Morning is a tender time. No matter how adventuresome your evening grazings, when the alarm goes off, you're as vulnerable as a child and long for familiar foods: cereal with milk, scrambled eggs on toast, porridge pooled with honey and cream.

But while your drowsy mind craves comfort, your awakening body needs power. Nutritionists have stressed for years breakfast's vital role in kick-starting your metabolism for what lies ahead. But no two bodies, or schedules, are alike. You may face a 10-hour workout, whether you're an athlete, farmer, or childcare provider. You may be wedged behind a computer from sunup to sundown, or have nothing on your agenda but to loll in bed reading romance novels until some vague restlessness propels you to putter among your roses. But no matter if your day is breakneck or serene, you need the right fuel to travel through it.

With that in mind, we came up with nine recipes that will appeal to your split morning personalities. Each dish is delicious in a soothing, friendly way—yet each one is designed to meet the unique nutritional challenges of different days. Registered dietitian Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, coauthor of The SuperFoods Rx Diet, provided guidelines. For example, on a morning when you expect to be very active, she says, "you want a high ratio of carbohydrates to protein. And go for whole grains to keep your blood sugar steady."

Of course, in order for any of these recipes to work, you'll need to haul yourself out of bed instead of hitting the snooze button for the fourth time. But take heart; it's worth it. A great breakfast may not make it any easier to rise, but it sure can help you shine.

Sunny Side Up EggsGet the recipes

NEXT STORY

Next Story