Did you know that eating breakfast jump starts your metabolism?  You may think that skipping breakfast saves up calories for the rest of your day, but according to the American Journal of Epidemiology, subjects who ate 22 to 55 percent of total daily calories at breakfast gained only 1.7 pounds on average over 4 years as compared to 3 pounds gained by those who ate zero to 11 percent of total daily calories.

Eating heartily for the first meal of the day jump starts your metabolism.  Here are a few simple, great-tasting breakfast ideas to help you take on the rest of your day:

Oatmeal is a quick and healthy choice.  Complex carbohydrates and fiber work to keep you energized and full until lunchtime rolls around.  Just a one-cup serving offers 25g of complex carbs and 4g of fiber.  Top it off with fruit for some extra sweetness!

Prepare a whole wheat waffle then slather on about a 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter.  Add some mixed berries and voila–a quick and easy, delicious breakfast that works extremely well for those on the go in the morning!

If you’ve got a little more time, cook up some eggs! According to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, overweight adults that ate 2 eggs for breakfast as part of a reduced-calorie diet lost more weight and felt more energetic than those who ate a bagel breakfast of equal calories.  Cut up some veggies the night before for extra flavor.

Look up a healthy protein shake recipe (there’s thousands!) and whip that up before and/or after your morning workout.  Before, it increases the flow of amino acids to your muscles during training, and after the workout, a shake stimulates muscle growth.  It will be a good idea to eat a small protein/carbohydrate meal (e.g. a meal replacement bar) an hour to hour and a half after your workout, as well.

What do YOU eat for breakfast?