Running out the door without breakfast seems to be a crummy routine for many college students. It is easy to forget to make time for a nutritious breakfast, but some say it can be the most nutritious meal of the day because it fuels the body and mind. These recipes are easy, healthy and surprisingly fast.Take five minutes in your morning routine to eat breakfast and keep your stomach from sounding like a whale in class.

Monday

1 slice of whole wheat toast

1 tablespoon of avocado

⅓ cup of egg whites

Toast your slice of bread and spread with avocado for a healthier substitution than mayonaise and a great source of Vitamin C. Use light olive oil to cook the protein-rich egg whites. Place the egg white onto the slice of toast and enjoy on your way out the door.

Tuesday

1 peach

1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese

Peaches have low cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat. Skin the peach and then cut it in slices and add to a bowl with a cup of cottage cheese that adds calcium for strong bones and Vitamin B-12 which produces energy. Just don’t eat too much cottage cheese because it does contain high grams of fat. However eating the right amount will promote healthier tissues.

Wednesday

1 apple

1 tablespoon all-natural peanut butter

Remove the pit from the apple which contains a good source of fiber and Vitamin C. Cut the apple in an even number of slices. Spread peanut butter, which contains manganese, on half of the slices of apples giving this breakfast treat a nutty taste. Getting a good source of manganese is important as it does many things such as help absorb nutrients, develop bones and promote normal nerve function.

Thursday

1 cup of nonfat yogurt (any flavor)

1 cup of lowfat granola cereal

½ cup of fresh fruit

Use any portable container so that you can easily eat this parfait at school. Begin by layering granola filled with granola on the bottom, fresh fruit and yogurt. Repeat the layers once more. This parfait will be filling and very nutritious giving you fiber, calcium and potassium which can help lower blood pressure and helps the heart stay in a good condition.

Friday

1 slice of wheat fiber bread

1 tablespoon of low-fat cottage cheese

⅓ cup of blueberries

Toasting the slice of bread is optional if you want a warm cottage cheese or not. Spread the cottage cheese on toast like butter and add the blueberries on top. Fast, easy and healthy. Apart from the fiber from the toast, the calcium from the cottage cheese, the blueberries are full with antioxidants which can help the nervous system and brain health. Perfect for students.

Wendy Aguilar can be reached at [email protected]