Quick and Easy Heart-Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast has always been considered the most important meal of the day. That said, Americans only have time to eat breakfast 3 times per week on average, with many skipping it altogether. This is especially alarming for cardiologists to hear, as previous studies have shown a link between skipping breakfast and increased chances of cardiovascular diseases.

Starting your day with a healthy meal is important for anyone looking to improve their heart health, as a healthy breakfast provides key heart-healthy nutrients and the energy needed to get you through the day. Not only that, it’s been shown that breakfast eaters are typically more active than non-breakfast eaters and have less desire to eat unhealthy snacks as the day goes on.

Given the importance a healthy breakfast has on your heart health, it’s important that you try to get a healthy start to your morning as often as possible – preferably every day. To help make that easier, U.S. News recently shared their 10 favorite heart-healthy breakfast recipes for a busy morning. Check out our favorites from their list below:

Toasted Whole-Grain Bread with Avocado

If you love avocados, get your morning off to a healthy start by using it as a spread on whole-grain toast. Whole grains and fiber from the bread combined with monounsaturated fat from the avocado make this a great heart-healthy breakfast, and it’s quick and easy. If you have time, add an egg on top for extra protein.

Blueberry Smoothie

Blueberries are one of the best heart-healthy superfoods according to the American Heart Association. Adding them to your smoothie makes for a perfect on-the-go breakfast that keeps you going. Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 a peeled banana
• 1 handful of spinach
• 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp. of your favorite nut butter

Tip: Store your blueberries, banana, and spinach in a sealed bag overnight in the freezer for even quicker prep in the morning.

Yogurt, Granola, and Fresh Fruit

If you barely have time to throw anything together in the morning, throw a couple heart-healthy ingredients into a bowl of yogurt! The oats in granola have a special fiber called beta glucan that’s associated with improving cholesterol levels, while fresh fruits like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and bananas all have heart healthy benefits. You can even try using plant-based yogurt for an extra healthy boost.

Getting your morning off to a good start with breakfast is a key first step to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and heart-healthy diet. If you’re pressed for time, make sure you try working some of these quick and easy heart-healthy breakfast foods into your daily rotation.

For more heart-healthy breakfast ideas, visit U.S. News.