Maggie’s Dish on Dairy: Brighten your Breakfast with Dairy

As I lay in bed every morning, contemplating sleeping for another 5 minutes or getting ready for the day, one thing always makes waking up a little easier…breakfast!  Breakfast gives my body the fuel it needs to get my day started off right.  At St. Louis District Dairy Council, we try to encourage consumers of all ages to start their day off with some delicious and nutritious foods.  Dairy is one of these foods!  Dairy is packed with power, containing essential nutrients that our bodies need, and what better way to get our daily dose of dairy than at breakfast time!

I always try to pair a few things at breakfast time to give me the most power packed meal: whole grains, protein, and fruit.  Some might think that including all of these foods at breakfast is too much, but I have found that there are so many different ways to have a healthy breakfast without it taking too much time or effort to make.  A breakfast that I enjoy regularly is oatmeal.  There is so much variety in oatmeal and you can really make it your own.  I like to eat my oatmeal with milk, blueberries, and a little bit of cinnamon.  Sometimes I even add a nut butter for an extra boost.  For an easy and on the go breakfast, I like to have a smoothie made with milk or yogurt, along with fruits and veggies.  Another favorite of mine is an egg and cheese sandwich.  A toasted whole grain English muffin, scrambled eggs, a slice of cheese, and some spinach creates a delicious and wholesome treat at breakfast time.  The key to breakfast is finding foods that you love that will give you the energy you need to keep your body going strong.

Every year SLDDC celebrates National School Breakfast Week during March. This year focused on “taking off with dairy” at breakfast time.  Encouraging consumers at such a young age to find breakfast foods they love is a great way to create healthy habits that will last a lifetime.  Whether it includes a yogurt parfait, cheese on a breakfast sandwich, or a glass of ice cold milk with your meal, choose to brighten up your breakfast with dairy!

By Maggie Cimarolli, Nutrition Educator