Heart-Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Breakfast is often touted to be the most important meal of the day yet the most ignored one. In mornings, we are generally press for time; hence, we often forget or avoid having breakfast. The fact that a healthy morning meal is important for our body, we should never avoid it and, in fact, must keep it protein- and fibre-rich. Breakfast literally means to break the fast; since our body isn't consuming for almost 8-10 hours post last night's dinner until we wake up, it becomes imperative for us to refuel our body with health food in the morning. No wonder the most popular catchphrase that says - 'Have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper!'
But there is a difference between having a breakfast and having a satisfying breakfast. Meaning, having last night's pizza slice or a slice of bread wouldn't really suffice your body. While it is a good habit to have a satisfying, complete meal for breakfast, it shouldn't be all about quick and processed foods. It should be a balanced mix of healthy, satiating and, of course, tasty delights! Since it is the first meal of the day, one must ensure to begin with a healthy one. A heart healthy diet would ultimately lead to healthy life, and for a healthy life taking care of the heart is a must. It is no secret that you are what you eat and so no matter how many workout regimes you follow or apps you sign up to, if you don't eat right, all of it is in vain. While regular exercise is a must, a heart-healthy breakfast everyday would help in maintaining a balanced healthy lifestyle.
Since your breakfast would be the fuel for the entire day ahead, it should be a mix of all things nutritive and good for the heart. But that doesn't mean you have to give up on your favourite meat or sinful cakes, you can always play around the ingredients and make them healthy. A heart-healthy breakfast recipe should be packed with oats, nuts, fruits, along with vitamin-C-rich foods that lowers the risk of heart diseases. To ease your worries of preparing a heart-healthy diet for breakfast amidst the morning rush, we've got a round-up of recipes that you can prepare at home.
7 Best Heart-Healthy Breakfast Recipes To Make At Home:
1. Low Calorie Oats Idli
Perfect breakfast or brunch recipe! Low on calories, low on carbs and high on nutrients, these oats idlis are light and fluffy. It is made with oats that are rich in soluble fibres that in turn help in lowering the cholesterol levels. It also has carrots and lentils that are rich in vitamin B and antioxidants that helps in reducing blood sugar levels and keep the overall health in check. Oats idli isn't just healthy but an extremely tasty dish to quickly prepare for breakfast.
(Also Read: 11 Best Oatmeal Recipes | Easy Oatmeal Recipes)
2. Orange Tofu Dumplings
The moment we hear tofu, we imagine all things healthy! And why not, it is a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre that helps in maintaining cholesterol. Besides all, it is rich in polyunsaturated fats, which are good for heart health. When combined with vitamin-C-rich oranges that are packed with antioxidants, it helps in lowering the risk of heart diseases. Here is an interesting dumpling recipe packed with tofu, oranges, spinach and even nuts like walnuts and prunes make for that perfect breakfast side to prepare at home.
Healthy Food For Heart: Dipped in a zesty orange sauce, here are innovative tofu and rava dumplings stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and walnuts. 3. Spinach Pancake
Spinach (palak) is one of the most nutritious green leafy vegetables we have. Besides being rich in nutrients like iron and calcium, spinach also has the presence of lutein that helps in thickening of walls of arteries, which reduces the risk of heart diseases. This pancake made with whole wheat flour with a delicious filling of mushrooms and spinach is just the perfect heart-healthy breakfast recipe you need to begin your day with.
4. Almond And Cranberry Poha
The quintessential breakfast recipe made all the more healthy! Nuts like almonds and walnuts are proven to be great for heart health and are so versatile that you can literally add it to any dish for that extra crunch. Poha being a light and satiating dish is often made across Indian homes in various styles, here is an easy poha recipe packed with the goodness of cranberry, coconut and almonds that you can easily prepare at home for a heart-healthy breakfast!
Heart-Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Packed with almonds and flavourful cranberries, it makes for an interesting combination to try at home.5. Lentil And Charred Broccoli Chaat
A flavourful treat that is equally nutritious, lentil and charred broccoli chaat is a tantalising mix of dal, black beans, broccoli, citrusy sweet lime, methi sprouts and papaya with a delicious dressing of chaat masala, aamchoor, balsamic vinegar, honey and onions. Green vegetable like broccoli is rich in carotenoids and prevents oxidation of cells by free radicals.
(Also Read: 11 Best Broccoli Recipes | Easy Broccoli Recipes)
Heart-Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Roasted/charred broccoli is tossed in with lentil, beans, potatoes and methi sprouts, sprinkled with a delicious mix of dressing.6. Apple Chia Seeds Smoothie
A quick, easy and extremely nutritious smoothie to go along with the meal! Here is a smoothie recipe with truckloads of nutrients in the form of chia seeds, which are loaded with iron, calcium, zinc and B vitamins - all of which help in maintaining blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Chia seeds are combined in this heart-healthy recipe with apple that has pectin fibre, which is known to reduce the levels of LDL (unhealthy cholesterol) and further reduces the risk of hardening of arteries in the heart, making a nutritious yet delicious smoothie to fuel your body up for the rest of the day.
7. Flax Seed Smoothie
A wonder ingredient that every fitness enthusiast is seen munching, flaxseed is a superfood that is a treasure of various health benefits. The abundance of fibre in flaxseeds helps in lowering unhealthy cholesterol and managing blood sugar levels, thus aiding heart health; while omega-3 fatty acid content helps lower undesirable fats in the blood that in turn reduce the risk of stroke. While you can chew on flaxseed as is but here is a delicious flaxseed smoothie recipe, which is also packed with the goodness of soya milk, bananas, strawberries and honey that you can easily and quickly prepare at home for breakfast!
Having a heart-healthy breakfast is as important as having a hearty one! Try these heart-healthy breakfast recipes at home and let us know your favourite one in the comments section below!
About Aanchal MathurAanchal doesn't share food. A cake in her vicinity is sure to disappear in a record time of 10 seconds. Besides loading up on sugar, she loves bingeing on FRIENDS with a plate of momos. Most likely to find her soulmate on a food app.