Getting a good head start on your day means eating a healthy breakfast, but with so many choices, finding smart choices can be confusing. Pancakes are a hearty option, providing a high quantity of carbohydrates and a range of vitamins and minerals, but pancakes are relatively high in fat, calories and sodium.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate scheme recommends you consume at least 8 ounces of seafood each week. Tilapia is a good protein source that fits in the "protein foods" group in MyPlate and is a healthy choice for several reasons.

Zinc is one of the trace minerals that your body requires to maintain optimal health. Even though zinc is an abundant mineral, you can suffer from a zinc deficiency. If you have a zinc deficiency, doctors will typically recommend zinc supplements that support absorption by your body.

An inexpensive source of good protein, eggs are available at supermarkets, health food stores and even gas stations. Egg cartons are stamped with an expiration date or a use-by date, which indicate the last day on which the eggs will have the best taste and the highest quality.

You may refer to them as slow-burning carbs, but they're also known as carbs with a low glycemic index. These types of carbs are digested and absorbed -- burned -- more slowly than carbs with a high glycemic index. Eating slow-burning carbs also keeps hunger away and helps with blood sugar control.

Fish oil is the primary source of two omega-3 fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA -- which prevent inflammation and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eating more vegetables is supposed to be healthy for you and beneficial for your digestive tract. If the ingredients aren’t handled properly or if you’re not used to the fiber surge, however, your plate of leafy greens can leave you with uncontrollable loose stools.

Diet restrictions for vegetarians depend on several factors, including the type of vegetarian diet you follow. Semi-vegetarians sometimes eat chicken and fish, while lacto-vegetarians, lacto-ovovegetarians and strict vegetarians eliminate all meat, fish and poultry, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Although there’s no cure for herpes once you contract the virus, you may be able to manage outbreaks with lifestyle and dietary changes. Stress, for example, can trigger a flare-up of cold sores or genital blisters, and learning stress-management techniques may help with prevention.

If you're looking for an alternative to your usual type of rice, consider jasmine rice. Native to Thailand, jasmine rice is a long grain rice a bit rounder and starchier, which makes it stickier, than other types of rice. Its popcorn flavor and jasmine aroma pairs well with seafood and dishes made with coconut.

Eating medjool dates satisfies your sweet tooth while providing energy, vitamins and minerals needed to maintain overall health. Medjool dates have been cultivated for thousands of years for their sweet, rich flavor.

Shredded wheat is one of many boxes of cereals staring at you from store shelves, and it's actually one of your better choices for nutritional value. Unlike most breakfast cereals, shredded wheat is not loaded with added sugar, and it also supplies good amounts of several key vitamins and minerals.