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I’m sure you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whether you are fueling for a busy day at work or for a lazy Sunday, breakfast should not be forgotten or dismissed. Aside from being the first meal of the day, breakfast is the first intake of food in a long period of time. That 8-hour (hopefully you have managed to sleep that long!) fasting period will make your body try to absorb as many nutrients as possible, which is why it is so important to choose a healthy breakfast, with a high nutritional value. Here are 16 quick and easy breakfast recipes you can make ahead to ease your morning stress.
Along with a solid morning routine, a healthy breakfast helps your overall mood for the rest of the day, boosting your energy levels so you can start your day with a bang!
These recipes were chosen with 3 objectives:
- To eliminate the stress factor of preparing breakfast in a busy morning (most of these can be made in advance!)
- To urge you to EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!
- To help you kickstart your day with energy and with a meal that will keep you full for hours (BONUS!)
Let’s get on with it.
1. 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Energy Bites
These are super easy, no-bake energy bites, will last for a week and you can even freeze them if you aren’t able to eat all of them within seven days (doubtful, really). And the best part is they’re super versatile as you can switch ingredients at your own taste.
I personally dislike flaxseed. The large amount of fiber makes me gassy (too much information?) and also I discourage you to use it as powder, since it is quite toxic to our bodies. If you must eat flaxseed, eat it whole. There are a number of ingredients you can use instead of flaxseed. Kelley, from Chef Savvy suggests wheat germ. Please try these with cranberry. Kelley recommends it, and the tartness of the cranberry tastes awesome with the sweetness of the chocolate and peanut butter mix.
As Kelley, pointed out, these are loaded with protein, fiber and healthy fats. The best ingredients to keep you full for hours and to keep you away from undesirable nº 1 (processed snacks, not Harry Potter).
2. Apple Nachos With Peanut Butter And Chocolate
Another peanut butter-based breakfast option. And, I mean, you can’t go wrong with peanut butter! Kelly, from Trial and Eater melts the peanut butter in the microwave to make it easier to drizzle on top of the apple slices. Genius! You can replace the peanut butter with other nut butters. Although in my opinion nothing beats peanut butter, smooth, runny, organic, all-natural peanut butter, almond butter is a bit of a favorite of mine. Or you can forget about the calorie intake altogether and just replace the nut butter with Nutella!! Or, just a thought, why not both?
3. Apple Crumble in a Glass
The. Best. Yummiest. Greatest. Breakfast option for colder days or days when you just need that extra coziness. For a less fattening option, replace the whipped cream with non-fat Greek-style yogurt. Maybe you can skip the whipped cream and eat it while it’s warm. According to Julie from Kitchen Stories, you can refrigerate it once it’s prepared and save it for later (or tomorrow). Yay for meal preps!
4. Superfood Breakfast Cookies
The tastiest, healthiest cookies that will keep you satiated and full for hours, eliminating the need of unnecessary snacking. These are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free AND guilt-free! They are a great option for an ‘on the go’ style breakfast and are packed with fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. As Joscelyn from Wife Mama Foodie points out, you can take the cookies with you for a morning or afternoon healthy snack alternative. Give them a go!
5. Make-Ahead Baked Oatmeal
As the name suggests, you can make this recipe in advance and then reheat every portion as you need, either in the oven or the microwave. The best thing about this recipe is that it’s super versatile. You can add every topping you want or just leave it plain. Allison from Celebrating Sweets adds a variety of berries, or banana and chopped walnuts. Similarly, you can replace the milk with almond milk, coconut milk or another vegetable milk option of your choice. Personalize this recipe at your own taste.
6. Overnight Oats Five Ways
First of all, these easy-to-make-ahead oatmeal bowls are perfect for busy mornings when you need your breakfast ready and waiting to be devoured. As Jaclyn, from Cooking Classy explains, overnight oats are prepared in advanced and left to sit in the fridge until you are ready to eat them. She suggests a resting period of 8 hours for best texture, the minimum being 4 hours.
The great thing about overnight oats is the base is always the same and you just add variations as you please. In this recipe you can find combinations such as banana-almond-flax, pumpkin pie, berry-chia seed, chocolate-peanut butter and apple-autumn spice. Abide by Jaclyn’s knowledge and, if you want nuts in your oats, add those in the morning for that extra crunch.
7. Breakfast Banana Split
Ice-Cream-for-breakfast. I rest my case. But seriously, Chellie from Art From My Table notes how this is a kid-friendly breakfast option, but I think this is likewise a great choice for adults. You can replace the frozen yogurt with regular yogurt making it faster and easier to prepare and just as delicious. A nutritious everyday breakfast option.
8. Breakfast Granola Fruit Tart
This recipe is a fresh new take on the traditional granola bowl. The tart base is breakfast granola and the filling is Greek yogurt. You can top the tarts with fruit and berries or add any toppings you like. Jessica, from Jessica Gavin suggests almond, soy or coconut yogurt, or for more of a dessert feel, try these with custard of lemon curd. If your option for toppings is fruit, don’t forget to pick seasonal fruit to ensure the best flavor! So if you mornings are as busy as mine, just bake the granola tart bases the night before and put everything together in the morning.
