Alright breakfast haters, this one’s for you. I’m determined to make you a breakfast can’t-live-without-er.
You don’t need me to tell you to eat a healthy breakfast. You’ve heard it a million times.
Why Eat Breakfast?
I’ve told you before that eating a snack or breakfast within an hour of waking up is important to kickstart your metabolism, which has been in rest mode while you’ve been recharging with some shut-eye. You’ve also heard that people who eat breakfast maintain healthier weights than those who do not. Of course you also know that people who are regular breakfast eaters perform better at school, work and play.
You get a gold star if you eat breakfast even though you aren’t hungry when you wake up, or if you don’t have any time, or if you don’t care for breakfast foods.
For those of you who are starless, I’m with you that breakfast is the one meal that can feel less than inspired. I mean, you’re already yawning in the morning because, well, it’s morning. You shouldn’t be yawning because, well, toast. Again.
In an effort to add some excitement into your morning food routine, teach you how to eat healthy and maintain a balanced diet, and turn you into a breakfast lover, I’m giving you some easy breakfast ideas. So easy, that you’ll be out of excuses not to eat brekkie. Feeling challenged? Good.
Look, breakfast may never be as exciting as finding 20 bucks in your back pocket, but, hopefully this will bring a little glimmer to your 6 a.m. self.
Think of it like beauty sleep, but for your belly.
Easy Breakfast Ideas
Egg Breakfasts If You Have No Patience To Make Eggs
Easy microwave eggs: You want to eat a healthy diet, but there’s no chance of turning on your stove while you’re still wearing pajamas? No problem. Spray the inside of a ramekin with cooking spray and crack an egg into it. Zap in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and voila! If you have leftover vegetables from dinner, toss them into the microwave at the same time on a separate plate and splash with a little hot sauce. Delish!
Make-ahead eggs: On Sunday night, pull out your 8 x 8 pan that you usually reserve for brownies. Coat it with cooking spray and pour in a dozen eggs, scrambled with a little water or milk. Preheat oven to 350 F and bake for 20 minutes. Let it cool and cut it into nine pieces. When you wake up, take a piece out of the refrigerator and put it on a plate. Get showered, dressed and ready. It takes about 20 minutes to come to room temperature and requires no additional heating. Pair it with a cup of fruit sprinkled with a tablespoon of flax and you are good to go. The best part is that this simple recipe makes 9 servings, so you can feed a family easily.
Prep you hard-boiled eggs: Make a bunch of hard-boiled eggs over the weekend. Put your eggs in a pot and just cover them with water. Bring the water to boil on high heat. When the water boils, turn off the burner and leave the eggs in the water for 10 minutes. Take them out of the water and peel them under running cool water. When you are ready to eat them, they’re ready to go, so make them interesting. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a high-fiber cracker. Top with your hard-boiled egg and favorite seasoning (paprika, wasabi, cayenne) or fresh herbs.
Dairy Breakfasts If You Are So Over Yogurt
Add some ricotta or cottage cheese to your morning: Getting tired of the same ole yogurt? Substitute the yogurt with ricotta cheese or cottage cheese. You can go in a savory direction by adding leftover steamed or sautéed vegetables and tossing it in the microwave. You can also make it sweet with a quick grind of cinnamon or cocoa powder and a drizzle of agave, and serve with melon for a delicious start to your day. Or, you can use the ricotta as a condiment by topping a slice of high fiber toast with a tablespoon of nut butter and a tablespoon of ricotta. Yum!
Kefir, anyone? While Kefir is technically yogurt, it may not have made it into your fridge yet. Kefir is more tart and tangy than the average smoothie or yogurt drink, which might surprise your taste buds. Have a cup of Kefir with a ½ cup of steel cut oats cooked in water and 10 almonds. The whole breakfast will take minutes to prepare, but will keep you satisfied without feeling too full. And who doesn’t love a breakfast that can be pronounced 10 different ways?!
Whole Grain Breakfasts That Aren’t Boxes of Cereal
Muesli magic: Muesli is a really misunderstood food. People never know what to do with it (or how to spell it), but it’s delicious, so I’ll make it easy for you. Tonight, take ½ cup of whole oats and whatever you think would be yummy with oatmeal (flax, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, etc.) and add a couple of teaspoons of it to the oats. Mix with 1/4 cup of milk or yogurt and toss into the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, it’s ready to go. I prefer it cold (although you could heat it up if you wish). It’s delicious with berries or a little bit of honey.
Ancient grains are the new rage: Instead of oatmeal, make a bowl of hot quinoa, spelt, barley, or farro. Make it just as you would make oatmeal, but use the 2:1 liquid-to-grain ratio that you would for rice. (You can use water or milk as your liquid). Stir it until it boils and comes to your desired consistency. For an added boost, toss in some flax, chia seeds or hemp. A dollop of yogurt on top makes it really satisfying.
OK, there you have it. Nobody likes a hater, so pull up a chair and join Team Breakfast. We welcome you with open arms, no matter how grumpy you are before coffee.