Like so many others I find myself scarfing down a pop tart, cookie, bagel, doughnut, etc…running out the door on my way to workout, kids to school, work. I know I need to be getting in more and better calories to start my day and was wondering if any of you guys have any quick solutions or suggestions. Is there something I could prepare, say on Sunday evening, that could last throughout the week? Is Ensure or other similar meal replacement drinks a good alternative?
almost every day i make a toast sandwich with almond butter and jam, on some sort of whole grain bread. toast bread, apply spreads, stick together, wrap in aluminum foil and you’re good to go – 3min. it’s filling and full of good for you stuff.
Breakfast cereals can be good - I have gotten into the habit of eating a banana, and about 8-10oz. of Vanilla Frosted Mini Wheats (sans milk) followed by a can of cold, Vanilla Slim Rite (exact same thing as Slim Fast only cheaper) while in the car driving to work each day.
I’m not trying to flame here just trying to help.
You do have the time in the morning to make a better breakfast for yourself you just have to make the time. If that means getting up five minutes earlier, then do so. It takes me about two minutes to put instant organic oatmeal in a bowl, add some whey protein, and some organic sugar, add some water and heat it up in the microwave for 40 seconds. If you want add some fresh fruit to it. That’s a bit healthier for you then a pop tart.
BTW-I don’t make time for myself for dinner. I usually have cereal or a Clif bar which though isn’t bad for you I certainly could do a lot better. I am just to lazy to cook for myself, so I’m trying to work on that as I do have the time to make something.
Good Luck 
Assuming you are too busy to sit down and have a solid meal:
Boost or Ensure is good.
But, usually not enough calories. Including a Clifbar would be optimum. But, now your talking about a $3 to $4 daily cost.
I’m able to eat once I get to work, thankfully. I keep a supply of yogurt (Emmi, a Swiss brand I’m able to get - yum!) and cereal (Grape Nuts, or high-protein granola). I just mix the two and have a convenient, decent breakfast without any fuss.
I am in the same boat. I leave with my daughter from house at 4:45 a.m. for swim practice, showers and in the car at 6:45 enroute to her school, then I am heading to office. Bagels are starting to get old for the both of us but not too many choices for eating in the car. I keep a drawer full of snacks at work though - nuts, raisons, peanut butter, bread, fruit etc. I would like to get some better calories in her though.
Assuming you are too busy to sit down and have a solid meal:
Boost or Ensure is good.
Are you sure? It seems that most of the calories come from fat, which doesn’t seem the best source for carb delivery. My take on it is that it slows down the digestion time. But perhaps some nutritionists could answer that?
Stefan
I usually get up early enough to eat a chicken breast sandwitch on whole wheat toast w/ juice or skim milk. I just nuke the breast and finish it off on the pan (to brown). Usually fills me up and the big glob of protein takes hours to digest so keeps me from getting hungrey until lunch, though I often have a mid morning snack (fruit or yogert or cliff bar).
J
this is assuming you can cook…or have the means to have someone cook for you.
Mushroon and Asparagus Frittata: 6 eggs dash sea salt and black pepper couple tablespoons of real butter (sweet unsalted i prefer) minced shallots (if you want to get fancy, diced onion works as well) mushrooms sliced up (buttons or wild–i love oyster) asparagus spears, rinsed and trimed near top grated parm or your favorite hard white cheese
In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, salt and pepper, and add 1/4 cup cheese. Set aside.
In a large broiler-proof skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots/onion and mushrooms and saute for 4 minutes–do not salt, it will make water come out of mushrooms. Add the asparagus to the pan and continue to cook until the asparagus is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Kick up the heat if pan looks watery–you want to sear off not steam. Stir in the egg mixture. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook until the eggs are almost set, about 10 minutes.
Preheat the broiler.
Sprinkle the frittata with the remaining hard white cheese/ Place the frittata under the broiler and cook until the top is set and starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Place a large serving plate over the pan, and carefully invert to turn out the frittata to serve.
Now, for the week, you can double this recipe and make it in a big cast iron skillet. flip it out onto a plate and slice wedges so that you can grab a slice for every morning and zap it in the microwave for a sec. Get creative and add in bacon, ham, chedder, whatever you want. the basics are the eggs and whatever else you want to add. This will fill you up and get you going.
ALSO: cut up a bunch of fruit, or BUY it already cut up. when it is ready to go like this you have no excuse. you can even make your breakfast ahead of time by making the frittata into a breakfast sandwich, toasting up an english muffin, sandwich it and wrap well in foil. unwrap and pop in microwave or leave wrapped and put in over while you’re in the shower and you can eat on the way to work.
See, no excuses!! Other ideas are: little tupperwares of cottage cheese and fruit, protein shakes with scoop of oatmeal (just blend in blender take less than 2 minutes), and you can do bagels with eggs on top just like the frittata.
if you need more ideas just Pm me. i’ve gotten my husband’s diet turned around with techniques like this. where there’s a small will, there’s a way. 
seriously though, consider buying your fruit already cut up. it’s a little more expensive, but TOTALLY worth it!!
wi
how about peanut butter on a muffin?
You have to make the time to have a good breakfast. Wake up a little earlier, fix breakfast before the kids are up, you will feel better.
My favorite breakfast these days is oatmeal (quick oats) with a scoop of protein powder, a spoon full of brown sugar, some raisins and a little Kashi Go Lean. Good stuff, fills me up, and it’s reasonably good for you (as long as you watch the protein powder, some have lots of fat).
honestly, making a batch of bran muffins with peanut butter in them isn’t hard. the things will last for a week and are filling. a thing of cut up fruit on the side and you’re good to go.
yes, but are they tastier than cat treats?
and then there’s the whole tarter control factor…
come on frog…you know there is NOTHING better than cat treats.
what about frog legs!!!
lol
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I’ve got the plan…now I have to execute. I just signed up for Couer d’lene, maybe that will help.
kc- do you have a bran muffin recipe? If so, I’d love it!! Pretty please!!
Can you eat when you get to work? I keep a box of Quaker Women’s Nutrition oatmeal packets (Vanilla Cinnamon) here at work. Add hot water from the coffee maker, and VOILA! Good stuff…has soy protein and is fortified with extra nutrients… Eating breakfast is the only thing that makes me look forward to coming to work some days! And I find that the time it takes to start up my computer and sort thru emails is perfect for eating.
hey kittycat - you put the peanut butter in the muffins? got a recipe handy for that?