by jaybob

Created on: September 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2011

Making and eating breakfast on the go is quite simply how people eat breakfast in North America. Whether it is a rush in the morning or grabbing something on the go, North Americans need as many strategies as they can to make sure they jump start their metabolism and keep hunger from creeping up on them and making them snack on goodness knows what before lunch. Most importantly, North Americans need healthy alternatives to the trans fats they'd otherwise be consuming if they went to the morning drive-thu at their local fast food joint.

The Night Before! The Night Before! The Night Before!

Perhaps one of the best ways to make sure the breakfast you run out the door with is the best choice is to portion servings and prepare what you should have for breakfast the night before. This is ideal for a berry and fruit yogurt cup with some granola on top or a fruit-berry smoothie. Both are great breakfasts that can sit in your fridge overnight so you can grab them as you jump in the car. If you're a more traditional breakfast person, a bacon and egg English muffin that you can stick in the microwave as you brush your teeth makes for a great combination as well. The important thing is that you take the time the night before to do what you don't have time to do in the morning. The simple act of taking a few minutes out of your evening to prepare breakfast for yourself can mean the difference between having a healthy, energy charged breakfast that can give you the energy you need to attack your morning, or you ordering some cholesterol-saturated unmentionable from a drive-tru window and hitting a proverbial wall of insulin long before lunch.

Travel Food

Food that you can actually hold in your hand as you walk, or stick in your backpack until you have a free second to munch, are great ways to get your breakfast in if you have a really busy schedule. Individual yogurts, bran muffins, and bagels are an ideal sized travel meal. Also, while you may be tempted to purchase processed breakfast bars or whatever else is on the market, consider some of the best travel food Mother Nature can provide: apples, oranges, pears, peaches, and bananas. All are great sources of energy and essential nutrients, so, in many ways, it is Mother Nature to the rescue. Again, the importance is emphasized to think ahead and have a meal readily available that you can count on to not only be filling, but also to be a part of a balanced diet that won't see you suffering adverse health affects from poor long term dietary decisions.

Backup Plans

If you find yourself lagging in the morning and need some extra energy when you're in school or on the job, a contingency plan should always be available. Try to keep in your desk or on your person a bag of travel mix: raisins, dried fruit, peanuts, almonds, granola, etc. This makes for a great palatable snack, and is also an extremely healthy alternative. Granola bars or even a sandwich with juice make great mid-morning meals if you should find yourself wanting that extra oomph you need to get the job done. Backup plans are the safety nets you have in place to keep you from "craving." When you find yourself craving, that is when you make mistakes and purchase something from a vending machine that you really shouldn't be eating in the morning.

Learn more about this author, jaybob.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.