My hubby goes to work super early in the morning... he has been getting a donut every day in the cafe. We were talking about healthier choices... He says the cafe offers.... oatmeal, bagels, bananas, a sausage biscuit and donuts..
I say it would be healthier to eat the sausage biscuit (which has protien and will keep him full longer) than to eat the donut.. he hates bagels.. what do you mommas say?? He might be willing to grab something at home to eat at work.. anyone have any good ideas.. must be quick -- he is in a hurry.
a peanut butter & banana sandwich on whole wheat would be a powerhouse breakfast for him!
Oatmeal is healthier than the other choices at the cafe, but is lacking in protein.
Lean beef jerky, the banana, & some milk would also be a good choice.
If I had to choose and I eat pretty healthy I would say the oatmeal and banana are probably the healthiest.
I finally figured out, (after 50 years) that I have to have protein. That the bagel and even the oatmeal, just didn't do it for me. I was RAVISHED by 9:30- 10 am! So I'd agree with you about the sausage biscuit. Understanding that with the probably higher than wanted sodium and fat content, he could make healthier choices for his other meals.
Funny, you mentioned donuts. . . . First, let me say that there was a time in our lives where every weekend was a treat and the kids looked forward to the donuts. But then I started making changes for our overall health. Plus we moved and getting them just wasn't quite as convenient. Now, on the very rare occasion I have one (more like a 1/2) I do feel physically ill! Even my dear husband commented recently that the only difference between a donut and cake for breakfast is someone deemed donuts a breakfast food. Well said!
Go to the grocery store and buy the weight watchers muffin and egg sandwiches. They are frozen and can be microwaves in a few minutes. You can also get him some protein shakes (kellog's makes some that are good). He could do greek yogurt, nuts, and fruit. That's also easy to make. What about scrambled eggs in a whole wheat tortilla?
Lots of options. You may just need to help him with it.
Oatmeal and a banana!
I think you both are tied. While the sausage may provide more nutrient value in the form of protein over the donut, it is usually high in fat and sodium. So that kind of negates the whole "nutritional" value. As a general rule, he should always try to choose something that has some protein and a whole grain to have the most lasting benefit until the next meal. For instance, he could eat greek yogurt (most brands have 10+ grams of protein and no fat) with some whole grain cereal mixed in or berries on top. My kids and husband like frozen pancakes that take literally a minute to prepare. We put a little bit of peanutbutter (for protein) on top and add a side of fresh or frozen fruit to make it more nutritionally sound. We also like toast with peanutbutter and honey drizzled on top. I always try to come up with at least 5 days worth of quick choices to make. That way he gets a variety of nutritional choices that are quick and easy and can avoid the cafe all together! Good luck!
HTH,
A.
For a while my husband ate a piece or two of rolled up deli ham wrapped around a cheese stick. Quick. Easy. protein. Done.
Lately, he tends to reach for a protein powder shake. He likes the Designer Whey. It mixes in milk (skim) with just a spoon--no blender required. It's like Nestle's Quick powder, only healthy and with protein.
:)
maybe switch it up:
Monday: oatmeal
Tues: sausage
and repeat
Banana is healthy. But can't you have that ready for him to grab at home (way cheaper?)
I agree that the protein is great, but those things are so fattening! That's why I suggested to switch it up.
My husband used to eat two hard boiled eggs every morning. I think he at them in the car or at his desk. But if they were peeled and ready, your hubs could eat them before he even left the house. Talk about protein!
At work I think the healthiest choice would be oatmeal and banana; sausage isn't great for you. We shop with a wellness company that makes, among other things, great bars - breakfast bars, meal replacement bars, shakes, etc. My husband can grab a bar, or I make him a shake at night, put it in the 'frig', and all he has to do is remix it for a few seconds, pour and drink. Hope this helps!
oatmeak and bannana but if he has to or wants to switch it up than the sausage n biscuts fine
I vote for the oatmeal. I have oatmeal for my breakfast almost every morning and it keeps me full a long time and it can be fixed in 5 minutes (or less) in a microwave. I add fruit, ground flax seed and a little maple syrup. Yum!
