12 Energy-Boosting Foods

Most egg salads have lots of yolks; this dish uses just one in the dressing, so you get the flavor without the fat.

Recipe: Breakfast Egg Salad

I've been known to throw everything into the blender: cabbage, beans, even raw oats! Green smoothies are one of my favorite smoothie blends and it also happens to be one of my kids' favorites. I'm thrilled when my kids eat raw vegetables in the morning! The trick to pleasing young palates is to add a banana for creaminess and sweetness and just enough light-colored fruits to give the vegetables a sweet profile.

Reprinted from the book Ten Dollar Dinners. Copyright © 2012 by Melissa d'Arabian. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.

Recipe: Melissa d'Arabian's Green Morning Smoothie

An omelet with everything! We folded in cheese, ham, and home fries but cut out more than half the calories.

Recipe: Healthier Hearty Omelet

Related: Variations on the Classic Omelet

This breakfast combines protein, fiber, and healthy fat to give you energy all morning long.

Recipe: Whole-Grain Toast with Yogurt and Pistachios

Rich, delicious sardines not only contain more of the good stuff (omega-3s, calcium) and less of the bad (mercury) but are a sustainable choice. Mashed with canola mayonnaise in a sardine salad, they are the foundation of a formidable tower of nutrients, including sliced avocado, hard-boiled egg, tomato, and arugula.

Recipe: Sardine Salad Sandwich

A cold, healthy, and refreshing berry smoothie. You won't taste the spinach!

Recipe: Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie

Related: 5 Pie-Inspired Smoothies — So You Can Drink Your Dessert, Too

Chef Quinn Hatfield cooks big batches of pearled barley and quinoa to keep in his refrigerator for this hot cereal, which comes together in minutes. He also uses the grains in salads. The mixture of cinnamon and chopped dates makes this breakfast nicely sweet — no extra sugar needed.

Recipe: Three-Grain Cereal with Dates and Cinnamon

Enjoy this quick orange-berry parfait for a light, no-cook dinner, breakfast, or snack.

Recipe: Cottage Cheese Parfait

This tasty pinto-bean dip recipe will wow your friends and family in no time when you use canned beans.

Recipe: Pinto-Bean Dip

Related: Perfect Salsas, Dips, and Spreads

Leslie Needleman, co-owner of  The Gem in Dallas, came up with this recipe to help give her extra energy and vitamins during a round of chemotherapy.

Recipe: The Radiant Glow

Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, sardines are a "brain food". Simply grilled with salt, atop toast, they're a tasty pleasure.

Recipe: Fresh Sardines on Grilled Bread

These healthful snack bars are packed full of whole grains, fruits, and nuts. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe: Fruit-and-Nut Energy Bars

Related: Grab It and Go: Homemade Energy Bars