In today’s world, it isn’t too shocking that many of us have problems making time for breakfast. Not only are we trying to quickly get ourselves ready in the morning, but franticly trying to make sure the kids eat breakfast and are out to the school bus on time.
By the time we look at the clock, we barely have time to finish our coffee, never mind make breakfast for ourselves – leaving us catching breakfast at a fast food window or going without.
While we may not be able to help with your time crunch every morning, we can help save your sanity with sixteen nutritional breakfast ideas that are perfect for anyone with a hectic morning schedule.
- Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of nutrition in your body quickly, and they taste great. Try some vanilla soy milk, a banana, a handful of strawberries and ½ cup of uncooked oatmeal (for fiber). Give it a whirl and grab a straw.
- Another version is the chocolate smoothie. What kid wouldn’t want a chocolate shake for breakfast? Mix chocolate almond milk, a banana and 2 tablespoons of natural peanut or almond butter. And here’s a great secret. Did you know you can sneak a small amount of greens into a smoothie? Add a few leaves of spinach for a great nutritional boost, and they won’t even be noticed.
- Homemade trail mix can be mixed ahead of time and stored in individual containers or in a jar in the pantry. Be sure to include a mix of healthy nuts (for protein) and dried fruit.
- Pre-packaged nut packets are also a quick solution when you are short on time on week day mornings. Raw, unsalted nuts are the healthiest.
- Yogurt with healthy cereal. Before you grab those kid-friendly looking yogurts with the mix-ins or green dye, read the labels. You are better off mixing in a cereal like Grape Nuts for added crunch and nutrition. You can also blend plain yogurt with real fruit to avoid the added sugar that comes in fruit-flavored yogurts.
- Frozen grapes or cherries. Not everyone is a big eater in the mornings but some frozen fruit to nibble on during the ride is a great way to wake up their tummy.
- A tortilla can be filled with shredded cheese, thinly sliced apples and microwaved for a few seconds until the cheese melts. It’s tasty, nutritious and fast.
- If you are trying to wean yourself off of a fast food breakfast, try an English muffin with ham and American cheese. If you have time, microwave until the cheese melts. If you have even more time, fry an egg.
- A great way to use up leftovers from last night’s dinner is to add a piece of leftover chicken to a dinner roll with some cheese. Heat and eat.
- Oatmeal with all the fixings is a great, quick breakfast. Prep all the add-ins – nuts, raisins, brown sugar – and have them handy at all times. This breakfast works best for kids that are driven to school. It’s a little tricky to walk to the bus stop while eating out of a bowl. Not impossible, but tricky.
- If your family is big on Saturday morning pancakes, make extra and stash them in the freezer. You can microwave them or eat them frozen (kid friendly). You can serve them with syrup or spread them peanut butter.
- Homemade granola and milk is another great to go breakfast for the car ride.
- Better yet, turn that homemade granola into homemade granola bars.
- Leftover mostacholi is a healthier alternative to cold pizza and quite popular with kids. Plus, there is nothing easier than cold, leftover noodles to serve for a breakfast on the go.
- Bake banana bread or zucchini bread on Sunday to make your Monday mornings go a little smoother and tastier.
- Make super-simple pumpkin muffins on Sunday to grab on the go on Monday. Mix a box of spice cake mix with a can of pumpkin, pour into a muffin tin and bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Optionally add an egg, raisins or nuts.
Whichever tips you take, have everything prepped in a drawer or section of the fridge for easy access. Better yet, make sure everyone can get their own breakfast by putting everything in easy reach.
Have your own quick and healthy breakfast idea? Share it in the comments below!
