Weight Loss Breakfast or Brunch for a Summer Morning

All too often, breakfast gets shoved aside. At worst, you run out the door without eating. If you believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you may at least grab a bar or shake to get you through the morning. There’s nothing wrong with that – you’ll get your protein that way! – but sometimes, it’s nice to be able to relax and enjoy breakfast.

Trouble is, having a leisurely breakfast or brunch can often lead to way too many calories, carbs, and saturated fat – maybe even more than you need for the whole day! It doesn’t have to, though. Forget the bagels, syrup-laden waffles, bacon, and coffee cake. Instead, get your protein and stick to your calorie budget with these tips. And the icing on the cake? You can get your brunch together without slaving away in the kitchen for hours.

Delicious Basics for the Strictest of Diets

If you’re on a post-op weight loss surgery diet or you’re in a serious weight loss mode, you’re probably looking for a minimum amount of calories with the maximum amount of filling protein. At the same time, great taste is a must so you stay motivated to stick to the plan! The BariatricPal Store has the basics for your breakfast.

Whether you choose BariatricPal omelets, pancakes, cereal, or oatmeal, each serving has about 100 calories and 15 grams of protein. They’re packaged in single servings so portion control is no problem, and you can make them in minutes on the stove or in the microwave. Guests may want a couple of servings for their breakfast, and with these nutritional stats, you might even want to pair up a couple of items. You can’t really beat a weight loss breakfast of Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal with a Southwestern Omelet.

Adding Some Healthy Accompaniments

When you’re at least a few months out from weight loss surgery, you’re in maintenance mode, or you’re opting for slow and sustained weight loss (hey, it’s what works according to research!), you may need to add a few more foods to your breakfast or brunch. You can easily create a balanced meal that stays under 300 or 400 calories and provides some badly needed nutrients like filling fiber and antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A and C.

Here are a few options to consider serving.

-Salsa, avocado slices, and shredded low-fat cheese to put on your omelet.

-Fresh fruit for your oatmeal, cereal, or pancakes.

-Plain or vanilla Greek yogurt to top pancakes.

-Low-carb biscuits made with Carbquik and served with non-fat cream cheese.

If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, you can jazz up the dishes a little. For example, toss your eggs with diced tomatoes, spinach leaves, or mushrooms for a bulkier breakfast with almost no extra calories. Or, cook banana slices or berries into your pancakes. The sky’s the limit, even when your calorie budget is tight.

Hot Drinks to Sip

Sipping a hot drink can make your breakfast or brunch feel even more luxurious. It’s the perfect way to sit around the table for extra minutes with friends or family, or just the company you need when reading the Sunday newspaper alone at the dining room table. Skip the sugar when you go with BariatricPal Hot Cocoa drinks. Each has about 80 to 90 calories and 15 grams of protein. You can’t go wrong with flavors such as Marshmallow, Vanilla Cappuccino, and Chocolate Mint.

Whatever your weight loss or maintenance plans are this summer, you can hit your goals while getting maximum pleasure. When you need a break from a busy schedule, schedule a leisurely breakfast or brunch with the great-tasting foods that’ll keep your waistline happy. And don’t forget: a little walk before or after you eat will make the meal taste that much better!