Grab and Go Foods That Are Perfect for Your Office Dash 

“I love waking up early for work, rushing to get dressed, and gulping down breakfast while running out the door,” said no woman ever.

In a perfect world, the most important meal of the day would be a lavish feast served bedside, complete with your favorite Cup of Joe and the morning news. Most mornings are neither perfect, not long enough to allow time to languish over breakfast. You still need breakfast though, and a little planning ahead can make you feel like you have all the time in the world for a healthy breakfast. These simple suggestions might keep you from caving to the drive-thru temptations, which break your budget and your waistline.

Simple Fruit Salad – Try something seasonal and delicious such as a combination of nectarines, blueberries, apricots, cherries and plums. You can prepare enough for the family the night before. Toss the fruit with a little lemon juice to keep it from browning in the refrigerator overnight. If you like your fruit salad a bit sweeter, you can create a simple syrup with sugar, water and lemon juice and drizzle it on the salad.

Breakfast Cookies – If you’re more the cookies or muffins for breakfast kind of gal, make a batch of breakfast cookies over the weekend and indulge away. You will find abundant recipes on Pinterest such as Chocolate Chip Coconut Zucchini Cookies or Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies that provide fiber, help you get your veggies, and satisfy your sweet tooth. You can make them ahead on weekends and even freeze them and thaw as needed.

Trail Mix – Make your own from scratch rather than purchase the pre-made and potentially salt-laden bags at the store. Portion the trail mix into single servings. Munch your mix on the way to the office.

Baked Veggie/Fruit Chips – Breakfast on the go doesn’t have to come with a high calorie count. Get a jump on your recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables by eating chips for breakfast. Sweet potatoes and apples make quick and easy chips.

Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie – Resist the temptation to drive through for your smoothie. Drop a few ingredients in your blender at home and get out of the cold cereal and drive-thru rut for good. Start with unsweetened yogurt—go Greek to up the protein—add your favorite frozen berries and just enough liquid to make it blend smoothly.

Green Smoothies – Skip the yogurt and make a green smoothie with kale or spinach, water and your favorite fruits. Adding frozen fruits eliminates the need to additional ice. Fresh bananas, apples and grapes are great additions as well.

Healthy Breakfast Sandwiches – Think outside the cereal box for a moment. Breakfast sandwiches are ideal quick meals, and they do not have to be comprised of fatty croissants and sausage either. Try making a smoked turkey, egg white and cheddar sandwich on an English muffin. Add avocado if you’re feeling adventurous. Or try a pita sandwich stuffed with hummus and cucumber for a cool and refreshing way to wake up.

Slow Cooker Oatmeal – This fix it and forget it food is the perfect hearty breakfast for chilly mornings and requires zero morning prep time. Throw your old fashioned or steel cut oats, fruits, nuts, cinnamon –whatever you care to add—into the crockpot the night before. Wake up to the smell of breakfast being served.

Breakfast Burritos/Wraps – Spice up your scrambled eggs with some peppers, onions, cheese, and your favorite salsa or hot sauce. Wrap it all into a flour or corn tortilla or any one of the gluten-free wraps that are available.

Paleo Pancakes – These wonderful, gluten-free pancakes are a cinch to whip up in the morning. Combine coconut flour, eggs, and bananas in the blender. Then, fry up on the griddle or in the pan. Because bananas offer a resistant starch, they burn slower in your system with less chance of the carbohydrate crash produced by the white flours of traditional pancakes. The eggs contribute ideal protein and Vitamin D to start your day right.

Studies link breakfast to everything from increased mental fortitude to a decrease in chances of developing heart disease and diabetes. Choose a quick and healthy breakfast, so you don’t have to choose between your health and time to do your hair.