Health Insurance: Have a Healthy Breakfast Before You Hit the Road

Having a good health insurance policy is absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But along with scheduling regular checkups and practicing preventive medicine, there are some simple things you can do to ensure your good health. Eating a healthy breakfast is one of them.

You heard it over and over again when you were a kid and, like it or not, now that you're all grown up, your doctor and the medical community at large will tell you the same thing: breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day.

Why? It's quite simple- your body hasn't had food or water for at least 8 hours and you need to "break your fast." Combine that with the fact that you have the whole day in front of you- a day filled with hectic schedules and crazy deadlines- and it's easy to see why it's so important to fuel up on healthy stuff first thing in the morning.

Before you head out to face your busy day, take at least a few minutes to supercharge your system with a quick and healthy breakfast. We've compiled a list of fast and easy good-starts below.

• Happy trails. Keep trail mix on hand for those mornings when you hit the snooze button one (or three) too many times. Nuts are a great source of protein and are generally high in dietary fiber, calcium, and iron, as well as Vitamins A, B, and C. Add raisins for healthy sugars, fiber and a small amount of Vitamin B Complex. You'll be energized and ready to go.
  
  
• A fruitful start. Smoothies are a quick, easy and delicious way to get a healthy serving of fruit first thing in the morning. If you don't have time to whip them up before work, consider making them the night before and storing them in the fridge or freezer. In the morning you can just pour and go. Add plain, nonfat yogurt for extra nutritional value.
  
  
• Granola is good. Forget all your "peace, love and granola" hang-ups. In spite of its reputation, granola is great way to get an energetic start on the day. High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, granola is a known energy booster, and is a favorite with athletes and health nuts alike. Don't have time for a bowl of cereal? That's what granola bars are for! Grab one and go.
  
  
• Have an egg. Though sometimes given a bad rap, eggs are actually extremely nutritious and offer essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, eggs contain protein and Vitamin D and are relatively low in fat. Few of us have time for Quiche Lorraine or a Denver Omelet before we jet off to work, so keep it simple with hard-boiled eggs. Boil a dozen on Sunday night and place them back in their carrier in the fridge. Have one each morning for a quick, nutritious start.
  
  
• The muffin man. Muffins can be an easy and delicious way to begin the day. You probably don't have time to make muffins in the morning, but you can make a batch in advance for a quick grab-and-go in the morning. Use whole wheat and add nuts and raisins for extra nutrition. If you need a change of pace, consider savory muffins with tomato, Canadian bacon and bell peppers.
  
  
• Something is better than nothing. Let's face it– most of us rarely have time for an elaborate breakfast, but remember that eating something is generally better than eating nothing at all. A piece of toast with peanut butter, a banana or a handful of raisins will at least get you started on the right foot.
  
  

Don't rush out the door in the morning, without first having a quick and healthy bite to eat. Like mom always said, "Your body is like a car; it won't run if you don't put gas in it!"

And don't forget: as important as breakfast is, it's not nearly as important as having health care coverage that meets your needs. Whether you need individual, family or short-term coverage, get your fast.