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Do you struggle with finding enough healthy breakfast ideas like I do? I hope the following list will help, but be sure to check back in the comments below, I’m hoping many of you will share your best healthy breakfast ideas, too!
First, if you’re sick of trying to figure out what is “good for you” and what is “bad”, or which foods are healthier alternatives when grocery shopping, check out the new Real Food Ingredient Guide! (Only $5.)
photo by Or HiltchSince writing Monday’s post about breakfast cereals (and another one “What’s wrong with breakfast cereals?”), and especially after reading Shauna’s comment there, I’m re-thinking whether we should go back to not buying any boxed cereals again, Kashi or not, extruded or not. With boxed cereals, we’re spending a lot more money for a lot less nutrition…doesn’t make sense. If it weren’t for my complaining teenager, it wouldn’t be as big a deal. The others just happily eat whatever I put in front of them, my husband included – he’ll eat whatever we have here, and thankfully is completely on board with our goal of eating healthier. But our oldest is not as easy to please (not unusual for a teen, I know) and loves a bowl of cereal now and then. More and more, I’m going to focus on the healthier options below…as a matter of fact, I’ve got some oatmeal “soaking” right now for breakfast in the morning! (See the post at the oatmeal link below if you don’t know what I mean by “soaking” – and don’t worry, not long ago, I didn’t have a clue either.) Update: see this recipe for homemade healthy breakfast cereal!
Is there such a thing as a healthy breakfast juice?
10 HEALTHY BREAKFAST IDEAS:
Note: some of these are carb-heavy, so if you’re watching your carbs, beware. Also, read the comments at this nut bar post about why eating carbs, fat, and sugar together can cause insulin spikes and stop fat burning.
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Healthy AND tasty waffles/pancakes recipe – serve with real maple syrup. Be sure to freeze extras to pop into the toaster on busy mornings for a quick breakfast. You could serve these with some farm-fresh sausage or bacon. (With no MSG or nasty preservatives.) ***Here is a blender batter pancake recipe that incorporates more varied grains and is 100% whole grain, and yummy, too! Here’s a pancake/waffle recipe using sprouted grains.
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Organic Oatmeal – you can make extra of this, too, and warm it up the next day for another fast breakfast. Also, try Sue’s baked soaked oatmeal recipe. Or this homemade healthy breakfast cereal!
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Healthy Egg Recipes – we eat a lot of eggs with cheese or egg sandwiches. Our favorite recipe at this post is the “french toast frittata” – it’s fast, easy, and everyone loves it.
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Organic Homemade Oatmeal Bars/Granola Recipe – this one is great not just for breakfast, but for a quick snack anytime.
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Good ole’ toast is best with whole grain fermented or sourdough breads (here’s info on my homemade bread) with things on top like organic peanut butter, plenty of butter, organic or homemade jams with less sugar, raw local honey, etc.
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Whole milk yogurt – even better: homemade raw milk yogurt. Remember, it’s not easy to find something other than low-fat yogurt, but whole milk products are much healthier! (I buy Stonyfield or Brown Cow brands.)
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Certain breakfast cereals as a “compromise” food – read this post on breakfast cereals for more information. Also, check out the recipe for Graham Cakes in the comments at that post, too.
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Sometimes if we’re on the go or if the kids aren’t in the mood to sit down long enough to eat breakfast, they’ll just have some cheese and/or dried fruit, like organic raisins.
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OK, I know I said 10, but here’s one more that I added later: Gail’s Healthy & Easy Breakfast Burritos
- And another one: Judy’s breakfast casserole
- Don’t forget about breakfast meats, like bacon or sausage, from a local farm who raise their animals well, or from another source for healthy meat.
- Try this quick Real Food Protein Drink that isn’t made from an unnatural protein powder but instead it’s made with traditional, superfoods!
- What a great idea for make-ahead sausage, egg & cheese biscuits from Megan in the comments at another post: I know it can be hard having breakfast on the table every morning before the hubby leaves. This is what works perfectly at our house. I make up a batch (12-14 at a time) of soaked, whole wheat biscuits. I then cook a lb of sausage (shaped into patties) from a local farm and a dozen or so free range fried eggs. I then assemble them and freeze (I was really unsure of how the fried eggs would taste after being frozen, but it works just fine). Every night before we go to bed we take one out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw. In the morning he just pops it in the toaster oven with a small slice of cheese and he has a very filling, homemade breakfast ready to go every morning even if I’m not up yet. This has made such a difference for me knowing that I don’t have to get up even earlier than him every morning ( I have a toddler and another one on the way). I know, I know, it would be even better if breakfast every morning involved fruits and veggies; but we’re getting there, one step at a time.
