The Healthiest And Unhealthiest Breakfast Foods

We've all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day — and there is a lot of truth to that. It's the first meal of the day and the one that fuels us for the rest. Eating breakfast gives us the energy and nutrition we need to function at the top of our game — and it's important to start with a healthy one.

Click here to see The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Breakfast Foods (Slideshow)

There are several unhealthy choices for breakfast that many of us are guilty of making each day. When you're running out the door and eating on-the-go, it's sometimes hard to eat a healthy meal. But quick meals can also be healthy and just as easy to prepare.

Try swapping out sugary cereals for ones that are high in fiber and low in sugar with a splash of low-fat milk. Trade out the heavy cream cheese spread for some nut butter instead and get a jump start on your daily dose of protein.

There are several more unhealthy breakfast food choices that you can easily substitute with healthier options. Take a look at some of our picks for best and worst breakfast foods and start your day off right with some healthy choices.

Doughnuts and Pastries

Fabulous with a cup of coffee, doughnuts and pastries are far better as a special treat rather than a breakfast. They are full of sugar, calories, and fat, which can hardly sustain you until lunchtime. Eating a breakfast high in sugar can cause a rise in blood sugar eventually leading to obesity and diabetes.

Sugary Cereals

Sugary kids cereals are, well, just that — full of sugar and little other vital nutrients. Although they taste great and have fun colors, it's not a good start to the day. They are often full of processed ingredients, empty calories, and lead to nothing more than an energy crash mid-morning.

Click here to see more of the Healthiest and Unhealthiest Breakfast Foods

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.