Hi friends! As you know, I’m a fan of food that’s easy and fast to make – especially in the morning. So I’m sharing some tips and recipe inspiration for quick & healthy breakfast ideas!
I like to keep my morning meals quick (and I’m guessing most of you do, too). But even when you’re in a rush, it’s important to actually eat something for breakfast. Preferably something that will keep you full and energized until lunch!
Tips for Quick & Healthy Breakfasts
I’ve worked with so many nutrition clients who skip breakfast because they say they don’t have time, but skipping breakfast can actually set you up for overeating and sugar cravings later in the day. (See also: How to Get Rid of Sugar Cravings.) Plus, making a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to take all morning – or even more than a few minutes. So, I present to you: my best tips for fast weekday breakfasts!
1. Let the Microwave Do the Work
You guys know utilizing the microwave is my favorite way to make fast weekday breakfasts! Here are some healthy breakfast ideas & tips for prepping them:
- Poach eggs in the microwave (that’s right!) – here’s what to do: Add 1/2 cup water to a microwave-safe bowl or mug. Crack an egg into the bowl and make sure it’s completely submerged. Cover the top with a small plate and microwave for 1 minute on high. Check it and continue cooking in 15 second increments if you like it firmer! Remove using a slotted spoon or fork and you’re good to go! I love the runny yolk on avocado toast – here are some of my favorite avocado toast recipes. 🙂
- Another egg idea is a microwave egg sandwich: whisk 2 eggs in a bowl and microwave until fully cooked through (about 1 minute or so), then toss the egg patty onto a sandwich or into a wrap with avocado, salsa, and baby spinach!
- Make my Flour Free High Protein Pancake in the microwave. I recently discovered that this recipe works really well in the microwave – just combine all of the ingredients in a shallow, wide bowl, microwave until firm (about 3 minutes), then add your favorite toppings! It’s a huge time saver for one of my favorite filling breakfasts. I usually top mine with berries and nuts, and occasionally yogurt for added staying power.
- Or: make my Perfect Microwave Banana Oatmeal, of course. 🙂 My #1 favorite quick microwave morning meal!
2. Meal Prep: Make a Healthy Breakfast in Advance
Doing a little prep work in advance can go a long way for making slightly more elaborate breakfasts as quick and easy as possible! Here are some tips for prepping in advance to make your morning routine go faster than ever:
- Chop extra veggies when you’re making dinner. Save the pre-chopped veggies in the fridge to easily add to omelets in the morning.
- Make your own oatmeal packets by measuring out 1/2 cup dry oatmeal into bags with a dash of cinnamon and a tablespoon or two of flax or chia seeds for healthy fat and staying power. Or, there’s always instant oatmeal – just make it with milk to give it more staying power, and add some healthy fat like nut butter or flax/chia seeds!
- Hard boil a bunch of eggs. Then, enjoy the eggs all week as a portable protein source! Pair a couple eggs with a banana, a handful of nuts, and a whole milk latte for a more filling but still easily on-the-go feast!
- Make smoothie packets to keep in the freezer. Add frozen fruit, greens, nuts, seeds, and protein powder (optional) into bags or reusable containers so that you can just add them into the blender with liquid in the morning. If you make several packets at once, you can mix & match ingredients so that you don’t end up with the same smoothie every day. Check out my Mix & Match Healthy Smoothie Recipes post for flavor ideas – then portion out those ingredients ahead of time!
3. Let Your Breakfast Make Itself: Overnight Breakfast Ideas
You can also skip out on the cooking all-together by letting your fridge do the work for you while you sleep! Overnight oatmeal and chia pudding thicken up overnight to create a filling breakfast that gives you plenty of room for creativity. Try mixing together a few days worth of different flavors options and keeping them in the fridge so that it doesn’t feel like you’re eating the same thing every day for breakfast! Check out my Overnight Oatmeal Six Ways post for the perfect base overnight oatmeal recipe and some of my favorite variations. I also love layering fruit and yogurt in jars for grab-and-go breakfasts; just add a handful of nuts to the jar before heading out the door to make sure they keep their satisfying crunch.
4. Cook Breakfast Once, Eat All Week
Just like you can do the prep in advance for smoothies and omelets, you can cook your whole breakfast in advance for the fastest grab and go meal ever! Here are some of my favorite make-ahead breakfast recipes already here on the blog:
- Hard Boiled Egg & Cheddar Muffins (gluten free)
- Red Lentil Granola Bars (vegan)
- Baked Oatmeal (gluten free)
I hope you find these tips and healthy breakfast ideas helpful!
What are your tips for making fast weekday breakfasts? Have you tried any of these ideas?
Related posts you might enjoy:
- How to make a quick and healthy weeknight dinner (oldie but goodie!)
- 7 Common Nutrition Myths (that you shouldn’t be fooled by!)
