sega asks: What are some of the best easy breakfast options?
Hi sega –
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the term “the dog’s breakfast,” but I’m assuming that isn’t what you’re asking for! (it means vomit!)
Well of course, I primarily love leftovers of whatever Handsome had for dinner the night before. It’s always great, it’s very easy for him to prepare (just pull it out of the refrigerator and put it in my bowl), and I’ve always been craving it ever since he got home!
But you’re probably after something more usual. Well, as good as they taste, my sense of nutrition tells me that starting the day with bacon, sausage, ham, steak, or such really isn’t a great idea. All your morning energy goes into digesting the meat, and many of these meats have some pretty awful chemicals in them too. So I’m more a fan of…
1) Eggs. Quickly digested protein, and you can fix them in lots of ways (and we dogs LOVE them, and if you mix a raw one into our food, they’re great for making our coats shiny!)
2) Oatmeal. The better brands take a long time to cook, but you can still get some real nutrition and fiber out of the quick kinds. Some people mix milk and sugar in with it, but I find it’s just as good without them; add some fruit or nuts if you need extra flavor.
3) Granola or Muesli. The same fiber as oatmeal, but much quicker. Whether it’s cooked or raw, these grains are really great for starting your day, giving lots of energy.
4) FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT!!! I know, dogs don’t usually sing the praises of fruits, but they are the best for breakfast. Yum Yummy! Whatever you can get at that time of year. Fresh is best of course. Oranges, cantaloupes, mangoes, grapefruits, apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, bananas, papayas… you see where I’m going. All of them are great-tasting, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and (can you believe a dog just said “antioxidants!” See what fruit will do for you?!)… and the healthiest kinds of sugars. And did I mention how yummy they are?!
5) Toast, Pancakes, Waffles. These carbohydrates aren’t quite as healthy as oatmeal or granola, but they can be quick and very tasty. Some people have problems with wheat gluten, but they can get substitute breads and pancake mixes.
6) Cereals. Most commercial cereals are so sugary and processed that I don’t really recommend them (also they tend to be very overpriced for what you actually get in them). But of course they are quick. So I’d just suggest that, if you’re going to buy any, you check the nutritional information on the box, just so you don’t end up sugaring yourself or your kids up so badly that they’ll misbehave in their first morning class and then fall asleep in the next!
7) Meats. As I said before, I don’t usually recommend meats for breakfasts, especially on weekdays. If you want to have them occasionally, though, I strongly urge you to get ones that are nitrite-free. Nitrites are used in lots of cured meats, and, next to cigarettes, are probably the most carcinogenic products available in your grocery store! And you can find bacon and sausage that don’t have nitrites in them – it might cost a little more, but isn’t your health worth it?
8) Coffee and Tea. Most people drink way too much caffeine these days. Hey I get it – I was a very hyperactive puppy, and I annoyed pretty much everyone in those years. I’m all for mild stimulation – it can help you be a better student or worker – but you really want to avoid having too much of these things. When you hear someone say “I’m no good until I’ve had my third cup of coffee,” that’s not good news: that means they’re addicted to it! So one way to keep breakfasts cheaper and quicker is to reduce your need for caffeine! One cup of something should be enough!
Whew! That was exhausting, and left me starving! I hope that helps, sega. Because now I’m going to have trouble getting to sleep tonight, I’ll be so excited about what I’ll find tomorrow morning!
Cheers,
Shirelle
ps: Although most likely, it’ll just be my leftover dog food from tonight…