Keep It Simple: Easy Breakfast Ideas Are The Best
Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, some of the best breakfast recipe ideas contain simple ingredients.
A nutritious breakfast can be as simple as chowing down on a handful of fresh fruits and veggies. Furthermore, studies show that people who eat a good quality breakfast tend to consume more fruits, berries and vegetables (and fewer soft drinks) than those who skip this meal.1 Additionally, these people tend to eat significantly more fiber on days when they have a quality breakfast.2
Here Are Some Of The Best Easy Breakfast Ideas To Try
Try grabbing a handful or two of fresh berries, like fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries. This colorful breakfast is high in vitamin C and antioxidants. Other fruity options include apples (high in fiber) and bananas (high in potassium, low in sodium). Due to their high acidity when eaten on an empty stomach, the bananas are best when paired with a low-sugar nut butter, like almond butter.3
Egg Breakfast Recipes
Egg recipes are always an excellent and quick go-to breakfast food. Unlike traditional breakfast cereals, which may be high in carbohydrates and sugar, eggs contain a wide variety of nutrients, including high quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Egg protein – especially egg yolk protein – is also much more filling than other protein sources, especially when cooked with a variety of fresh vegetables.4
Gruyère, Bacon, And Spinach Scrambled Eggs
The classic breakfast egg dish is scrambled eggs. While this is a perfectly easy, nutritious breakfast, why not upgrade to something a bit more novel? Just add some Dijon mustard, salty bacon, melty cheese (preferably Gruyère), and a bunch of green leafy veggies to your eggs for a tasty treat.5
Green Eggs And Ham
For a more traditional version of scrambled eggs, but with a whimsical twist, try this recipe for green eggs and ham. Blend raw eggs and spinach in a blender (with salt and pepper to taste) and cook. Then, add a slice or two of warm ham on the side.6
Sweet Potato And Kale Frittata
Ever eaten a frittata? A frittata is an egg dish with added vegetables. It is similar to an omelet, in that both are made of eggs. However, an omelet is cooked quickly at high heat, while a frittata is cooked slowly over medium heat. An omelet is served while hot; a frittata is often enjoyed cold or at room temperature. The gist of this recipe is the mixture of onions, kale, sweet potatoes, and almond milk, which is then baked in the oven. The best part is that you can mix and match various pairings of veggies, including chard and leeks; cherry tomatoes, basil and zucchini; and baby spinach, scallions and feta.7
Classic Omelet And Greens
Finally, don’t underestimate the elegant simplicity of the classic omelet. First, saute an onion, then add eggs, salt, and butter and fry on the skillet. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, and some baby greens, and toss onto your omelet.8
Smoothie Recipes
Some of the best quick breakfast ideas are smoothies. In addition to providing a high dose of liquid nutrition, smoothies are also super simple to make: simply throw a bunch of ingredients into a blender (preferably high speed) and blast away for up to 60 seconds.
Green Smoothie
How about a tasty 5-ingredient green smoothie? Just combine kale leaves, frozen mango chunks, unsweetened almond milk, and low-sugar peanut butter (or any other nut butter) for an easy green smoothie.9
Frozen Berry Smoothie
Among the many healthy breakfast ideas that you can make is this antioxidant-packed summer smoothie that uses frozen berries. The frozen berries make the texture a bit thicker, like a milkshake, while chia seeds add omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and more antioxidants.
The smoothie consists of plain yogurt, frozen mixed berries, chia seeds, and unsweetened almond milk. If you like your smoothies even thicker, just add some ice to the blender.10 Prep a couple of extra servings ahead of time to freeze for another next day, too.
Oatmeal For Breakfast
Oatmeal is one of the most classic and ubiquitous hot breakfast foods. If you want to up your breakfast game, learning new ways to use oats is a great place to start.
Oats are a nutritional powerhouse: a whole grain with important vitamins and minerals, like phosphorus, thiamine, magnesium, and zinc. They’re also a low-glycemic source of carbohydrates and a high source of fiber. Oats contain beta glucans, a soluble fiber that has been shown to help slow digestion, increase fullness after eating, and suppress appetite. Oats are also known to help support healthy blood sugar levels.11
Basic Oatmeal
The quickest way to use oats is to make oatmeal on the stove. Boil some water, then add instant rolled oats (which should cook in about 1 minute). This simple breakfast recipe pairs well with fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Overnight Oats
A quick, no-cook alternative to stove-cooked oatmeal is overnight oats. This meal can be prepared with an equal amount of old-fashioned oats or rolled oats (not instant), nut or plant milk, any chopped fruit (like banana or apple), and some plain Greek yogurt. Combine into a jar and shake well, then store in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. The result will be a nutrient-dense, satisfying breakfast with a pudding-like consistency.12
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats are oat groats that have been sliced into pieces by steel blades. They’re less processed than rolled oats. They have a deeper flavor and richer texture than other types of oats.
Steel-cut oats take a ridiculously long time to cook on the stovetop or crockpot. But in an Instant Pot, these oats only take 25 minutes from start to finish. You can start them when you wake up and they’ll be ready to eat while you’re still getting ready for work. You can make one big batch and reheat them for additional breakfasts. Just add water or unsweetened almond milk (or a 1:1 ratio of both), salt, cinnamon, and a hint of raw honey to the pot. Cook on high pressure for about 4 minutes.13
Grab And Go Breakfasts Can Be Fun
Realistically, no healthy meal plan should be without some quick breakfast ideas. They don’t need to be boring, either. For your morning meal, consider choosing from a wide variety of egg recipes, simple smoothies, oat recipes, fresh fruit, and more.
With a little bit of planning, a nutritious and hearty breakfast is just a few simple steps away. The best part is that with a little planning, you could reduce a week’s worth of frenzied and busy mornings into a series of great 5-minute breakfast ideas.
Learn More:
Try These Healthy, Satisfying, And Low Sodium Snacks
Quick Guide To Easy And Healthy Appetizers
Brew Your Own Tea At Home With This Fresh Ginger Tea Recipe
Sources
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5133750/
2 https://blackeoejournal.com/2017/11/arent-people-eating-breakfast/
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468882/
4 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/breakfast
5 https://www.eatthis.com/ways-eating-breakfast-helps-to-lose-weight/
6 https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/beauty-and-health/10-fruits-eat-morning-better-weight-loss/
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4632449/
8 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a35036945/gruyere-bacon-spinach-scrambled-eggs-recipe/
9 https://eatingrichly.com/green-eggs-and-ham-recipe/
10 https://www.consciouslykosher.com/blog/chard-and-leek-frittata
11 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a35036897/classic-omelet-and-greens-recipe/
12 https://www.self.com/recipe/5-ingredient-green-smoothie
13 https://www.spendwithpennies.com/our-favorite-berry-smoothie/