Breakfast-healthy Options

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 Hiltch

Since 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.

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.
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!
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.
Organic Homemade Oatmeal Bars/Granola Recipe – this one is great not just for breakfast, but for a quick snack anytime.
Smoothies – I freeze any extra in popsicle makers for a treat later. These are a great way to get more coconut into your diet, too.
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.
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.)
Fresh fruit – preferably local and organic.
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.
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.
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!