Breakfast. The most important meal of the day. Also, the one most likely to be skipped in the mad rush of trying to get everyone out the door and off to school/work/daycare.
I am a big believer in the power of a healthy breakfast to kick start your day on the right foot. However, I’m also very guilty of completely forgetting about breakfast on a regular basis until about 10:30 am when I realize I can barely focus on anything other than my grumbling, starving belly.
I’m working to make breakfast a priority again. But I’m not really interested in filling up on a sugary bowl of cereal, a waffle from the toaster, or any of the usual quick and easy and loaded with sugar and preservatives breakfast options. I’m looking for real food that will provide me with real nourishment and energy to tackle the demands of my day. I’ve gone on a search and compiled the yummiest and healthiest breakfast options I could find.
Some of these will take a bit of advanced planning but are still very quick and simple options. You might whip up an oatmeal bake on Sunday afternoon to eat all week or you might throw together some overnight oats or chia pudding just before bed, but nothing on this list should take more than 5-10 minutes out of your morning routine, so you can eat healthy while in the rush.
Green Smoothie
In the summertime, green smoothies are my go-to breakfast option. I do find it a little harder to want to drink an icy beverage on cold winter mornings, but smoothies are so easy and delicious when the weather is warmer. Check out my Green Smoothie 101 to get started.
Protein and/or Meal Replacement Shake
Similar to smoothies, there are tons of options for powders to mix with water, milk, or even juice that are quick and easy options when you’re really pressed for time. When I’m teaching in the kid’s ministry area at our church on Sunday mornings I tend to always grab an Advocare Meal Replacement Shake as I’m running out the door since it is by far the fastest option.
Chia Seed Pudding
Either make this the night before or really early in the morning as Chia pudding does need some time to set. But there are tons of different flavor combinations you can make. This is a lot like eating dessert for breakfast (think tapioca pudding), but the health benefits of chia seeds and the fruit mix-ins are tremendous. The sky is the limit on what to mix in your chia seed pudding, but here are a few recipes to get you started. (You can use whatever kind of milk you prefer, non-dairy varieties, straight up whole milk, goat’s milk, and everything in between.)
Creamy Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Seed Pudding
Overnight Oats
Similar to Chia Pudding, you’ll need to throw this together the night before, but it only takes a couple minutes. These can also be very healthy depending on what you decide to mix in, and again, the sky is the limit. You can also mix oats and chia seeds to have the best of both worlds.
Strawberry Vanilla Overnight Oats
Maple and Brown Sugar Overnight Oats
Healthy Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Smoothie Bowls
Similar to a green smoothie that you drink, a smoothie bowl is a slightly thicker option that you eat with a spoon. Most people top them with extra berries, nuts, or seeds. Check out this post for the low down on options for making your own smoothie bowl creations.
Oatmeal Bakes
This is one of my favorite options. For some reason, I’m not a huge fan of a regular bowl of oatmeal, but I love oatmeal bakes. I think the texture of an oatmeal bake is better than a soupy bowl for me. I usually make a big pan on the weekends and eat it all throughout the week. I top each serving with a big dollop of plain yogurt to give it some extra creaminess (and protein). This is my go to recipe for an oatmeal bake. Sometimes I double it so it lasts longer. Usually, I make it with blueberries, but I have been known to switch things up and make it with other berries or apples and cinnamon.
Salad with Sunny Side Up Eggs
Don’t knock it till you try it. I kept seeing someone (I can’t remember who) posting breakfast salads on Instagram and I just could not imagine how it could be appetizing until one morning I was feeling uber healthy and tried it. Not bad. The key is to keep your egg yokes runny to act as an extra dressing. Yum!
Take a couple big handfuls of salad greens, top with your fried eggs (sunny side up or over easy only or you’ll be sad!), throw on some flavored feta (garlic and herb or tomato basil feta are my favorites), and maybe a little drizzle of dressing if you really like saucy salads. Just try it.
Breakfast Burritos
There are tons of make ahead freezer options for breakfast burritos. But if you have 10 minutes it is really simple to scramble up some eggs and load them in a tortilla with spinach and cheese. Bonus if you had some chopped peppers and onions in your fridge that you can mix in with your eggs. Easy peasy and keeps you full for hours.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Since my husband works third shift I’ve been spoiled the last few weeks. He has been getting home from work and making me eggs benedict and homemade “Egg McMuffins” and other breakfast sandwich concoctions. Some breakfast sandwiches are a little too involved for a rushed weekday morning, but there are several make ahead freezer options to try. And throwing a fried egg on some toast with cheese and lunchmeat really only takes 5-10 minutes.
Egg Scramble
Take some time over the weekend to chop up some veggies like peppers, onions, broccoli, and anything else your heart desires. You could also cook up sound ground sausage or crumbled bacon. In the mornings you just have to pour your veggies in a pan with some eggs (and maybe a handful of shredded cheese) and you’ll have a delicious egg scramble in about 5 minutes.
Sweet Potatoes
I read somewhere that sweet potatoes were extremely healthy and beneficial for runners, so I decided to try and incorporate them into my meals more often. One morning I baked a sweet potato in the microwave, then opened it up, poured on a healthy serving of plain yogurt, a drizzle of honey, and a heavy sprinkle of cinnamon. It is now one of my favorite breakfast options.
Today’s Action Step
So what is your favorite healthy breakfast option? Let me know in the comments. Take a few minutes to jot down some new ideas for breakfasts for your family and slowly start experimenting to find new favorites.
Additional Resources
Need some dinner ideas? Check out my post on 50 dinner ideas to help with your meal plan.
Muffins are also a yummy breakfast option, here’s a recipe for my Lemon Coconut Poppyseed Muffins.
Looking for more help in the kitchen? You might want to consider a dinner delivery subscription like Green Chef
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