Breakfast has been touted as the most important meal of the day. While sleeping, we drain our bodies’ glucose reserves, so that by morning, our bodies need something to rev up the system, like a battery needing a jump. Countless studies have been done that link skipping meals with weight GAIN- and let’s be honest, you’re just less cranky when you’ve had a good breakfast (I’m referencing something more like breakfast in bed, rather than coffee and doughnuts on the run). I’m sure for most of you, having a leisurely, healthy breakfast in the middle of the work week is just not going to happen. And when those overly-energetic Morning People ask, “Why don’t you just wake up an hour earlier,” I usually answer with my best Ross Perot via Dana Carvey: “Not gonna do it. Not gonna do it.” So how do us sleepy-eyed, shrivel-tailed morning types get what we need? Well, I’ve dug up a couple quick, easy, healthy breakfast ideas that rank really low on the Pain-in-the-you-know-what Meter.
LHP Cookie Oatmeal
If you were tuned in for the 21 Day Healthy Breakfast Challenge, you got a great 5 minute oatmeal breakfast recipe from Life’s Healthy Pleasures. This super simple breakfast packs a lot of the necessary nutrients you need to get your day started:
Prep Time: 5min
Level of Awake: “Muuuuuuwwwhhhh”
Pain o Meter: Pat on the Bum
Ingredients
3 Life’s Healthy Pleasures Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup water
Preparation
1. Bring water to a boil in a small pot
2. Crush cookies into pot, stir for 20 seconds
3. Remove from heat, enjoy within 20 minutes
Notes:
- If you’re ambitious, you can add fruits to this. Think blueberries for brainfood, bananas for power, and/or apples for a hearty crunch.
- If you’re more Bobby Flay than Rachel Ray, Dr. Oz has a recipe for steel-cut oatmeal here.
Peanut Butter Toast
This is one that I personally do. Can’t go wrong with a classic:
Prep Time: 5 min
Level of Awake: Hardcore Bed Hair
Pain o Meter: Bug Bite
Ingredients
Honey Peanut Butter (preferably all natural and ground right in front of you)
2-3 slices of French bread
1/2 Banana
Pinch of Cinnamon
2 oz Almond Milk
Preparation
1. Place slices of bread in an over or toaster over to toast, approx. 3 minutes
2. While bread is toasting, slice banana.
3. Spread peanut butter on toast, top with banana
4. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
5. Use almond milk to wash it down.
Notes:
- Substitute your favorite kind of bread.
- If you aren’t lucky enough to have a grocery store where you can buy freshly ground peanut butter, avoid the major brands; they’re full of high fructose corn syrup and all kinds of other stuff.
- If you can’t find a nice honey peanut butter, you can always drizzle honey over top. Be warned! You might find yourself smiling in the morning if you do that.
Quick Healthy Breakfast Taco
Here’s a recipe from eatingwell.com for a quick breakfast taco:
Prep Time: 15- 20 min
Level of Awake: Pre-Coffee
Pain o Meter: Pinch on the cheek
Ingredients
2 Corn Tortillas
1 spoonful Salsa
2 pinches Shredded Cheese
1 egg or 1/2 cup Egg beaters
1 capful olive oil
Preparation
1. Put cheese into tortilla and microwave until cheese is melted (about 25-30 seconds)
2. Put olive oil into a medium skillet on medium-high heat
3. Crack egg into a bowl, scramble using a fork or whisk
4. Pour scrambled egg into heated skillet, stirring until egg is cooked through
5. Add egg to tortillas, top with salsa.
Notes:
- I wouldn’t personally ever use egg beaters, because I avoid processed foods. I use only free-range, antibiotic and hormone free eggs, because happy hens make better eggs!
- Some people do not enjoy the texture of corn tortillas. Flour tortillas can be substituted for corn instead. Always check the packaging; you’d be surprised what they sneak high fructose corn syrup into these days.
- Adding meat to the dish ramps up the Level of Awake and the Pain o Meter. If you wan to keep it healthy, go with a lean meat and avoid sausage or beef.
- Substitute nutritional yeast for the cheese for an extra healthy kick
Apple Butter French Toast
This one’s a bit more ambitious from orangy.in
Prep Time: overnight
Level of Awake: Morning News
Pain o Meter: Slap on the wrist
Ingredients
¾ cup egg substitute
Pinch ground cinnamon
6 slices French bread
2/3 cup fat-free milk
¼ cup apple butter
2 tbsp thawed apple juice concentrate
2 tbsp toasted and slivered almonds
½ tsp vanilla extract
Preparation:
1. Spray non-stick cooking oil into a 9 inch square baking dish
2. In a bowl, mix apple juice concentrate with egg substitute, vanilla and milk. Pour mix over bread. Turn bread to coat.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until edges turn golden brown in color.
6. Sprinkle almonds over top.
7. Mix apple butter and cinnamon together and serve with French toast.
Notes:
- I know, I know. This one requires forethought. But, the toast can be baking in the oven while you’re snoozing a bit. Plus, with all the prep done the night before, you don’t have to be very awake at all to accomplish the final steps.
- Once again, I personally won’t use egg substitutes. I don’t believe in margarine either. If it’s a question of processed vs. natural, I’m going natural.
