We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but somehow it’s often neglected with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. My husband, Mal, for example, sometimes skips breakfast all together because he’s run out of innovative ideas at home. He’ll end up purchasing breakfast on his morning commute to work, which ends up becoming an expensive and not always nutritious habit.
Here are some nutritious breakfast ideas that are also easy on your wallet:
On-the-Go Option: Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal ($2.45)
Trade-Up: Quaker Instant Oatmeal with Raisins and Chopped Walnuts
Quaker Instant Oatmeal has 0 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and gets a NuVal score of 39. Not too shabby! If you use 1/2 cup of low-fat milk instead of water, you add protein, calcium, and Vitamin D to your breakfast. Garelick Farms 1% milk, for instance, is a 78 on the NuVal scale. Dole raisins (NuVal score: 88) and Diamond chopped walnuts – unsalted (NuVal score: 82) are cheap, yet nutritious options to amp-up your morning bowl of oatmeal.
On-the-Go Option: Dunkin’ Donuts Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese ($2.05)
Trade-Up: Western Sweet Wheat Bagel with Teddie Peanut Butter and Banana Slices
Western Sweet Wheat Bagels are a top nutritional choice for bagels with a NuVal score of a 36. Check out these superstar stats: 110 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 8 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein. Add 2 tablespoons of Teddie Creamy Natural Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter (NuVal score: 49) and sliced banana (NuVal score: 91) and you have a satisfying, nutritious, and delicious breakfast for less than the cost of a fast-food bagel with cream cheese.
On-the-Go Option: Cosi Yogurt Parfait with Banana Slices and Cereal ($2.99)
Trade-Up: Stonyfield Fat-Free Plain Yogurt with Kashi 7 Whole Grain Cereal Puffs and Fresh Blueberries
A homemade parfait is a quick and easy breakfast that you can prepare in just a few minutes. You can even make it in a Tupperware container to take with you to go. Here’s how: Layer 1 cup of Stonyfield non-fat plain yogurt (Nuval score: 89) with 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries (NuVal score 100) and 1/2 cup of Kashi 7 Whole Grain Cereal Puffs (NuVal score: 91). You can make your homemade yogurt parfait even more cost-friendly by buying a 32-ounce container of yogurt instead of the individual 6-ounce containers, which are more expensive per ounce.
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
Great tips! I have plain oatmeal with nut toppings every morning and every day feels great so I’ll definitely keep that up
I am going to pick up those Western Bagels at Hy-Vee tonight! Sounds yummy
SO COOL to see the Nuval scores on actual products! I want them to come to my grocery store a.s.a.p. so I can shop with the healthy angel on my shoulder, instead of the one who tells me to buy all the junk!
Love the tips Tina!
I live in DC… no Nuval scores yet… hopefully soon?
I am a huge believer in breakfast! It is so important. I always make my own oatmeal with rolled oats, cinnamon, and a few raisins for sweetness. I do half water and soy milk. Yum! Sometimes I add apples, bananas, or other fruit too! Great ideas!
I LOVE breakfast. It is my favorite meal of the day (after dessert).
It is nice to sometimes have breakfast at dinner – and cereal is a great snack. Breakfast foods are very versatile.
Love your new blog Tina – I will definitely keep these trades in mind
Great trade up ideas–great new blog!
I’ve never heard of those bagels, awesome stats!! Sprinkle some cinnamon on that pb + banana combo and it’s even closer to heaven