Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. It gives us the energy we need to get going, wakes up our metabolism and provides valuable nutrition. Sadly, it is also the most skipped meal of the day.

Sometimes it seems that there’s just not enough time in the mornings to eat. We have to make up the bed, get ready for work, get the kids ready for school, and perhaps do some morning chores. But it’s very important that we eat a good breakfast.

Preparing a nutritionally complete breakfast doesn’t have to take a long time. Here are five power breakfast ideas that can fit into any schedule.

1.  Cereal with low-fat milk, sliced bananas and raisins – Eating cold cereal is a quick and easy way to include fiber, carbohydrates and dairy in your morning meal. Add some freshly sliced bananas and a handful of raisins, and you’ve also taken care of one of your daily servings of fruit. There’s no cooking required, and cereal is nice and filling.

2.  Whole-grain waffles topped with fresh strawberries and yogurt – Waffles are a breakfast favorite, and you no longer have to drag out the waffle iron to make them. Frozen whole-grain waffles are nutritious and delicious, and you can warm them up in the toaster in a snap. Instead of syrup, add yogurt and fresh sliced strawberries to make a well-rounded meal.

3.  A bran muffin, an apple and a cup of skim milk – If you’re in a serious hurry, you need foods that require no preparation and are portable. You can find pre-packaged bran muffins in a variety of flavors at any grocery store. Keep some single-serve containers of milk and your favorite kind of apples on hand, and you can take breakfast with you if needed.

4.  Breakfast smoothie – Some people just can’t seem to sit down long enough to eat breakfast. If you’re one of those people, try drinking your breakfast. Make a smoothie with yogurt, milk or fruit juice, and fresh fruit. Just slice the fruit (or use berries), dump everything in the blender, and mix until smooth.

5.  Peanut butter and bananas on an English muffin – In a pinch, peanut butter is one of the most filling things you can eat. Spread some on a halved English muffin, top with a sliced banana, and add the other half of the muffin to make a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast sandwich.

Skipping breakfast does not give us a good start for the day. But if we keep some quick and healthy items on hand, there’s no reason that we should have to go hungry in the mornings. We can get the nutrition we need and still be on time for work.