This isn't a breakfast idea, but could you swap the empty-stomach medication point for another one, later in the day but when you've been several hours w/o eating? Do you have to eat nothing afterwards for some period, as well?

Some meds do have be taken on an 8-hours (or more) empty stomach, but some just need to be taken when the stomach is not engaged in digesting a meal, or even just not with certain foods. Your pharmacist may be ale to help you work out something so that you could eat before you leave for work, then fast for the rest of the morning and take the meds an hour before lunch, as an example.

Also a different med might have a different schedule or rquirements. Sometimes I think docs presrcibe stuff without any thought of how you are going to accomplish the administration of it. It's one thing if it's a temp. medicine that you can just cope with for a week or two. But maintenance meds have to fit in, or people just stop taking them!

HTH

L.

How about baking some healthy muffins (lots of recipes online), freezing them, then you could thaw one each morning in the micro and take it with you? I think you could also find recipes for "breakfast cookies" that would be very portable.

Or -- bars? Luna bars or Kind bars are my favorite "emergency" breakfasts.

Could also make yourself a sort of trail mix w/ nuts and dried fruit to carry with you. Could even throw some cereal in there, like chex or cheerios.

A few slices of cheese and a cut-up apple?

I usually eat breakfast at my desk. I combine yogurt with an unsweetened nut/cereal/dried fruit mix. You can get a sweetened mix if you prefer.

Obviously, this won't work if you are on the go.

Just pick some foods you like that aren't necessarily breakfast foods. Nuts, cheese, yogurt, fruit, peanut butter on whole grain bread or roll, etc. If you're unable to get yourself situated to eat "normal" breakfast foods then eat something that works for your lifestyle.

I agree with gibby - think outside the 'breakfast' box. I love grown up PB&J - a good whole grain bread, natural peanut or other nut butter and if you like, a low sugar jam.

I was going to say some low-fat string cheese and/or a banana.

I would suggest setting your alarm for a couple of hours early, say 4 am and get up and take your meds and go back to bed. Then get up at a normal time, say 6 am and have breakfast at home...it's usually healthier and cheaper.

I have to take my meds 30 min before breakfast and so, if it's 4 am or later and I have to get up to go potty, I always take my pill and go back to bed...

I too have to take meds an hour before I eat. What I do is the very first thing upon waking is take my meds. Then shower, dress and get ready. Last thing I do before leaving is eat breakfast. It usually ends up being about 50 minutes or so, but I think this is pretty close to the hour time frame. I tried taking them later in the day(mid-afternoon) but usually forgot. Then thought to take them as soon as I get home, but I do not get home until 5 PM and usually eat by 5:30 or we ended up having a late supper. Or, if I forgot to take them as soon as I got home, well then supper got really late.

I have tried the Oatmeal to Go bars and they are okay...I wonder if you could find a recipe for something similar that you can make at home and take with you. Or muffins are the other thing I thought of, which has been mentioned already. Muffins are great because you can make up a lot of them and then keep them in the freezer and get one or two out at a time.

I'd take whole grain bread topped with jam and cream cheese.

We eat home mixed muesli with soy or almond milk or no fat yogurt every morning. The muesli is a mix of oats, nuts and seeds, organic whole grain cereal and dried fruits such as cranberries, blueberries and raisins. It is very nutritious and healthy and is a great start to the day. You could keep a container at work and the milk etc in the refrigerator.

I eat a Vitalicious muffin top. They are in local grocers, but I used to order them Actually, more of a selection when I did order online. There are also muffins and a few other products.
They are in the frozen health section or if you get them delivered you then put them in the freezer.
I microwave mine for 28 seconds, but you can let it thaw out they taste even better. Takes about a half hour.
My favorites are the Cran Bran and the Blue Bran. Add fruit or yogurt etc. but I just eat one of these.

How about a healthy homemade smoothie. You can put it in one of those tall insulated metal lidded cups. Hard boiled eggs. Nuts in moderation. I'm desserting on raspberry yogurt with granola, walnuts, and cinnamon right now and it is delicious! Peanut butter (or cream cheese) on celery is satisfying. Sweet cherry tomatoes. Fruit. Bananas are filling. Veggies with a healthy dip.