Love the hard boiled eggs idea. If the biscuit had ham instead of sausage, i would say go for it. But sausage is soooo bad for you: lots and lots of bad fats and sodium. As an occasional treat, okay, but not several times a week.
OatmEal is a grat choice, if he'd go for it.
Make your own egg mcmuffin. Toast an English muffin. Scramble an egg and cook in microwave for one minute .(in microwave safe bowl) Put egg on muffin and add a slice of American cheese. It melts on the hot egg. Good to go in just a couple minutes.
Oatmeal. That will keep him longer than a sausage biscuit. And it's heart healthy too, that that will keep him longer, ;period!
Granola bars would be a good choice. better yet, get up earlier, quit running to get somewhere, and sit down and have a smart breakfast. What you're describing is not doing him any good. Microwaving anything is quick but it strips food of nutrients, so unless it's eaten just to fill a void and not to have something of value, I wouldn't nuke it.
My favorite breakfast on the go is Banana Oat Muffins. They are sweet, but not overly sugary like a donut, and the whole grains will keep you full longer. Put extras in the freezer.
Banana Oat Muffins Recipe :http://martasrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/banana-oat-muff...
Though the sausage biscuit has protein, sausage is so full of fat and filler that I would not recommend it as healthier. Besides the biscuits are all white flour and that turns to fat quickly in your system.
A breakfast burrito is a good idea, make them up in whole wheat wraps, put in black beans, scrambled eggs, cheese, saute`d peppers & onions, salsa, and all he has to do is microwave it. Make a dozen and store in the fridge short term and the freezer long term.
Make some whole grain waffles to freeze, he can heat like eggo waffles. A little Peanut butter and fresh fruit or syrup.
You are right that the donut is not healthy. The best choice from work is the oatmeal and fruit, complex carbohydrates and protein in the oatmeal, lots of fiber - that keeps you full longer. This is what I eat every morning, a whole grain bread or hot cereal, 3 fruits and a handful of nuts - keeps me full until lunch!
Bagel topped with peanutbutter. Or an egg and cheese biscuit, leave out the sausage or see if he can get ham (less fat) instead.
Oatmeal. It's the fastest and healthiest breakfast out there. 1/3 c oats, 2/3 c water, zap in the microwave for 2 minutes - done! He can eat it immediately if he then tosses a handful of frozen blueberries on top - cools it down quickly. Keep it interesting by tossing a bit of granola or cereal on top, or dried apples or raisins...so many combos. It's so good for his heart, too.
My husband gets up before the rest of us, too, and I sometimes throw the oatmeal in a bowl for him the night before. It's always nice to know someone was thinking about you when the whole house is quiet and you're seeing yourself off to work...
Oatmeal and banana.
I LOVE bagels so I have one a few times a week from Panera. I also grab a bag of fruit from home. This morning I had an everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese (11 ppv) and a bag of strawberres (2 huge ones cut up).
I also have a bag of grapes for an afternoon snack (it kills the sweet tooth in a healthy way) and a bag of carrots for my 10am snack.
Sometimes I premake sausage biscuits for my husband...not the healthies, but he won't eat bagels, oatmeal, eggs, etc. I think I'm going to buy him some whole grain waffles and Better Than PB for him to eat that at work. He has a 2 hour drive...so I think he needs something before he goes or on the road.
instant oatmeal or regular? If regular, then I'd say oatmeal and a banana, maybe bring some chopped walnuts from home, the protein will hold him for longer. How about a fried egg on whole wheat toast. takes a few minutes, but having real food to run on is worth it. Sometimes my husband just grabs a Naked juice when there is no time to eat.
Oatmeal topped with bananas, occasionally a side of sausage (drop the biscuit).
Even better: mix Greek yogurt with fruit (his choice) the night before, put it into a container and pour a little baggie of granola to go on top of it when he eats it at work. Or put together a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread the night before so he can grab it and go in the morning (sandwiches don't only need to be eaten at lunch time). Or hard boil some eggs and keep them in the fridge for him to grab when he wants. Any of these would be better than paying for the unhealthy offerings in the cafe...
Unfortunately, so far, he's been choosing the MOST unhealthy option.
