Rise and Shine: Quick and easy breakfast ideas to start your day right
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day…
I think every meal is important!
The food we choose to eat has the biggest impact on our health because we eat so much of it! On average, we each eat about three pounds of food every day.
That adds up to about 80,000 pounds a year.
80,000 pounds of food every year. Holy kale!
That’s incredible because that means that we have SO much opportunity to either help prevent disease or encourage it.
Yep, there are only two choices. Food either supports the body’s ability to prevent disease or contributes to it.
When put into that perspective, it easily changes how you view the food on your plate!
This is also really good news because it gives us the power back! We are no longer sitting back and waiting for disease to set in. We are actively preventing it! Woohoo!!
Toot toot! 🚂
That’s the prevention train, and I saved you a seat. Are you hoping on board?
Back to real life here for a sec.
I know what you’re thinking…
“But Lindsay, I don’t have time for breakfast. I barely have time to put on matching shoes let alone cook a gourmet meal.”
I got you!
First, I’m not asking you to spend hours in the kitchen every morning. Second, I’ve done the work for you! I put together 10 ideas for quick and easy breakfasts that don’t even require a recipe!
Don’t have time to read the full article? No worries. I got you! Click here and I’ll send you my FREE cheat sheet with my Top 10 Digestive Superfoods. Easy-peasy!
10 Quick and easy breakfasts to grab on your way out the door:
Avo Toast: Toast two pieces of bread (I love real sourdough or sprouted grain), spread half an avocado across the two pieces. Top with Everything Bagel seasoning, fresh chopped herbs, or red chili flakes. If you’re feeling extra fancy, top with a poached or boiled egg.
2. Tomato Hummus Toast: Toast two pieces of bread, spread a tablespoon of hummus on both pieces, and top with a slice of tomato. Finish with sea salt and pepper or Everything Bagel seasoning. Bonus points for using an heirloom tomato straight from your garden!
3. Quinoa Fruit Salad: Mix cooked quinoa (make it ahead of time) with diced fruits like apples, strawberries, and oranges. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of raw honey or chopped mint if you would like.
4. Smoothie: Blend a mixture of your favorite fruits (I like blueberries and mango) with your favorite milk, protein powder, and flax seeds. Add a handful of spinach or kale for more fiber and extra nutrients.
5. Scrambled Eggs or Tofu with Spinach and Tomatoes: Whip up some scrambled eggs or tofu and mix in fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes for a veggie boost. Top with diced avocado for some healthy fat.
6. Banana Protein Pancakes: Mash 1-2 bananas with an egg and a scoop of protein powder. Cook in a non-stick skillet for a healthy take on pancakes. Ok, this one takes a little more time, but it’s soooo yummy that it’s well worth it!
7. Greek Yogurt Parfait: Layer Greek yogurt (I love Greek yogurt made from coconut milk) with fresh berries and a small handful of chopped walnuts or almonds. Greek yogurt contains gut-healthy probiotics plus extra protein.
8. Overnight Oats: Mix rolled oats with your favorite milk, a touch of maple syrup, and a tablespoon of chia seeds in a mason jar or other container. Let it sit overnight in the drudge. In the morning, top with fresh berries. Enjoy warm or cold.
9. Sweet Potato: Dice a cooked sweet potato and combine it with a diced apple and sliced banana. Top with ground cinnamon. Roast the sweet potato the night before while you’re cooking dinner to make this quick and easy in the morning.
10. Leftovers: Who said breakfast has to be sweet? Let’s break the rules and get a little naughty. Last night’s dinner would make a fab breakfast!
Now, you may be wondering, what makes a breakfast “healthy”?
Great question! This could get really complicated. But you know that’s not my jam.
Let’s keep it simple.
I like to aim to include all three macros in my breakfasts – carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Your body runs on carbs, but not the kind of carbs that are in cookies and cake. The kind that’s in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Carbs are not the enemy!
Protein? Yep, you need that, too. Don’t skimp on the protein at breakfast! Otherwise, you’ll be hungry in about 20 minutes. Protein keeps you full.
And fat…you also need to eat fat. Many women avoid fat like it’s the plague thanks to the super unhealthy low-fat diets of the 90s. Not cool.
Eating a very low-fat diet can lead to all kinds of health issues. Did you know you need fat to produce hormones? Low-fat diets can also cause issues with your thyroid. Those are just two common issues that can happen.
Avoiding fat can also cause you to overeat because your “I’m full” button isn’t triggered.
Although fat is fat, fats from avocados and nuts are the healthiest because they help the body. Processed oils or fat from meat is not healthy and that’s the fat we should be limiting.
There. Doable, yes?
Starting your day with a healthy breakfast will set you up for an awesome day! So don’t skip it!
Getting to the BOTTOM of all the nutrition info out there is overwhelming! 📑Figuring out which foods are best for our digestive health is hard to, well, digest. Can I get a kale yeah!?
That’s why I’ve created a FREE cheat sheet with the Top 10 Digestive Superfoods! 👊