9. Oatmeal Blueberry Yogurt Pancakes
These pancakes only take 10 minutes to make, total, as the batter is mixed in the blender. Due to being gluten-free and rich in protein, fiber and antioxidants, this is another breakfast option that will make you full for hours. Totally worth the 10 minutes prep time. Monique from Ambitious Kitchen uses Siggi’s yogurt, which is actually skyr, an Icelandic-style non-fat yogurt, with a higher protein content.
You can find skyr in a variety of flavors or just plain natural flavor. Make sure you get the non-sugar options, like Siggi’s to make it even healthier! For the sweeter tooth in your life, try it with vanilla flavored skyr and replace the blueberries with chocolate chips (don’t tell anyone I said this).
10. Blueberry Cheesecake Crumb Cake
Another great recipe to make in advance and eat throughout the week. For added richness and decadence, Vera from OMG Chocolate Desserts adds equal parts cream cheese and mascarpone cheese to the cheesecake filling. It is totally acceptable to replace the mascarpone cheese with the same amount of cream cheese, but you might want to add a little extra vanilla extract just to maintain the richness factor. The tartness of the blueberries goes so well with the cheese cake filling you will feel like eating a little drop of heaven. Warm your portion in the microwave just for a few seconds and you will literally soar in delight.
11. Breakfast Egg Muffins
The savory option in this list is so versatile. You can make these egg muffins in advance and warm them in the microwave, or take them to go. Add them to your lunchbox with a bit of a side salad and fruit for dessert. And, the filling options are endless! While the ones in the recipe are made with bacon, cheddar cheese and spinach, you can try as many fillings as you want, such as grated carrots and broccoli for a vegetarian option, or onions, bell peppers and tomato for a Mexican twist. You name it. The possibilities are endless! Sara, from Dinner At The Zoo advises to keep the muffins in the fridge for up to 3 days, reheating for 30 seconds in the microwave whenever you need a portion. Or you can freeze them for up to two months.
12. Freezer Smoothie Packs
What better way to start your day than with a colorful, healthy, fresh, nutrient-packed smoothie? The packs are made in advance, as far apart as once a month, depending on the variety of your breakfasts, and I totally recommend variety. You just select you smoothie flavor combinations in advance, chop the fruit and veggies, store them in individual portion bags and toss the packs in the freezer. Therefore, when you need to make a smoothie, just add the fruit pack to a blender cup, and pour one cup of milk, juice or your choice of vegetable milk (almond, soy, coconut, you name it). Amber, from Dessert Now Dinner Later freezes Greek yogurt into ice cubes to make the smoothies creamier and to up the protein intake.
13. Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins
Another breakfast muffin recipe, this time on the sweeter side. And you can also bake these in advance as the muffins are a great option to store in the freezer for up to 3 months. The sisters at Six Sisters’ Stuff recommend thawing them in the fridge in order to prevent them from turning bad or hardening and just reheat them in the microwave for that fresh-out-of-the-oven feel. Add a mix of dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips for that extra kick.
14. Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Comfort food for breakfast. What’s not to love? Don’t be discouraged by the amount of carbs you will be eating, as it is supposed to be a breakfast dish and you will end up spending the fuel from those carbs throughout the day. Just make sure you resist the urge to have this casserole for lunch and dinner. Ashley from Wishes And Dishes makes this casserole for breakfast, brunch, and to take along in showers. You can substitute the blueberries with any fruit of your choice, it will always be delicious!
15. Double Berry Breakfast Parfaits
These parfaits are super quick and easy breakfast option, high in fiber, protein and with natural sugars. You just have to layer the ingredients in a clear glass (for pretty sake). For added fiber, toss in a pinch of chia seeds. Amanda from Food Fitness Faith suggests adding a bit of honey and cinnamon for added flavor,
16. Almond and Raspberry Coffee Cake
A great option for making in advance, this breakfast cake is sweet, moist and goes great with your morning latte or afternoon cappuccino. Valentina, from Valentina’s Corner adds this cake is ideal to serve for breakfast, brunch or as a dessert or snack. Raspberries are a great source of antioxidants, which combined with the healthy fats present in the almonds, make for a superfood-charged breakfast. Feel free to replace the raspberries with any other berry or mixed berries and the almonds with walnuts or hazelnuts. Want just a little more decadence? Maybe instead of powdered sugar, just drizzle melted white chocolate on top.
Oatmeal is a great option for breakfast, which is why you have found a couple of recipes in this blog post that ask for it. It is high in fiber and protein, which keep you from feeling hungry for hours and eliminates the need for extra snacks. Your body and your wallet will thank you for that. In adition, it is also rich with vitamins and minerals that are essential to a lot of important body functions and memory processes.
These breakfast recipes were chosen based on their nutritional value and how each could simplify your life. Whether these are quick to make or can be made in advance, each recipe is easy and saves you the time and energy you should be spending elsewhere.
Have you tried any of these quick and easy breakfast recipes? Leave a comment to let me know which ones and how it simplified your mornings!
Until next time.
