Back to school means back to homework, late nights and trying to sleep in as late as possible. Hectic mornings often lead to skipping breakfast, which is unhealthy as it’s considered the most important meal of the day. According to John Hopkins Medicine, a student’s brain needs a stable level of glucose to fully function, and breakfast is the best way to get glucose to the bloodstream and brain. It should be nutritious and filling, and skipping it is the last thing growing teenagers need. What they do need, however, are quick, easy and healthy breakfasts to grab on the go.

Here are three simple breakfast options for the morning, scored based on preparation, taste and efficiency to eat while on the way to school! 

Avocado toast: 4/5

Avocado toast is a tasty option for breakfast and is simple to make before school.

It contains nutrients from multiple food groups, such as grains, fruits and protein, and can include a variety of toppings from tomatoes to hot sauce. For simple avocado toast, toast the bread, cut an avocado and spread it on top. To add more flavor, squeeze some lemon juice or sprinkle some salt on top. Maybe even personalize it by using whole wheat bread or adding a favorite nut! 

The only downside is that avocado toast is difficult to eat while driving to school. Only having quick bites before driving may result in having to finish breakfast at school. This lands the avocado toast a rating of 4/5, as it is quick and delicious but difficult to eat on the road.

Overnight oats: 3/5

Overnight oats are another simple breakfast option. To prepare overnight oats, add yogurt, oats, a milk of choice to a jar and leave it in the fridge overnight. Berries, such as blueberries, can also be cut up and added on top of the oats for flavor. This breakfast is great for busy mornings because it can be easily eaten on the way to school.

Although oats require minimal effort to eat in the morning, they need to be prepared the night before. Another downside to this breakfast is the texture. The sogginess of the oats may be unpleasant to some, and the almond milk leaves an unappetizing residue in the bottom of the jar. For these reasons, this breakfast deserves a 3/5. It’s efficient to eat while going to school and requires little effort in the morning, but the texture may be unappetizing.

Smoothie: 4/5 

Smoothies are a straightforward breakfast that can either be made in the morning or frozen overnight. They include many antioxidants, a necessity to a healthy brain. One smoothie recipe is to blend frozen mango, pineapple, raspberries and a milk or juice of choice, and the smoothie is ready to go! Another option is to freeze the smoothie the night before so it’s prepared in the morning. In this case, leave it out for about 20 minutes before going to school. This breakfast is delicious, nutritious and it’s easy to grab in the morning and safe to drink while driving to school. If the smoothie is frozen overnight, however, it may be difficult to eat in the morning without waiting for it to melt first. Leaving the smoothie in the fridge as opposed to the freezer could make for a shorter wait time. This breakfast gets a 4/5 because it’s yummy, healthy and relatively simple. 

Each of these breakfasts have their strengths and weaknesses, but all of them would make a great addition to a morning before school!