- See #5 at this how to make foods ahead post for fast fresh-baked muffins in the morning.
- I’ll add this one from the comments (forgot to include it with the original post): homemade ice cream for breakfast! Obviously the kids love it, and the ingredients are so good for them – with less sugar than they’d have on a pancake!
These ideas aren’t just for breakfast. We’ll often have blueberry pancakes or egg sandwiches when we need a quick dinner…or for those times I forget to make anything until it’s 5:00 and Kent is on his way home!
WHAT BREAKFAST IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO SHARE? Please comment below!
- Where to Buy Real Food
- Have you ever fed 5 kids a healthy breakfast in 5 minutes?
- Healthy Fast Food Alternatives
- Avoid hot lunch – send in healthy school lunches!
- Feeling overwhelmed with healthier eating? Take a breath, relax, and scroll down through the Rookie Tips.
- Read the update at this post about the Coconut Oil Deals
- Where to find healthy meat that isn’t full of garbage.
- There have been some new comments (and great questions) recently at this Kombucha Tea post.
- Many more topics & recipes along the right in the sidebar
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
My oldest had a hard time giving up the cereals too. He’s the one who would eat 3 bowls in a sitting!!! He’s fine now eating eggs. He has discovered his favorite way of making his eggs and cooks them himself now. He like a bacon/onion/cheese omelet! (I keep extra bacon, crumbled on hand, and a little container of extra chopped onion and shredded cheese on hand for eggs. I use so much of it cooking – if I chop an onion, I just chop extra for the egg container… same with shredding cheese – I shredd all my own cheese.)
You might suggest to your teenager that they use their own $$ to stock their cereal. I’ve told my kiddos this before: “With our grocery budget, this is what I’m providing the family…. if you’d like something different, feel free to finance it yourself!”. That usually changes their mind, OR if it’s important enough to them and they want to pay for it, that’s fine too.
Oh – we like cinnamon toast for a treat and quick breakfast too. I don’t ferment my grains, but I do have a mill, and don’t use any white flour in my breads….. that’s “my” compromise. None of us have grain allergies, and we consume all our bakery items in the form of my homeade, freshly milled baked goods….. works for us. I will use sucanat, or a little bit of cane juice crystals on the cinna toast. It’s a treat.
Shauna
Shauna, great suggestions on the omelets and keeping ingredients chopped and ready. I especially like the idea of having him pay for his cereals…that seems to curb his desire for a lot of things!
I love the idea of having older kids pay for their own treats. Growing up we got one box of sweetened cereal on Christmas morning and it was such a treat.
Here are a few more ideas for you: muffins are quick and easy and can be a good, healthy choice. Breakfast burritos can be made in bulk ahead of time and frozen and reheated. Be sure to check the ingredients on your tortillas though. I’ve also got a recipe we love that mixes cheese, milk, crumbled breakfast sausage and Bisquick, to make a sort of biscuit that reheats great and is so tasty and filling.
I’m hungry for breakfast now!
Hi Rainy PM!
Thanks for the great ideas! One question though: does anyone have a homemade bisquick-type recipe for a healthier baking mix? I know I’ve seen one somewhere, but can’t remember where.
Kelly
My sons love, love, love breakfast burritos. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, salsa, cheese, beans, whatever I’ve got on hand usually does the trick. Their other favorite is: pumpkin pie w/loads of whipped cream. Nothing like a large helping of beta carotene for breakfast!
I’m normally really good about reading labels. I can’t believe I let Bisquick get by me. That stuff is scary, I’m glad you said something! I found a couple of recipes for bisquick substitutes on cooks.com and recipezaar.
Thanks for the heads up.
Hi Marina,
Your pumpkin pie for breakfast story reminded me of something else I’ll give the kids now and then: homemade ice cream! The ingredients are so good for them, with less sugar than they’d have on a pancake!
http://www.kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/10/best-vanilla-andor-chocolate-ice-cream.html
Great ideas for breakfast. We usually have oatmeal, and cereal is a “treat” every once in awhile. Lately, it’s the kids have been eating it more than I’d like. Thanks for the reminder.
It’s easy to slip into that habit, for sure. So what I’ve been doing lately is only getting the Kashi cereals now and then when I see them on sale. When I bring them home the kids cheer – if only they’d do that over oatmeal!
