SIMPLE and HEALTHY BREAKFAST CONCEPTS.

How much time do we have to prepare and eat breakfast each day? Maybe 10 or 15 minutes, if you're like most people. We're usually in a hurry to get to work or school, and we don't want to make much of a fuss over breakfast.

Some people skip breakfast (not a good idea), and others eat breakfast in the car, but most people eat breakfast at home. You want a breakfast that's easy and quick to prepare - the less cooking, the better - so you can get out the door fast.

We need to eat breakfast foods that are good for us, here-below, are a few easy and healthy breakfast ideas to get you going every morning.

Hot cereal: Just thinking about a bowl of warm oatmeal with cinnamon and your favorite fruit might make you feel all warm and cozy. Oatmeal is easy to make either on the stove or in the microwave oven. Flavored oatmeal mixes are also available in grocery stores, but you might not want the added sugars and artificial flavors that come with them.​

Cold cereal: Pouring some dry breakfast cereal into a bowl and adding some milk is about as easy as breakfast gets. Most breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals, but many of them contain large amounts of sugar. Choose cereals that are high in fiber with less added sugars. Aim for less than five grams of sugar per serving.

Breakfast sandwiches: These are easy to make from scratch and only take a few minutes. Scramble or fry an egg and serve it on 100-percent whole grain toast for a basic sandwich. Add interest and flavor with a slice of cheese, or add mushrooms, peppers, and onions to your scrambled egg. Chop the ingredients the night before and keep them in the refrigerator to save time.

Leftovers: So many foods are associated with breakfast, like sweet cereals, eggs, pancakes, waffles and French toast with gobs of maple syrup. But there's nothing wrong with eating non-breakfast foods instead, like the leftovers you have from dinner the night before. As with any healthy breakfast, be sure to include protein and plenty of fiber to help keep you full until lunch. Heat up a piece of leftover chicken with lots of green beans or other vegetables on the side. Add a slice of whole grain bread and serve with a healthy beverage like water, low-fat milk or 100-percent juice.

Have some simple foods ready for those super-busy mornings when you think you don't have time for breakfast. Grab a couple of your favorites and breakfast is ready in less than one minute.

* Individual yogurt cups

* Protein bars

* Individual bags of homemade trail mix

* Whole-grain or bran muffins

* Peeled hard-boiled eggs

* Individual containers of 100-percent fruit juice

* Fresh fruit like apples, bananas, and pears