Have you tried the Dunkin Donut’s Pumpkin Latte? Is it good? It better be with all the sugar they dump in it. They put 51 grams of sugar in their medium, that’s too much in my opinion. Consider the following, the average can of soda contains 39 grams of sugar, this means the DD latte has 33% more sugar than a can of soda. So if you thought drinking soda was bad you’re going to want to consider not drinking this.

If sugar isn’t a concern to you perhaps the whopping 330 calories is. If you ate a 350 calorie breakfast and then you bought this on your way to work you’re looking at ingesting 680 calories before you start your day. The recommended daily dose of calories is 2000. So let’s do the math… you eat breakfast and have a Dunkin Donut’s Pumpkin Latte and you’re at 680 calories, subtract that from 2000 and you have 1320 calories remaining for the rest of the day. That’s not very many considering lunch and dinner tend to be larger meals.

Ok, so let’s say you skip breakfast all together and just drink your tasty drink. Not as many calories, good deal you think. Wrong! That 330 calorie drink is mostly sugar with a side of fat. You won’t find anything of substance in there. Good luck making it to lunch without grabbing something to eat and my bet is that if you skipped breakfast and choose this drink as the substitute your before lunch snack probably isn’t baby carrots.

So do yourself a favor and start the day right. Wake up 10 minutes early tomorrow and make some coffee (don’t add to much sugar though) and have some healthy cereal. The blackened coffee and whole-grain cereal might not taste as good as the pumpkin latte but I assure you your body will appreciate it, if not now it will the next time you get your vitals checked at your doctors office.

Think otherwise, let me know.

In this busy world we live in we sometimes skip breakfast. Maybe we are running late this morning or didn’t have anything to make. I often make omelets in the morning but at least once a week I run out of eggs or feel lazy and don’t want to put in the effort. I think back to when I was a kid and what I ate then. I ate cereal almost every day and not the sugary crap that most kids eat today. Cereal is a great thing to have in the pantry. It lasts for ever (so you can stockpile) and it’s a quick and nutritious meal as long as you use skim milk and buy one which follows the below requirements. (based on 1/2 cup)

• Whole grain, in fact it should be the first ingredient
• No trans fat or partially hydrogenated oils
• 5 g of sugar max
• 250 mg of sodium max
• 3 g of fiber
• 100 calories or less

If you follow these recommendations you’ll be giving yourself a powerful start to your day. Do you workout in the morning before eating breakfast? The University of Texas did a study which showed whole grain cereal and milk to be useful in activating proteins in the body after working out compared to people who drank sport drinks. This means you’re getting a complete breakfast and toning up. Let’s not forgot that the fiber in the cereal will make you feel full so you won’t crave as much food before your next meal.

Every meal can seem like a challenge if you aren’t used to eating on the P90X nutrition plan yet. Breakfast, for many people is something that is an afterthought- a quick bite on your way out the door or a bagel in the break room. It doesn’t have to be rocket science to be nutritious, however. A few simple breakfast solutions used in rotation are a great way for you to jump start your metabolism and not go off of your P90X diet.

 If lifting a finger in the morning is near impossible for you, consider the P90X protein bars. They are simple, convenient, tasty, and a great source of protein. If, however, you can take 5 minutes of breakfast preparation time out of your morning, I guarantee you can put something together that will keep you going without slowing you down.

Protein Shake Smoothies
Try mixing some berries or other fruit with your P90X protein shake. Not only does this take limited time, it’s portable and perfect for those running-late morning. For one serving of fruit on the P90X Portion Approach you can throw in either 1 Cup of raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries or any combination of the three. You could also use up to 2 Cups of strawberries. For a flavor kick try 1 Cup of strawberries and a half of a banana.

Egg White Omelets
You already know I am a fan of omelets. They don’t take much time and are an excellent source of protein. Check out this post with several omelet ideas.

Bacon and Egg Bagel Sandwich
Try 2 slices of turkey bacon with egg whites on a toasted whole wheat bagel. Use 3 egg whites for a ½ protein or 6 for a full serving of protein. Let the egg set up in the pan and simply fold into fourths to make it bagel-sized. Remember to use a medium whole wheat bagel and if you are short on time in the mornings, precook the bacon the evening before or use ham instead.

Ham and Cheese Muffin
A simple microwave idea, simply toast an English muffin, top with 3 oz of fat-free ham slices and one ounce of cheese. Microwave for 15 seconds and you’ve got a hot breakfast sandwich that is easy to eat on your commute.

Fruity Oatmeal
If you like your carbs in the morning, try oatmeal instead of the old standby cereal. Stir in some berries or a sliced banana for interest. Add some cinnamon for flavor and you are set. Rather than using oatmeal packets, use quick cooking oats on the stove top for a better source of fiber. Just remember to make up for the lack of protein at breakfast throughout the day.

You don’t have to eat the same old thing day after day to stay on track. Make breakfast interesting or even try some of these typical breakfast foods as a quick lunch or simple dinner solution.

There seem to be two types of people in the world: those who love breakfast and those who never partake of the morning meal. Breakfast eaters can’t fathom starting their day without anything in their stomach and people who don’t eat breakfast can’t imagine eating first thing in the morning. Those who do eat breakfast, however, are not only going to be more alert throughout the morning but will also have a head start on any weight loss goals.
 
The human body has evolved into one that is accustomed to going through periods of feast and famine. Our ancestors would sometimes have to go days without food and their bodies had to be able to respond accordingly. When we enter starvation mode, or go without food for long periods, our bodies do their best to hold onto extra weight in the fight for survival.
 
On a smaller scale we starve our bodies through the night. In order to keep our bodies consistently burning calories rather than holding onto weight, we must break that fast with a healthy meal in the morning.
 
Morning can be hectic and perhaps you feel as if you don’t have the time for breakfast. Luckily, breakfast does not have to involve a stove top and lots of time. There are many quick healthy breakfast alternatives and several that are portable too.

Fruit makes an excellent quick breakfast. When you are not accustomed to eating breakfast, something is better than nothing and an apple and handful of almonds will give your body some of the fuel it has been missing.

Another good breakfast alternative is eggs. We don’t all have time to cook in the morning but if you boil several eggs ahead of time and keep them in your frig, you have an already prepared portable high-protein breakfast ready to go.

Cooking a big pot of oatmeal to keep in the refrigerator is another great timesaver. You can take a serving out in the morning, pop it in the microwave and have a healthy hot high-fiber bowl ready in minutes. Top the oatmeal with fruit and cinnamon to liven it up a bit.

If you avoid breakfast because you don’t enjoy typical breakfast foods, don’t feel like you have to eat what everyone else does for breakfast. A cold turkey wrap, grilled cheese on whole grain bread, or fruit salad can all be substituted for finicky taste buds.

For some, breakfast is an automatic habit. For others, it takes work to eat something first thing in the morning. In the interest of your health and weight loss goals, however, it is worth the work. Adding this additional small meal to your day will keep your metabolism running more consistently and potentially help you drop those unwanted pounds.