Upgrade Your Breakfast Bowl

It may sound cliche, but breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. Eating a hearty breakfast sets you on the right track for the day: it fills you up first thing, gets your metabolism going and keeps you from snacking on things that might not be the best options while at the office.

Breakfast can be one of the first meals to get boring. Eating eggs or oats every single day becomes monotonous, but it definitely doesn't have to be.

Today we're talking about upgrading your breakfast bowl of oats, specifically. Oats are more versatile than you might think, pack a good nutritional punch and can be modified in a variety of different ways.

First, choose your type of oats. There's rolled oats (think Quaker brand) that are flat and a bit chewy, Steel Cut Oats, which are a bit heartier and nuttier tasting and oat bran, which is very fine and fluffy in comparison.

Next, choose either milk or water. Almond, cashew and regular milk will give your oats a creamier texture than water.

To add extra power to your oats, consider adding in some vegetables (what?!) and some extra protein. Grated zucchini or riced cauliflower added in to the oats while cooking provide some extra volume to your breakfast and give you a nutritional boost first thing in the morning. When almost cooked through, consider mixing in some egg whites (crack into a separate bowl, beat, then quickly whisk in until combined) or some protein powder.

Next, top your oats. Since oats are fairly plain on their own, they can easily take on a sweet or savory flavor.

Consider topping with some kind of fruit, peanut butter, mini chocolate chips or even Greek yogurt, along with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey for something sweet. Savory oats with feta cheese and spinach will give you something different that you won't be able to get enough of.

Other toppings that work well for new oatmeal ideas:

Sweet:

*Granola

*Peanuts/cashews

*Bee pollen granules

*Canned pumpkin (mixed in while cooking)

*Nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice

*Chia seeds (and chia seed pudding), flax, hemp

Savory:

*Add a fried egg on top

*Chopped bacon

*Cooked mushrooms and peppers