Yes, cereal is evil. We have boxes and boxes of it. My middle son sets out all the makings for the smoothie the night before, blender, banana,protein powder etc. He has it down to a science and I’m grateful. Now to get the other two boys off cereal and on the smoothie train!
Great tips! Thank you for sharing.
Audra,
First, I LOVE your name!
That’s awesome that your one son is all organized the night before and makes his own smoothies! For a healthier protein than the powdered kind, we drop in 1 or 2 egg yolks. Be careful not to try this with grocery store eggs, though – only use eggs from a good farm with pasture-fed chickens that aren’t fed any junk. You can’t even taste them, but I love knowing how much extra nutrition we’re getting!
Kelly
Where is the recipe for Graham cakes?
Lorraine,
In the breakfast cereals link in #9 above.
Great recipes! Thank you so much for participating. I usually have cereal around for those “in case of emergency” days, but I am rethinking that too. My kids are always starving by 10 am when they eat cereal for breakfast.
Toni
We have been on the WAP diet for roughly 2 years now..always raising the bar
“magic broth” and “oatmeal soup” are some favorites..to the magic broth [just your basic NT broth] add some alphabets…somehow this clinched it for our now 5yo…and reheating oatmeal in broth for the oatmeal soup with some creme fraiche added to both seals the deal.
I make an absurd amount of oatmeal and broth for a family of 4…basically can’t seem to make enough
Kelly–your recommendations on a grain roller for the oatmeal? I understand that even organic oatmeal that you get at WF can be nutritionally dimished at best and rancid at worst. Any insights into a costeffective way around this…grain rollers and grain grinders are so expensive!
Hi Maryanne,
I’ve never heard of oatmeal in broth! We’ll have to try that.
Sorry, but I don’t have a clue about grain rollers for oatmeal – maybe someone else out there knows? Now I’m curious, too…
I do think my grain grinder/mill is worth the money though, I use it all the time! (http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/11/nutrimill-for-really-fresh-homemade.html)
We have oatmeal a lot in the mornings. Other things we have (if I am organized the night before) are -
Bean and cheese burritos (made ahead, warmed up)
WW bread spread with CO, honey & cinnamon, toasted
Left over dinner : )
Soup in the crockpot (warm when we wake)
My mom taught me that the a.m. is sometimes the best meal to get veggies into a hungry tummy….so soup is usually welcome by the kids.
Hmmm, I’d never thought of that, but it’s a good idea!
My parents had us pay for our own junk cereals if we wanted them…Mom would buy unsweetened cereal for the family, but rarely junky stuff.
Why worry about a roller? Steel cut oats are really yummy, anyway.
If you do really want one, http://www.lehmans.com is the place to check.
If I’m really in the mood for cereal, I make my own with oats and nuts and maple syrup. I mix the oats and nuts with just enough cereal to make it sort of stick to gether and toast it in my toaster ove until its a nice color. THen pour milk over it and it really hits the “i want cereal” spot!
Sorry to be commenting again but I need to correct all of the nasty spelling errors in my previous comment.
If I’m really in the mood for cereal, I make my own with oats and crispy nuts like almonds and pecans and maple syrup. I mix the oats and nuts with just enough maple syrup to make it sort of stick together and toast it in my toaster oven until its a nice golden color. Then I
pour milk over it and it really hits the “I want cereal” spot!
It is very convenient for when you have a plumber in your kitchen and you can’t access anything but a toaster oven, refrigerator, and a few cabinets, kind of like mee right now. However because the oats aren’t soaked I wouldn’t recommend it for normal occasions, just emergencies when your only choice is between boxed cereal and this.
I was excited to see this post and all the other great info you have on here. We are preparing to begin a gluten-free, casein-free diet for our family. We have two boys with asthma, eczema and allergies and we are excited to see how this diet will help improve everyone’s health. I think breakfast will be the hardest change for my boys as we eat too much cereal right now. Thanks for all the great info!
Megan’s last blog post..Marlboro Man Sandwich
Wow, Megan, good for you – you’re doing the very difficult thing for the good of your family. Be sure to get on some Yahoo groups for some good support to help you through. Those Moms have been there and can give you lots of advice.
I’ll say a prayer for you that it goes more smoothly than you could ever imagine!
