In the Pantry: Eggless, No-Fuss Breakfast Bites

In the Pantry: Eggless, No-Fuss Breakfast Bites

Scientific research continues to highlight the importance of eating breakfast. In recent studies data has shown that regulary eating a healthy breakfast can help you lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease. But when you're in a hurry to get out the kids to school, beat traffic, grab a latte, and make your first meeting--all on time--you might be quick to just skip your breakfast eats. This week on "In the Pantry," Aida Mollenkamp shares easy, no-fuss breakfast options so you don't have to lose out on the benefits of your morning meal when your on the go.

More on Shine: 5 Reasons to Eat Breakfast

Toast toppers. Forget your basic toast and jam. Glam up your bread, even when you're in a hurry, with delicious toppings that you probably already have in your refrigerator.

You can turn your basic toast in breakfast bruschetta with a simple topping of chopped tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a tiny bit of salt. You could also cover toast with smashed up avocado that's been mixed with tiny bit of citrus juice and salt. Mollenkamp suggests mixing up the toast toppers for variety. One favorite dish is to cover your favorite toast with spreadable cheese, like a ricotta or goat cheese, and then add a cured meat like prosciutto, or even Canadian bacon.

You can also blend a classic smear that you're likely to find in a bagel joint. Pulse cream cheese together with ingredients like fresh bell pepper, leftover pesto, capers, or some sundried tomatoes, and use the spread on your toast. Finally, for a sweet toast topper, you can use diced fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey or teaspoon of marmalade.

Muesli. The breakfast cereal is similar to granola and usually is composed of a toasted whole grain, dried fruit, nuts, and a touch of seasoning. To make a homemade version, toast dried raisins, dried cranberries and walnuts in the oven with oats. Mollenkamp recommends adding a superfood like chia, flax, or pumpkin seeds to the mix for an extra health boost. For flavor, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon over the mixture. Make a batch of muesli over the weekend and store it in a jar so you can use it all week. Serve the muesli with milk or with yogurt with fresh fruit as a breakfast parfait.

More on Yahoo!: Regularly Skipping Breakfast May Increase Heart Attack Risk

Whole grain bowl. Fill a bowl with brown rice, barley, faro, or quinoa--or a mix of these grains. You can treat it like an oatmeal by heating it in the microwave and sprucing up the flavor with milk, dried or fresh fruit, and your superfoods. Or you can just eat it cold.

For more cooking tips and tricks, check out host Aida Mollenkamp's book, Keys to the Kitchen.

More on Shine

DIY superfood smoothies

How to get rid of fruit flies

Healthy food swaps