I am one of those who has coffee at home, and just isn't hungry at 630, but is starving by 930

So at 630 when I am making my coffee, I also make oatmeal, with almonds and craisins. I make it in those 16 ounce disposable coffee cups with lids, from costco. I cook the oatmeal for 1 1/2 minutes right in the cup in the microwave. Then I add cinnamon and nutmeg. I stir, cover with saran wrap, and then put on the lid.

Then I eat it at my desk at 930. By then it's not "hot", but it isn't cold either. Since I don't add any milk that can spoil, I don't worry about refrigerating it.

Healthy and not expensive.

Have you considered protein bars? They are healthy, filling, satisfy sweet cravings and easy to keep on hand. I like the Pure Protein bars and order mine online from Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.

You can also take oatmeal in a travel mug or insulated cup. I like the old fashioned kind; I put it in a microwave safe bowl (leave lots of room) and pour boiling water on it when I am making my coffee, let it sit for as long as possible, then nuke it for a couple of minutes. I spoon it into a vacuum thermos or insulated metal travel cup, along with a chopped up apple, or fresh or thawed blueberries or frozen raspberries and a shot of cinnamon. I like it with plain yogurt (which is fine sitting out for a couple of hours) or you could fill another single serving thermos or travel mug with milk - I use unsweetened soy milk. Or a single serving box of shelf stable milk to put on when eating.

I have a great recipe for an oatmeal pumpkin muffin that is low carb and just sweet enough to pass for a pastry. I'll dig it out and post it soon. I bake them and keep them in the freezer, grab one for mid morning snack with my coffee, but with a few additions they are substantial enough for a breakfast.

I keep a bowl of hard boiled eggs in the fridge for breakfast. Portable and filling!

For the combination of portability and speed you're describing, I would probably go for high-protein yogurt with maybe some chopped/ground nuts or extra fruit mixed in for the texture. I also really like the suggestions involving oatmeal in an insulated container. This time of year, I usually want hot foods more than cold ones.

I have started drinking a protein drink when I get to work. I like the taste and it doesn't bother my stomach.

Dymatize ISO 100, I like the chocolate flavor. It fills me up until lunch. I was eating way too many peanuts and too many calories. I need easy and this is a good option for me.

Oooh, I love the oatmeal in an insulated container idea. I always have the best intentions when I go to the store, thinking I'll make up food and take it with me, but then I either forget to grab it, or it's in the freezer and I don't have time to reheat it.

But prepping the oatmeal while getting my coffee is a great idea. I can't take my meds at a different time, they have to be taken within 24 hours each time, so doing it when I get up, which is generally the only consistent time in my entire day, is the time that works for me.

I bet I could eat some heated oatmeal at stop lights and stuff when i'm on the road. Great suggestions!

Pesky, here is the recipe for muffins that I think would satisfy your pastry preference to go with coffee, while being fairly healthy and filling. I sometimes eat with ff or low fat cream cheese.

Honey Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins - Yield 12

Number of Servings: 12

Ingredients

1/2 c honey (I use a bit less- maybe 1/3 cup total)
1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened (or try mashed banana)
3-4 egg whites - equivalent to 2 eggs
1 1/2 cups pureed (canned) pumpkin or winter squash
1/4 c skim milk use less if the pumpkin or squash seems extra moist. Or use fat free plain or Greek yogurt.
1 cup all-purpose whole wheat flour (sometimes I use 1/2 c ww flour and 1/2 c of flour made by whirling extra oats in the food processor until it's a fine, powdery meal)
1/2 c Old Fashioned oatmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or just add more cinnamon and some nutmeg)
1/4 tsp salt - to taste.

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat honey, applesauce, eggs, pumpkin and milk. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, soda, spices and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture; blend well. Fold in raisins (or dried, unsweetened cranberries). Spoon into greased muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

I keep these in the freezer & grab one or two to eat while driving to go with my coffee. Nuke for a couple of seconds before you leave home, or just let them sit in the car - they thaw quickly. Or take them out the night before.

You can find some others by googling low fat, low carb oatmeal pumpkin muffins. Some even fewer carbs than these that use all oats, no flour.

Nutritional Info (this is for the original recipe, which used whole eggs - although I adjusted the cholesterol, but not the protein content, it had more honey, more salt...so it's not really accurate). I think they are lower cal and lower fat without the egg yolks, too. In fact, there should be no fat, except what's in the ww flour - not much.

Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 111.7

Total Fat: 1.3 g
Cholesterol: 2 mg
Sodium: 86.3 mg
Total Carbs: 23.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.0 g
Protein: 3.2 g