Kelly
We like to have farm fresh eggs and homemade whole wheat toast for breakfast. I make my own jam/ preserves but my recipes use a ton of sugar! (So do many of our canned fruits. To what extent can i cut the sugar out (my husbands family likes things really sweet) and what would make a good substitute? Would Stevia work for sweetening those. Would it mix into applesauce evenly? I think our canned fruit uses sugar as a preservative too and I don;t want to compromise the preserving power.
Rachel,
I wish I knew how much you could cut sugar when canning, but I haven’t canned things yet…soon I hope.
When it comes to other things, though, you can A. experiment with reducing sugar – you’ll have to see how little you can get away with in your family, and B. in the meantime switch to healthier alternatives – Stevia is good, but only for a few things in my experience. You can read more here:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/04/all-about-sugars-the-good-the-bad-the-disgusting.html
p.s. For applesauce I use maple syrup, it’s sooooo good.
For Rachel-I have used stevia while canning grape juice. My oldest daughter doesn’t like the stevia aftertaste but it tastes fine to me. For jam making I use the “no sugar” box pectin and then I add an optional one cup of sugar. It is still sweet but you can taste more fruit flavor than when you add the typical three cups of sugar to a regular box of pectin.
And here is my healthy breakfast idea contribution: Core and cube one large apple (or equivalent), add a handful of raisins, chop a handful of walnuts (or other nut) and add, drizzle with raw honey. Mix. Eat. A sprinkle of cinnamon could be a variation.
Susan
Another note for Rachel-I can my applesauce with no sugar. I use a very naturally sweet variety (Golden Delicious). Quarter them and cook them in the oven in a large covered roasting pan and water to cover the bottom. Keep the oven low, 200 degrees or so, and check on them in an hour or two or three. Then I scoop them out and put them through my Victorio Strainer. Bring the sauce to a boil and can.
Sooo, if I can do it without sugar, I am pretty sure you could do it using stevia. I am pretty sure the sugar is only for flavoring cause I know diabetics can can without sugar. Maybe you can check on canning for diabetics to be certain.
Susan, love your breakfast idea. I do something similar for a tasty snack now and then: apples or other fruit, crispy pecans, parmesan cheese. I loooove this.
Kelly
You know, Kelly, if you’d come over, and fix it, I MIGHT eat crispy pecans w/ pamesan cheese….and fruit. hahaha…It just sounds like “oysters” sounded to you.
I love ALL those ingredients tho.
Susn/Kel: Per your experience w/ Stevia and cooking w/ it, I’m taking your suggestion, Kel and NOT adding it to my oatmeal dish. I have never cooked w/ it: why start now? What am I saying?? sigh. The truth is I don’t cook a lot. My husband likes to cook: he cooks. I must send him this site.
I do however, “cook” my breakfast and lunch…he fixes dinner. And I was getting bored…Whenever I get bored I get MORE NT!! LIke I fix bacon…after recovering from [still am] low fat dogma, I can’t tell you how happy lovely bacon makes me chuckle. Who could have guessed?
And, I just started buying ghee from a woman in my NT monthly potluck group. Now that is something else. I had no idea it was so tasty. I had it in India years ago: I like this ghee better…if memory serves me right. I just put it on my veggies after cooking them briefly. Heavenly.
Thank you for writing about what to eat for breakfast. I love waking up hungry and rummaging around for what I want to try next.
Love you guys mucho!!! YOU ROCK!!
Hugs….
Karen, husbands who love to cook are GREAT aren’t they?!
And I’m with you, I loooooove my bacon – it’s the perfect crisp with my morning eggs so I don’t even miss the toast!
TRUST ME on the fruit, parmesan and crispy nuts, then add some bacon to make it *really* dreamy.
Thanks SO MUCH for linking back to this – I really need to clean up our breakfast eating. My 3 year struggle with insomnia means that mornings aren’t my best time, so I rely on too much quick junk. I linked to this in my weekly roundup, and also why we shouldn’t eat breakfast cereal, the baked soaked oatmeal, homemade breakfast cereal, and it reminded me to dig out Sarah’s Musings (now heartland Renaissance)’s grain free granola.
Can you give me an off-the-top-of your head suggestion? I bought a dehydrator for my birthday/mother’s day gift. It is similar to an Excalibur (though Cabela’s brand) except it only came with one tray liner, and it’s more to catch drips than to do things like make fruit leather or dehydrate oatmeal. Any thoughts? Or suggestions on where to poke around? Thanks!
Susan’s walnut-apple-raisin mix sounds delicious — and nutritious. I often eat a jigh-fiber “salad” of walnuts, pecans, celery, and red bell peppers.
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