At a recent conference, I attended a session put on by the Coca Cola Retailing Research Council called Seizing the Mealtime Moment.  The session focused on what matters most to us consumers at each meal of the day.

At breakfast we care about ROUTINE. 

At lunch we’re looking for QUICK and EASY.

At dinner, it has to TASTE GOOD, be EASY TO PREPARE, and have EVERYONE LIKE IT.  Even more interesting about dinner is that the number one reason we don’t fix dinner at home is because we’re too tired (I can totally relate!).

It feels like each of these topics is worthy of a discussion all its own, so I thought today we’d start with the B – breakfast. 

Routine in the morning is definitely the key for me.  In addition to a frosty cold Diet Mt. Dew (dietitians have vices, too.), the three options I tend to rotate are:

• 2 scrambled eggs, sometimes with asparagus and shredded cheese added (One of my mom’s favorites when I was growing up.  Great use for left over asparagus.)
• Yoplait Greek Yogurt, plain, fat free (NuVal score of 98!) with one Equal packet and some kind of fruit mixed in (my favorite is kiwi, with a NuVal score of 100)
• Kashi GoLean Truly Vanilla Instant Hot Cereal (NuVal score of 46!).  I love this cereal.  It’s got protein, fiber and omega-3s, so it’s a great way to start my day.

How can you build a healthy routine into your breakfast?  Some ideas are:

• Create a “breakfast” section of your pantry and refrigerator so your family can easily grab options.  Load these sections with fruit, low fat dairy, high fiber, whole grains, and lean protein.
• Find three or four healthy options that you like to eat, and stick to them.  Because we’re all driven against routine at breakfast, it’s a great place to build highly nutritious foods into your eating habits. 
• Post a “Breakfast Equation” chart on your refrigerator.  Something like:

     Shredded Wheat + skim milk + fruit in the fridge = a power packed breakfast

     Plain fat free yogurt + fruit in the fridge + a sprinkle of flax meal = the way to start my day

     Fortified egg substitute + leftover veggies + any cheese = hot stuff

What’s your breakfast routine?

Visit www.nuval.com to maximize nutrition in your breakfast routine.