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Ah, breakfast: the most important meal of the day. To many, it's their favorite time of the day, too, given all the delicious choices you can fix up in the morning, from eggs and bacon to hashbrowns and heavily buttered toast. But wait—can you eat just anything for breakfast, or are there technically some foods you should actually be avoiding?

As you'll see, some of your beloved breakfast staples shouldn't be used as morning fuel, as they can be high in fat, salt, and preservatives. Don't worry, though—we've got healthier recommendations you can swap in. Read on to see how you can start your day right.

Hashbrowns

We know what you're thinking: "If I cook them in healthy ways, can't hashbrowns actually be a nutritious choice?" But the answer really depends. If you're planning to grab hashbrowns on the side at a breakfast diner or from a fast-food joint, however, the best thing to do is to decline them; they'll only add more fat, salt, and calories to your plate.

Homemade options are the only way you should be enjoying hashbrowns if you're craving them, but keep in mind that "homemade" doesn't mean reheating pre-fried frozen patties. While potatoes can be a great source of potassium and other nutrients, the moment they're deep-fried, their nutritional value plummets—which is bad news for you.

Bacon

Yup—everyone's favorite breakfast staple is on the list, and you probably knew it would appear here. Unless you're cooking up strips of lightly seasoned tempeh or mushrooms to mimic the bacon crunch, you may be putting your health at risk by munching on processed meats every morning.

High in salt, fat, and harmful additives like nitrites and nitrates, regularly eating bacon and other highly processed, cured meats can spike your blood pressure and increase your risk of colorectal cancer. Pan-frying them with lots of butter will only make things worse.

Sugary Cereal, Pancakes, and Instant Oatmeal

Here's a good rule of thumb: if it's loaded with added sugar, you should push it to the side. The thing with most store-bought cereals, pancakes, waffles, instant oatmeal packets, yogurt, and other seemingly "healthy" choices is that they're not only sugary, they're also typically made with refined white flour and contain harmful additives (think artificial colors and flavors), making them terrible breakfast candidates.

In the morning, your blood sugar levels may already be high; for those who live with diabetes, this may be due to the dawn phenomenon. Eating sugary foods will therefore only spike your glucose levels even more rapidly, and will put you more at risk of developing heart disease and obesity. To satisfy your cravings, choose healthier, homemade alternatives that aren't packed with sugar, empty carbs, and fat.

Better Breakfast Alternatives

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Okay, so what should you eat for breakfast? Considering that hashbrowns, bacon, and sugary junk are off the table, you might be feeling stumped. But there are plenty of more nutritious alternatives out there, and they're much better suited for helping you start your day right.

Here are some healthier options to try: 

• Plain Greek yogurt with fruits, such as berries
• Whole-grain toast with avocado and egg
• Overnight oats made with Greek yogurt, fruits, and chia seeds
• Apple slices or banana with peanut butter
• Homemade pancakes made with mashed bananas and eggs

You should always make sure to incorporate enough fiber and protein in every meal, but it's especially important for breakfast, considering it'll give you the energy you need to get through your day. If you want to pair your plate with coffee, you're welcome to do so—just make sure you're not turning your cup into a sugary beverage by adding syrup, cream, and full-fat whip.