The short answer: a heart healthy breakfast is built on whole grains, fruit or vegetables and lean or plant protein, and keeps sodium, saturated fat and added sugar low, per NHLBI and American Heart Association advice. A useful target for one meal is at least 5 grams of fiber, under 460 mg of sodium and no more than 4 grams of saturated fat. Oatmeal with berries and walnuts clears all three.
You don’t need special foods for this. You need to know where the fiber comes from and where the salt and saturated fat hide.
What is considered a heart healthy breakfast?
A heart healthy breakfast is one that’s rich in fiber and low in sodium, saturated fat and added sugar. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) puts vegetables, fruit, whole grains such as plain oatmeal, low-fat dairy, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, beans and tofu at the base of a heart healthy diet. It says to limit sodium, saturated fat, added sugars and alcohol. The American Heart Association’s 2021 dietary guidance adds whole grains, mostly plant protein, liquid plant oils in place of tropical oils, and minimally processed foods over ultra-processed ones.
No agency sets limits for breakfast alone, so we built a per-meal target from the FDA’s daily values and its own rule for reading labels: 5% of the daily value or less is low, and 20% or more is high.
| Nutrient | Daily value | 20% of the daily value | Breakfast target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 28 g | 5.6 g | At least 5 g |
| Sodium | 2,300 mg | 460 mg | Under 460 mg |
| Saturated fat | 20 g | 4 g | 4 g or less |
The NHLBI says adults should have less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, or less if your doctor advises it. It says saturated fat should make up less than 10% of daily calories. The FDA notes that most Americans don’t get enough fiber. If you’d like more ways to add it, our list of high-fiber foods is a good place to start.
What are some heart healthy breakfast ideas?
These 12 breakfasts all meet the targets above. We worked out each one from USDA FoodData Central, using foods prepared without added salt, and rounded the results. Brands vary, so check the labels on bread, cereal and tortillas.
| Breakfast | What’s in it | Fiber | Sodium | Sat fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bean and egg tacos | 2 corn tortillas, ½ cup no-salt black beans, 1 egg, ½ tomato, a little avocado | 13.2 g | 100 mg | 2.5 g |
| Blueberry chia overnight oats | ½ cup rolled oats, ¾ cup skim milk, 1 tbsp chia seeds, ½ cup blueberries | 9.9 g | 82 mg | 1.0 g |
| Ricotta and pear toast | 2 slices whole-wheat bread, ¼ cup part-skim ricotta, 1 small pear, 1 tbsp walnuts | 9.7 g | 354 mg | 4.0 g |
| Raspberry walnut oatmeal | ½ cup rolled oats cooked in water, ½ cup skim milk, ½ cup raspberries, 2 tbsp walnuts | 9.1 g | 55 mg | 1.4 g |
| Berry spinach smoothie | ½ cup plain low-fat yogurt, ½ cup skim milk, 1 cup frozen blueberries, ½ banana, 1 cup spinach, 1 tbsp ground flaxseed | 8.3 g | 165 mg | 1.7 g |
| Shredded wheat with kiwi | 1 cup spoon-size shredded wheat, 1 cup skim milk, 1 kiwi | 8.1 g | 106 mg | 0.4 g |
| Avocado toast with egg | 2 slices whole-wheat bread, ⅓ avocado, ½ tomato, 1 poached egg | 7.9 g | 369 mg | 3.1 g |
| Sweet potato and egg hash | ½ cup baked sweet potato, 1 egg, 1 cup spinach, ¼ cup onion, 1 tsp olive oil, an orange | 7.8 g | 132 mg | 2.3 g |
| Spinach and mushroom scramble | 2 eggs, 1 cup spinach, ½ cup mushrooms, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 slice whole-wheat toast, an orange | 6.1 g | 313 mg | 4.0 g |
| Peanut butter banana toast | 1 slice whole-wheat bread, 1 tbsp unsalted peanut butter, 1 medium banana | 5.8 g | 150 mg | 2.0 g |
| Greek yogurt parfait | 6 oz plain nonfat Greek yogurt, ½ cup strawberries, 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, 2 tbsp sliced almonds | 5.3 g | 64 mg | 1.0 g |
| Tofu and pepper scramble | ½ cup firm tofu, ½ cup red pepper, ¼ cup onion, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 slice whole-wheat toast | 5.3 g | 165 mg | 1.9 g |
Notice the pattern. The three highest in sodium all use two slices of bread, at about 146 mg a slice. Beans, oats and berries do most of the fiber work. If oatmeal is your default, our guide to whether oatmeal is good for you explains which oats to buy. If you need more staying power, our high-protein breakfast ideas add more protein to the same kinds of meals.
Are eggs a heart healthy breakfast?
Eggs can be part of a heart healthy breakfast. The NHLBI lists them among its heart healthy protein foods. One large egg has about 1.6 g of saturated fat and 71 mg of sodium, according to USDA data, so two eggs fit well inside the targets above. What tips an egg breakfast over is usually the bacon, sausage and cheese beside it. Our guide to whether eggs are good for you covers the cholesterol question in more depth.
What breakfast foods are bad for you?
