ribs and hold me a little longer than even other (even higher fiber) cereals. I have my fruit a few hours later for a snack (cereal at 7ish, fruit at 10:30ish).

[hlao23]

Ditto MelissaAS - high fiber cereal and skim milk. I also have OJ with added calcium and tea. On weekends I go for coffee and bagels or waffles (my prefered breakfast but try to be good during the week).

I always have to snack before lunch. Usually fruit.

[MarciaTJ]

During the week - just getting out the doo ris a major challenge - but I must have some sort of breakfast. My typical options are as follows:
Op 1: Oatmeal w? brn suger and coffee
Op 2: boiled egg and 1/2 english muffin w/ peanut butter (LF)and coffee
Op 3: whole english muffin w/ Peanut butter (LF)and coffee
Op 4: frosted mini wheat cereal and skim milk and coffee
Op 5: small snack size yogurt and fruit and of course coffee

My weekends are typically one of the aforementioned on one of the days, and anything I want on the alternate.

[claire]

Old-fashioned oatmeal cooked in the microwave topped with a few chopped, toasted walnuts, a drizzle of honey and rice milk. About once a week, I will cook eggs and have toast topped with olive oil or peanut butter.

[hhcowgirl]

Thanks for all of your responses! I also forgot to mention that if I have the time, I also love to cook a whole bunch of egg whites with soy cheese--that usually holds me the longest, but I usually have class too early to actually take the time to do this. Also, on the weekends, my BF and I usually go to this INCREDIBLE place at least one morning called Pancake Pantry--I wont even try to describe it b/c I can't do it justice. Anyway, cereal and oatmeal seem so easy and convenient, I wish I could "re-train" my body so that they would hold up longer!

[pmmahan]

I eat cold cereal. Every morning. I try to stay away from the sugary ones, but it can be hard. Usually Complete Bran Flakes with banana. Or Multibran Chex. I try to eat high fiber cereals in the morning, cause they keep me full longer.
hhcowgirl- I could never eat what you do in the morning!! Yogurt?? I'd be on the floor by 9! My genes blessed mw with a high metabolism.

[Gina O]

Well, I may have to turn in my membership to the Healthy Living board after this response, but here goes anyway. I absolutely cannot eat right when I get up in the morning, I am not hungry at all. Therefore, I never eat breakfast during the week. I usually have hot tea or water at work.

As breakfast is my SO's favorite meal, I usually cook the standard breakfast fare (eggs, sausage, pancakes...) later in the morning on weekends then skip lunch. We also go out for breakfast fairly often.

I am assuming that when I am able to run again, I will need some food in the mornings as I increase distance, but previously it had not been a problem. Gina

[BethH]

I am like Emily in that I absolutely must eat breakfast or else! My blood sugar goes way out of whack and I get clammy and weak and just feel terrible if I go too long without eating. So, I never skip breakfast or lunch or dinner and often times have to snack to make it through the day w/o passing out or feeling bad! (And therefore, must exercise to keep from putting on some lbs.)

Anyway, I usually eat high fiber cereal and vanilla soy milk at home and then coffee at work. But, this weekend I made some oatmeal, bran and applesauce muffins from CL. I've been making my way through those this week with my coffee...but I must have two of them! I couldn't survive on the suggested serving size of one!

ps...where do you find the mantiwoc wheat bread? I would love to get bread with that much fiber in it!

[kwormann]

I am like HHcowgirl...if I dont have protein, my hypoglycemia kicks in BIG TIME! (I also CANT skip!) I love egg white buritos, egg white sandwich with whole wheat and slice of cheese, on the weekends, we LOVE black beans with egg whites and salsa, but I have to admit, one of my worst sins is kolaches in the way to work!

I eat around 6:30, then have a V8 at 9:30 to take me until lunch! I love things like bagels and pancakes, but too much carb for the am, have to save them for dinner!

Kim

[Lynn B]

Fun topic!!! Thanks!

I LOVE Grape-Nuts! Have them almost every morning. Or 100% Bran (all w/ skim milk, of course!) Breakfast is a good time for me to get a good fiber fix! I also love Cream of Wheat and hot oatmeal, especially on these COOOOLD PA mornings! Then mid morning, usually a banana, or small yogurt.

Lynn

[laden]

I can't live without breakfast!!!! But I'm not one that wants to eat the minute I wake up either. I have two cups of coffee (three on the weekend) each morning, then pack my breakfast and eat it at work or eat in the car on the way to work.

My typical breakfast consists of:

-yogurt and fruit with grapenuts (pineapple, applesauce, blueberries, strawberries, peaches are all really good--fresh or frozen)

-two slices of high fiber toast with Brummel and Brown spread and skim milk and V-8 Juice

-Banana Smoothie (skim milk with very ripe banana in blender) and one slice of toast or WW Nutrition Bar

-English Muffin with Brown & Brummel spread, skim milk and fruit

Weekends Breakfast consist of"

-Oatmeal with raisins and skim milk

-Cereal with banana and skim milk

-Egg Beaters omelet with vegetables and feta cheese, toast and skim milk

-CL Muffin and yogurt

[This message has been edited by laden (edited 01-30-2001).]

[MrsReber]

I try to eat a carb and then, about an hour later, some fruit. Lately it's been nice warm farina and then some red grapes. I can't eat before I go to work since I will eat again when I get to work. About once a week, I treat myself to a bagel with cream cheese.

