Eating a morning meal is a healthy habit if you're watching your weight. Research shows that regular breakfast eaters tend to be leaner and dieters are more successful at losing weight—and keeping it off—when they eat breakfast. What's more, people who typically eat breakfast also get more fiber (more on why this is important later), calcium, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, zinc and iron—and less fat and dietary cholesterol. Perhaps it's because they often eat cereal, which is fortified with vitamins and minerals, and fruit, which is naturally nutrient-rich.

As suggested by the name, by eating breakfast, we are in fact ‘breaking the fast' as usually we haven't eaten since previous dinner, some ten hours before. This helps to kick start the metabolism for the day. If we do not eat for long periods of time, our bodies have a tendency to store energy as fat for reserves rather than burning it. People who skip breakfast and do not eat until lunch time, which could be a good sixteen or more hours after their last meal, risk this fat storage as the body is not sure when it will next receive fuel.

organic eggs

They're not much more expensive than regular eggs but are much higher in all-important omega-3 fatty acids, shown to benefit everything from your mental health (reducing risk of depression) to your heart health (reducing risk of atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation), says Fred Pescatore, M.D., author of The Hamptons Diet and a physician at Partners in Integrative Medicine in New York City.

Pour a cup of fruit smoothie

Simply whir a cup of strawberries and a banana in the blender, add a scoop of protein powder and a cup of crushed ice, and you've got a healthy, on-the-go breakfast filled with antioxidants. Toss in a cup of plain yogurt, and you've just added a bone-strengthening dose of calcium. An added bonus: You've just crossed three of your daily fruit servings off the list.

brown rice

Consider it a takeoff on prepared cereal. Brown rice is full of energy-providing B vitamins, as well as a great source of filling fiber. Cook the rice the night before, then in the morning, put it in a bowl with a spoonful of honey, a handful of raisins, a cut-up apple, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a unique yet delicious treat. Don't like rice? Try any of the cooking grains: barley, rye, red wheat, oats, buckwheat, quinoa, or millet.

Boca Burger Grilled Vegetable burger

Description: This zesty, soy-based vegetarian alternative to the high-saturated-fat American BBQ staple contains hints of zucchini, red-bell pepper, garlic, onion, and even a couple of cheeses. It tastes great and provides a good dose of protein. Add some lettuce, tomato, ketchup, or your other favorite toppings, and you'll hardly notice the difference from the traditional burger.

Alvarado Street sprouted wheat tortilla

Description: It's easy to make your own delicious wrap and save hundreds of calories. With this tasty, organic, whole-wheat tortilla you'll have no trouble fixing a quick, hearty lunch. Boost your vitamin and mineral intake by loading on a handful of greens, shredded carrots, tomato, and peppers along with grilled chicken, lean meat, turkey, or a bean-based filler.

Oatmeal

you may associate this with your grandfather's breakfast but hey, he's probably watching his health more than anyone! Oatmeal breaks down slowly in your stomach, once again keeping those testy insulin levels low. It's also an incredible source of fiber, which helps regulate the digestive system, minimizing those yucky, bloated days.

Coffee

do you ever feel your heart race after an espresso shot? That's actually a good thing as far as fat-burning goes. When your heart speeds up, you burn more calories. You'll get this benefit from any coffee drink. But it's probably best to stay away from those ultra sugary, creamy beverages. That just counteracts the fat-burning force.

Milk

If you have to eat Cocoa Puffs, at least drench them in plenty of skim milk. The calcium signals your metabolism to wake up! One study found that dieters who consumed at least 1,200 mg of calcium per day lost twice as much weight as those who consumed less. And milk is actually a complex carbohydrate, meaning it stabilizes insulin levels after your meal. Eat more, weigh less. Researchers have repeatedly shown that people who eat breakfast have a better chance of losing weight, and keeping it off. When you skip meals, you're so hungry by lunchtime you'd eat an entire cow! Research carried out at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh has shown that eating breakfast cereal in the morning helps aid weight loss.

Eat more, weigh less

Researchers have repeatedly shown that people who eat breakfast have a better chance of losing weight, and keeping it off. When you skip meals, you're so hungry by lunchtime you'd eat an entire cow! Research carried out at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh has shown that eating breakfast cereal in the morning helps aid weight loss.

Yogurt

A recent report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and out of Harvard revealed which foods are correlated with weight change, including the top 5 foods that promote weight loss. Yogurt was one of them! (See more of the Best Foods for Weight Loss, and 5 Foods That Make You Gain, here.) Another reason to eat yogurt: the protein in it may give you an extra edge if you're looking to get leaner. When researchers fed two groups of mice a high-fat diet for 11 weeks, the mice that got water spiked with whey protein (a type of protein found naturally in yogurt and other dairy) packed on 42 percent less weight and nearly a third less body fat than the mice who just drank plain water, despite the fact that they ate roughly the same number of calories. The whey eaters also gained 7 percent more lean body mass (e.g., muscle mass). Save calories and unnecessary sugarby choosing plain yogurt. If you need a little extra sweetness, try fresh fruit (maybe raspberries?).

Peanut Butter

Nuts were also among the top 5 foods that Harvard researchers said promote weight loss. I love to slather a tablespoon or two of peanut butter onto whole-wheat toast (ahem, a "slow-release" carbohydrate), but you could also add nuts to your oatmeal (another "slow-release" carb).