Chances are, no one needs to convince you that a healthy breakfast is worthwhile. Or to tell you that whole grains -- with their high-fiber, nutrient-rich resumes -- deserve to be a bigger part of your diet.

Among hot-cereal options, classic oatmeal is the shoo-in, and deservedly so. But barley, cornmeal, farro, millet, quinoa, and wheat berries -- grains that are usually confined to lunch or dinner (if they're considered at all) -- can also be turned into satisfying hot breakfasts that have old-fashioned appeal. Try these combinations of hearty grains and healthy, tasty toppings to stir up your breakfast.

Aside from being healthy, these grains are great comfort foods: Cooked like oats, they turn into warm bowls of deliciousness you can customize each day. The cereal can be fluffy or porridgelike, scattered with colorful, crunchy toppings (including fruit and nuts), and made creamy with swirls of milk.

Farro, for example, has a great chewy texture that goes well with crunchy walnuts and slices of soft banana.

This whole-grain cereal is good for instant breakfasts and portable snacking. The pistachios can be swapped out for hazelnuts, dried cherries -- even dark chocolate.

Warm up with a bowl of fiber-rich barley topped with dried cherries, raspberries, and almond milk. 

These steel-cut oats are nuttier, tastier, and healthier than prepackaged oatmeal. Top with dried fruit or nuts for the perfect breakfast.

Barley has a nice, chewy texture, with grains that hold their shape. For a healthy breakfast that feels decadent, scatter bits of dark chocolate on top.

Millet grains form a soft, gluten-free breakfast porridge with a slight crunch. Coconut and pineapple give the dish a taste of the Tropics.

Spoon into this hot breakfast full of protein, fiber, calcium, and vitamins D and B12.

Black quinoa (like red) has a firmer texture than the white variety, and makes a great alternative to breakfast cereal. Soft avocado provides a great contrast.

All of these grains are abundant in the plant-based nutrients that may lower the risk of heart disease, help to manage blood sugar, and reduce cancer risk, says Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. And because the grains are good sources of fiber, they keep you feeling fuller longer. That's a particular asset at breakfast, when you're priming your appetite for the day.

This style of oats holds its shape better than rolled oats. Sweet-tart fruits add jolts of flavor.

Start the morning off right with multigrains topped with fruit and toasted hazelnuts in this healthy and delicious hot cereal.

Top creamy steel-cut oats with banana, dates, and flaxseed for an irresistible morning meal.

Some grains can be prepared different ways to create different textures -- fluffy, like a rice pilaf, or creamy, like a porridge (such as the Breakfast Quinoa shown here). To make the perfect breakfast cereal, experiment with both types and see which you like best.

Sprinkle, spoon, or slice these picks over any cereal.

• Avocado: The fruit's ample stores of "good" fat can help lower cholesterol.
• Banana: This cereal favorite provides a wallop of potassium.
• Coconut flakes: These dried chips offer a bit of fiber. Buy them unsweetened, and use sparingly since they contain some saturated fat.
• Dark chocolate: Flavonoids (a kind of plant chemical) in dark chocolate may reduce heart-disease risk.
• Dried apricots: In their concentrated form, apricots pack impressive amounts of potassium and iron.
• Dried cranberries: These tangy treats contain anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant.

• Flaxseeds: The seeds are a great source of the kind of fatty acid that may protect heart health. Grind before using or buy them ground.
• Nuts: All types are rich in cardio-healthy unsaturated fat.
• Orange: Citrus segments supply substantial amounts of vitamin C. 
• Pepitas: Also known as hulled pumpkin seeds, pepitas deliver protein and the antioxidant vitamin E. 
• Pineapple: This golden fruit offers a respectable amount of vitamin C. 
• Pomegranate seeds: The ruby dots are surprisingly high in potassium and contain disease-fighting antioxidants.

Regular milk? Soy? Yogurt? Every option has its benefits.

• Rice milk:This lactose-free drink is often fortified with calcium and vitamin D. It has fewer calories than regular milk.
• Soy milk: Low in fat and a good source of protein, dairy-free soy milk is often supplemented with calcium and vitamin D too.
• Skim milk: Nonfat milk has about half the calories of whole and next to no artery-clogging fat. It's a good source of protein and calcium.
• Low-fat Greek yogurt: This creamy yogurt has more protein than the milks shown here and also delivers a nice hit of calcium.
• Buttermilk: Tangy buttermilk is high in protein but not calories: Low- and nonfat types are comparable to their milk peers.
• Almond milk: This dairy-free milk, which actually tastes like the nut, is very low in calories and high in protein.