[MPHenderson]

I love breakfast! I work out first thing in the AM and then I'm STARVING! I alternate three basic breakfasts:
*Porridge Oats with dried fruit and wheat germ
*Manitowoc Natural Ovens Sundried Tomato bagel (lots of fiber, lycopene and omega3s AND YUMMY)...with scrambled egg (half real egg/half egg whites)
*Manitowoc Natural Ovens Wheat Bread (10 gms fiber! Omega3s and YUMMY) with fruit spread of some sort and nut butter of some sort (i.e., peanut butter, almond butter, soy nut butter)

Plus LOTS of coffee!

I am eager to see what others eat in the AM as I am stumped for new ideas for fast, nutritious and good-tasting breakfasts for myself and hubby.

[Susann]

My breakfast is usually a Luna bar and then twice a week (this is so bad you may kick me off the healthy living board!) a nonfat no whip mocha from Starbucks.

[Natasha]

I love breakfast too. My normal weekday breakfast will often include:

big bowl of All-Bran with lots of skim milk;
juice or an orange;
a banana (at work); and
a cereal bar (at work).

Sometimes I ll also have some wholegrain bread w/a bit of butter or cheese.

On weekends, though, I will sometimes have bagels, pancakes, etc. instead. I love going out for a relaxed weekend breakfast.

[food girl]

I have the high-carb = hungry at 10:30 dilemma as well. I had a non-fasting blood sugar of 60 at 11 am once - my doctor says that since I am a morning person that my metabolism may be revved up in the morning. I don't know if I believe that theory.

I have tried changing to an egg, some veggie sausage links and a piece of toast, but my digestive system complains about the lack of fiber -if ya know what I mean

For those of you who like high-fiber breakfast cereals, you must try Uncle Sam. It has flax seeds in it and it stays crunchy in milk. The box says "natures laxative", and it is no exaggeration!

Lisa

[clairea]

I'm another one of those "high fiber in the morning" girls -- usually raisin bran or shredded wheat and bran with skim milk, and a glass of orange juice. Recently I made the Banana Bran Muffins from the Complete Cooking Light Cookbook, and have been eating those spread with fat-free cream cheese (for a little protein). I like these much better than other bran muffins I have tried, and 5 grams of fiber per muffin is a good start to the day!

[SusanD]

Count me as part of the fiber group...if I don't start the day with some kind of cereal then it just doesn't feel right. During the week I'll have either oatmeal (quick oats, but not instant b/c I've heard that instant is more "processed") or cold cereal (granola, Special K or Multi-Grain Cheerios) and a huge glass of orange juice. On the weekends when I have a little more time I'll make a bowl of Silver Palate Thick & Rough Oatmeal or Hodgson's Mill Bulgur Wheat hot cereal. Then later in the morning I'll have a piece of fruit or some yogurt to tide me over till lunch.

[pmmahan]

emilycat- where do you find those bagels?? I agree about the Thomas's bagels - yuck!

[emilycat]

pmmahan,

I can only find Earthgrains at Publix, which isn't a problem for me, since they're all over the place here. Anyway, they have cinnamon-raisin, honey wheat, and apple cinnamon, the former and latter of which will fill your house with wonderful aromas every time you toast them. Yum. I hope you can find them!

Emily

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 01-31-2001).]

[hhcowgirl]

The real question is, how in the heck do you pronounce it???

[MPHenderson]

Natural?
'na-ch&-r&l, 'nach-r&l

Kidding!

Hmmm...how to explain how to pronounce Manitowoc...Something like

Man-ih-tuh-walk (emphasis on tuh)

Melissa

Originally posted by hhcowgirl:
The real question is, how in the heck do you pronounce it???

[MPHenderson]

Hi, Beth (and others)
Natural Ovens of Manitowoc is a Wisconsin baking company that makes wonderful breads, muffins, bagels, cookies and cereal.

All with high fiber, NO hydrogenated fats (try finding a cookie or muffin with no hydrogenated fats!), and lots of other good-for-you extras. And most importantly, ALL are very tasty.

The products are sold in IL, MN, WI, and IN...PLUS they deliver via UPS! See their website at http://www.naturalovens.com/.

I really can't recommend them highly enough. Good, healthy, lowfat foods!

Melissa

Originally posted by BethH:
(ps...where do you find the mantiwoc wheat bread? I would love to get bread with that much fiber in it![/B]

[LGBurns]

I'm with emily, I looooooooove breakfast. My husband is like hhcowgirl and I'm in the high fiber, complex carb camp. He usually still has cereal but supplements it with a good helping of yogurt and fruit. I usually have cereal with fruit & 1% milk and orange juice. Plus we have coffee that's 1/4 caf, 3/4 decaf. We usually try to vary our cereals but our favorites are: Health Valley Organic Flax Cereal, Barbara's Shredded Spoonfuls, Wheat Chex and I also get the new Harmony Cereal because it has lots of folate and iron in it. Sometimes in the winter I'll make oatmeal with apples, raisins and spices (cinnamon and cloves, usually) and in the summer I'll make smoothies (with soy milk). On the weekends, we usually have eggs (1/2 egg white, 1/2 whole egg) and vegetarian sausage, pancakes (multi-grain) or french toast (made with whole wheat bread).

[This message has been edited by LGBurns (edited 02-01-2001).]