Ready-to-Eat

There's nothing more ready to eat than a bowl of cold cereal with skim milk. Look for cereals with no more than 12 grams of sugar and at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. If you can find one where the word "whole" begins the first ingredient, that's even better! If you want to eat on the run, dump your portion of cereal into a baggie and pour the milk into a thermos. Make breakfast really healthy and add a piece of fresh fruit!

Enjoy a Slim-Fast ready-to-drink shake while you're getting ready for work, during your commute or while you check your email in the morning. Choose one made with soy milk if you're trying to add soy to your diet, or try the low-carb version if that's more your style. Whichever one you slurp down, no mixing required!

Make a quick pass through the cafeteria on your way to work. Look for three different types of food: protein (a hard-boiled egg or peanut butter is a great option), fruit and whole grain (opt for oatmeal if you're trying to lower your cholesterol levels, or whole wheat toast if you need something to spread the peanut butter on). Add skim milk or yogurt to boost your calcium intake, and you're ready to face the world!

Heat-and-Eat

If hot waffles are your idea of the perfect breakfast, head for the frozen foods section of the grocery store. Look for whole grain waffles with higher fiber counts and less fat, like the ones from Kashi. Pop two waffles in the toaster, top them with sliced mixed fruit drizzled with a tiny bit of maple syrup, add a glass of milk and enjoy!

Purchasing breakfast sandwiches in the grocery store's frozen section may seem like a time-saver, but some of these options are packed with fat -- up to one-third of your daily allowance! If you love the taste, a healthier option is Swanson's Great Starts Egg, Canadian Style Bacon and Cheese on a Muffin -- with only 270 calories! Add some fresh fruit and a glass of skim milk for a balanced meal.

If traditional breakfast fare isn't your style, try a flavorful frozen burrito. Amy's Burritos are vegetarian and use all-organic ingredients, a bonus in our processed-food world. Try one with a glass of soy milk for a creative, well-balanced breakfast.

Take-Out

Have a happy and healthy meal with an Egg McMuffin and low-fat milk. Skip the sausage and get it on an English muffin instead of a croissant to keep the calories and fat count under control. Order a fruit and yogurt parfait for your morning snack, and you'll save time without super-sizing yourself.

If you simply can't start your day without Dunkin' Donuts coffee, take this tip: A 10-ounce latte has only 120 calories, but you'll double that if you choose a Mocha Swirl latte. If it's really the coffee -- and not the sugar and cream -- that you crave, you're best off with a simple, old-fashioned cuppa joe. As for food options, the donuts are packed with sugar and the bagel's full of white-flour carbs (65 grams carbohydrate per bagel). Even the reduced-fat blueberry muffin has 450 calories, 20 percent of your daily fat allowance and 35 grams of sugar! Your best bet is the English muffin egg and cheese sandwich. At 270 calories, it offers you a reasonable number of carbs with some protein to keep you satisfied till lunch.

Grab a small container of melon balls or mixed fresh fruit and a small container of low-fat cottage cheese for a light, refreshing summer breakfast. But avoid the cottage cheese/fruit combos that are sold premixed in the grocery store -- the first ingredient in the "fruit" is usually high-fructose corn syrup (sugar in disguise).