The breakfast foods to eat less often are processed meats and pastries, because they bring a lot of sodium or saturated fat and almost no fiber. Here’s how some favorites compare, using USDA FoodData Central values:
| Food | Serving | Fiber | Sodium | Sat fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon, pan-fried | 3 slices | 0 g | 581 mg | 4.1 g |
| Plain bagel with cream cheese | 1 medium bagel, 2 tbsp | 1.7 g | 534 mg | 6.2 g |
| Deli ham | 2 oz | 0 g | 529 mg | 0.7 g |
| Blueberry muffin, bakery style | 1 medium | 1.2 g | 380 mg | 3.2 g |
| Pork sausage links | 2 links | 0 g | 373 mg | 5.6 g |
| Butter croissant | 1 medium | 1.5 g | 219 mg | 6.6 g |
| Glazed doughnut | 1 medium | 1.3 g | 202 mg | 6.0 g |
Three slices of bacon have more than ten times the sodium of the raspberry oatmeal bowl. A croissant alone carries more saturated fat than our 4 g breakfast target, and the muffin has about 36 g of sugars. These work better as a weekend treat than a weekday habit.
Is bacon bad for your heart?
Bacon is one of the processed meats that heart health groups advise limiting. The World Health Organization says processed meat means meat that’s been salted, cured, fermented or smoked, and lists hot dogs, ham and sausages as examples. Its cancer agency, IARC, classed processed meat as Group 1, meaning there’s convincing evidence it causes colorectal cancer. The WHO adds that many national guidelines recommend limiting processed and red meat because higher intakes are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
If you want meat at breakfast, the NHLBI suggests lean, unprocessed choices such as skinless chicken or turkey, pork tenderloin, or fish like salmon and trout.
What is the best breakfast for high blood pressure?
The best breakfast for high blood pressure is a low-sodium one built on fruit, whole grains and low-fat dairy, which is the DASH pattern the NHLBI says lowers blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. The lowest-sodium picks in our table are the oatmeal bowls, the Greek yogurt parfait and the bean tacos, all under 110 mg. To cut sodium further, choose no-salt-added beans, compare bread labels, and season eggs with pepper and herbs instead of salt. Our DASH diet meal plan gives you a full week, and our guide on how to lower blood pressure covers the habits beyond food. If you take blood pressure medicine, talk to your doctor before changing any of it.
What about the coffee next to your plate? Black coffee has almost no sodium or fat. Our guide to whether coffee is good for you covers what the research found for the heart and blood pressure, and how cream and sugar change the picture.
What is a heart healthy breakfast on the go?
The easiest heart healthy breakfasts on the go are the ones you make the night before. Here’s a simple weekday plan that shares ingredients, so one grocery trip covers it:
| Day | Breakfast | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Blueberry chia overnight oats | Make two jars on Sunday night |
| Tuesday | Greek yogurt parfait | 2 minutes |
| Wednesday | Blueberry chia overnight oats | Second jar from Sunday |
| Thursday | Peanut butter banana toast | 3 minutes |
| Friday | Black bean and egg tacos | 10 minutes, using the rest of the beans |
Try this today: pick one breakfast from the table and buy what it needs. Keep frozen berries and unsalted peanut butter on hand as a backup. If you like the overnight oats, our high-protein overnight oats give you more flavors to rotate.
If bananas already show up in your mornings, The Banana Book has 60 simple recipes with the fiber, protein and calories listed for each.
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Quick questions
What is the healthiest breakfast meat?
The healthiest breakfast meats are lean and unprocessed, such as skinless chicken or turkey, pork tenderloin, or fish like salmon and trout, which the NHLBI lists as heart healthy. Processed meats such as bacon, ham and sausage are high in sodium, and the WHO’s cancer agency classes processed meat as a cause of colorectal cancer.
Is oatmeal a heart healthy breakfast?
Yes, plain oatmeal is a heart healthy breakfast. The NHLBI names plain oatmeal as one of its whole grains, and half a cup of dry rolled oats has about 4 grams of fiber and almost no sodium, based on USDA data. Flavored instant packets can add a lot of sugar and salt, so check the label.
Is peanut butter heart healthy?
Peanut butter can be heart healthy. The NHLBI lists nut and seed butters among foods high in the unsaturated fats it recommends. One tablespoon of unsalted peanut butter has about 1.7 grams of saturated fat and almost no sodium, according to USDA data. Choose one without added salt or sugar, and spread it on whole-grain bread.
Is cereal a heart healthy breakfast?
Cereal can be a heart healthy breakfast if it’s whole grain and low in sodium and added sugar. Use the FDA’s label rule: 5% of the daily value or less is low and 20% or more is high. Plain shredded wheat has almost no sodium, and a cup with skim milk and a kiwi gives about 8 grams of fiber.
What should I eat for breakfast if I have high blood pressure?
If you have high blood pressure, eat a breakfast low in sodium and rich in fruit, whole grains and low-fat dairy, following the DASH plan from the NHLBI. Oatmeal with berries, a plain Greek yogurt parfait or bean and egg tacos each have under 110 mg of sodium. Ask your doctor what daily sodium limit suits you.
How much fiber should a heart healthy breakfast have?
A heart healthy breakfast should have at least 5 grams of fiber, which is about 20% of the FDA’s 28 gram daily value. The FDA counts 20% or more as high. Oats, beans, berries, chia, flaxseed, pears and whole-wheat bread are the easiest ways to get there before lunch.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Nutrition numbers are estimates from USDA data and will vary by brand and portion. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what targets suit you, and talk to your doctor before changing any medicine.
Sources
- NHLBI. Heart-Healthy Living: Choose Heart-Healthy Foods
- Lichtenstein AH et al. 2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 2021
- FDA. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
- FDA. How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label
- World Health Organization. Carcinogenicity of red and processed meat: questions and answers
- USDA. FoodData Central, SR Legacy