5 Minute Breakfast Cheats That Will Change Your Life (Gallery)
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they tell us. But, when your mornings are hectic, and you are typically running out the door it can be impossibly hard to make something that is yummy, healthy, filling, and quick. These morning hacks promise to help you start your day of right!
Grab & Go Egg-Muffins
Mix together your favorite frittata ingredients and then bake in muffin tins. One of our go-to recipes includes spinach and mushrooms.
Ingredients: One 10-ounce package of frozen spinach (drained), four eggs, a cup of your favorite variety of shredded cheese, one 8-ounce package of mushrooms, chopped and cooked, and salt and pepper.
Simply heat your oven to 375, whisk the eggs, and add your mushrooms, spinach, and cheese. Mix it all up, season to taste. Fill a muffin tin, and bake them for about 20-23 minutes. It's that easy!
Smoothie Packs
Fix together your favorite smoothie ingredients: fruit, protein, greens, yogurt, etc. Put them in individual baggies, prepped for the week. All you have to do in the morning is blend and sip.
One popular smoothie, called “the big green monster,” calls for the following:
1 cup almond milk, 1 cup organic kale or spinach, 1 large ripe frozen banana, a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter, and 1 tablespoon of flaxseed.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Make sure you get your protein in by making a big batch of hard boiled eggs. Peel and store.
Supermodel Chrissy Teigen just made news for sharing her recipe for the perfect hard-boiled egg. First, she puts room temperature eggs into a pot and covers them with an inch of water. She covers the pot and heats to a boil. Once they're boiling, she removes the eggs from heat.
She then lets them sit from between two and ten minutes (depending on individual yolk preference), rinses with cold water, and enjoys!
Chia Pudding
Have you heard the healthy benefits of chia seeds yet? They are one of the most nutritious foods out there! Chia seeds contain lots of Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, and other nutrients.
To make an easy overnight chia pudding: Stir together chia seeds and yogurt, and put into the fridge. The chia seeds will expand overnight. Add fruit and eat!
Crockpot Oats
Oatmeal is a heart-healthy staple. Make a big batch of them on Sunday evenings, right in the crockpot. Every morning you can fix it up in a unique way: cinnamon-apple, almond-banana, raisin-walnut, whatever you’re in the mood for that day. Breakfast just doesn’t get much easier than this!
Greek Yogurt Mason Jars
Greek yogurt is full of health benefits: it has twice the protein, fewer carbs and less sodium than regular yogurt.
It can be bought prepackaged, and you can customize with any toppings (fruit, granola, etc) that you like. Put it into mason jars so they’re ready to grab and go!
Mug Omelet
What sounds more appealing than a healthy, fresh-made omelet on a busy morning?
Combine butter, herbs, veggies, cheese (whatever you like, really!) into a mug and microwave for 15 seconds. Then you’ll add in a couple of eggs and a drop of milk. Whisk away and microwave for another minute. Voilà!
Waffle Hashbrowns
Did you know that potatoes are now Whole 30 compliant? That’s great news for those of us who need a little starch to get us energized.
Instead of making your hash browns in a skillet, prepare them in a waffle maker. This way you can let them sit until you're ready to eat!
Waffle Cinnamon Rolls
Did you wake up with a sweet tooth today? Or maybe it’s the weekend and you are having a diet cheat day?
You can also make cinnamon rolls in your waffle maker, for a quicker and more effortless morning treat. Top with icing for an extra-special taste.
Breakfast Bars
Here’s a great prepare-ahead idea for breakfast.
When you have some extra time, perhaps on the weekend, make easy three ingredient energy bars: blend together almonds, pitted dates and dried fruit in a food processor. Press into a thick layer and let chill. Cut into squares, and store in the fridge.
Morning Pastries
This is another make-before-your-workweek-gets-started recipe.
Here’s what you will need: pre-packaged puff pastry (defrosted, if frozen), 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips, water, one egg and a dash of sea salt. Detach your puff pastries into triangles, and roll in the chocolate chips into each portion. In a bowl whisk together the 1TBSP of water, egg and sea salt. Then brush on the mixture, to the pastries, and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Pair with fruit for slightly less guilt.
Protein Bar and Fresh Fruit
This is about as easy as you can get for a quick morning breakfast: stock up on your favorite protein bars and buy a bunch of bananas or apples (or whatever your favorite transportable fruit is).
The ultimate no-fuss, on-the-go breakfast, and it’s good for you too!
Dressed-Up Bagel
Do you love bagels? I know I do.
Make a breakfast bagel and top however you want -- the options are endless. Cream cheese and lox or peanut butter with banana are all surefire winners.
Here’s an on-the-go tip: old CD spindles make for the perfect bagel carriers.
Pancake Batter Pre-Mixed
For an easy, and not messy, pancake breakfast: put your mix into a washed out ketchup bottle so it’s ready for the week.
In the mood for some fun pancakes? For an extra cute breakfast, pour the batter into shaped metal cookie cutters and cook on the griddle.
Avocado Baked Eggs
Avocados are truly a miracle food. They’re super-nutritious, they pack more potassium than bananas, and are chock-full of fiber and healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.
For this healthy breakfast: cut an avocado in half, remove the pit and crack an egg into the half (add spices or herbs to your liking). Bake at 425 degrees, or until it’s to your liking.
Microwavable Muffins
What you’ll need: 1 tsp melted coconut oil, 2 TBSP ripe banana, 1 TBSP beaten egg, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 2 1/2 TBSP whole wheat pastry flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda, dash of salt, 2-3 TBSP blueberries or chocolate chips. Directions: In a ramekin add oil, banana, egg and vanilla—stir together. Then add the dry ingredients, keep mixing and the add in the toppings (chocolate chips or blueberries). Microwave for 60 seconds.
Mug-Microwaved Bacon
Bacon gets a bad rap sometimes, but it’s not all bad (as an occasional indulgence). A lot of the fat in bacon consists of oleic acid, the same fatty acid in heart-healthy olive oil.
If you’re in the mood for bacon, but don’t have a ton of time or want to deal with the splattery mess of cooking it on the stove, simply drape some bacon over the lip of a mug and microwave for a minute.
Yogurt Popsicles
For those hot summer mornings, you probably want a chilly breakfast. Simply blend your favorite fruits (raspberries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries) together with honey or sweetener to your tasting. Then add in vanilla Greek yogurt and mix together, but don’t blend. Add to your popsicle molds and freeze. Yum!
Banana Hotdog
This one may sound a little funny, but it’s delicious! It’s also a big hit with kids, and can be easily eaten in the car on the way to school.
Buy hotdog buns, preferably whole wheat. Toast the bun, smother in peanut or almond butter and then add a banana.
Apple Sandwiches
This easy snack can also double as a healthy dessert for those times you have a little sweet tooth but don’t want to indulge in a high-calorie treat.
Core and slice your apple into circular rounds. On one apple, add peanut butter, honey and granola or rolled oats. Then, top with another apple slice for a mini sandwich.