Abandoned your 2017 healthy resolutions? It’s never too late to get back on track and start off the year re-committing to a healthy lifestyle of fitness and nutritious meals. Creating healthy breakfast habits will make you feel energized and empowered to keep making healthy food choices all day long.
Not required:
- hours of meal prep
- 100 % certified organic, non-GMO ingredients
- food scales
- lots of cash
If you feel like you’re over your head, unsure how to keep from drowning in a pool of junk food, processed sugars, strange-o orange Doritos, start small.
Start with breakfast!
Anybody can make these first 3 family-friendly breakfasts, even the greenest college bachelor whose mama never involved him in meal prep. Brother of mine, here’s lookin’ at you! *wink.*
Each of these simple, hearty, healthy breakfast ideas makes a great breakfast on it’s own but could easily be paired with a hard-boiled egg, handful of almonds, or piece of fruit with almond butter to make it even more substantial.
And every one of these healthy breakfast options can be prepped the night before so you can wake up and E.A.T.! Bonus points if you program your coffee maker to brew java right in time for breakfast too.
Chow down!
Overnight Oats
This simple soaked oats breakfast has been a huge time-saver for me. Best part? It’s a no-recipe breakfast.
My five-year old’s school is a peek around the bend, but somehow we always struggle with getting her there on time. Overnight oats, to the rescue! All you need is a vessel, oats, milk of choice, and whatever fruits, nuts, or spices you’d like to add.
If you’re looking for an even creamier option, go Swiss and make Bircher Muesli. Just combine equal parts milk and flavored yogurt and pour into the oats along with chopped fruit. In the morning, wake up to breakfast, already made!
Two great resources to get you started as a guaranteed overnight oats advocate:
- How to Make Overnight Oats Without a Recipe from Food52
-
Make Overnight Oats That Actually Taste Good by Avoiding These Common Mistakes from Bon Appétit
Oatmeal Banana Blender Muffins from Well Plated
Over the past year these have become my go-to breakfast muffins. As the title suggests, all you have to do is measure out all the ingredients directly into the blender and then portion into muffin cups to bake. Super simple!
While I generally just mix these muffins with a wooden spoon, I love that they come out great using quick or old-fashioned oats. You could also make these GF friendly in a pinch! Tweak them to your family’s liking by adding chocolate chips, raisins, chopped nuts, etc. So so good!
My Favorite Green Smoothie from Minimalist Baker
Prep-ahead perfect and packed with flay-vah! Pop the solid ingredients into a baggie the night before and freeze. Come morning, toss it all in the blender, pour in the liquids, and voilá, a hearty, delicious breakfast that’ll keep you going for hours.
I’d serve this nutty, berry blast with a hard-boiled egg for my kiddos who like to chew something at breakfast time too.
Homemade Toasted Muesli from Alexandra’s Kitchen
I’ll be honest. I can’t afford muesli on a regular basis. That’s why this homemade muesli recipe is p-p-p-perfect! It’s a classic blend of grains, dried fruit, and oats. TOASTED. The toasting gives the muesli a perfect crunch and keeps me coming back for more. Midnight snack, anyone?
Wholesome Spiced Carrot Muffins
Husband is a cereal guy. Life-long cereal man who turns his nose up at oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and sometimes even a pancake breakfast. Thankfully I whipped up these delicious wholesome carrot muffins one morning when *gasp!* we didn’t have any more cereal. They’ve been around for a few years now and we still love ’em!
Well, folks, that’s the list. Please share in the comments…
What is your favorite prep-ahead healthy breakfast?
Hugs,
Oh man, all of these look delicious! As soon as our baby is born I’m really going to try and focus on getting what I need to actually lose the baby weight this time, so this helps a lot!
Chelsea, you always look great, and your babies are so blessed to call you mama. Glad to see you around today. Hope your next labor goes smoothly! Take care!
I love these ideas! My college son does overnight oats 2 days a week when he has to get an early start. I tend to do a smoothie.
Laura, it sounds like you and your family are dedicated to great health! I’m sure your body thanks you and so do all your friends looking for sound nutritious recipe advice. Thanks for stopping by.
Oats and nuts are two of my favorite go to’s for breakfast. Yours looks especially delicious. On my to do list.
I really wish I knew how to make myself get hungry for breakfast. I can’t eat until around noon but I know I need to change that. I’m just in so much pain that food is the last thing I want.
Thank you so much for sharing these! I try so hard to stay on top of my healthy eating goals, but it can be really difficult to stick to it on busy mornings.
The Oatmeal Banana Muffins look so delicious! I love how you can just dump everything in the blender. I love shortcuts, especially on busy mornings.
Yep, Alli! That shortcut to muffin goodness is what initially attracted me to the recipe, though nowadays I usually stir them together with no help from my putzy blender.
See are great breakfast ideas. Those blender muffins look really good, and I have been meaning to try overnight oats.
I love to start my day with a smoothie. I will have to give the overnight oats a try. I have been doing pretty good eating healthier this year.
Way to go, Claudia! I’ve got some oats prepped for breakfast tomorrow. Probably will toss in some banana and papaya. What do you include in your morning smoothies?
These are all great suggestions! I love the muffins though. I haven’t braved doing green smoothies lol. I’m pretty picky!
Mmm, muffins are the best! If you try green smoothies, begin with baby spinach. You can’t notice the flavor or texture at all. Pour it into an opaque glass or travel mug and you’ll never even know it’s green 🙂
I have never been a breakfast person. Coffee and orange juice is about all I can take in the morning. I visited a dietician a couple of years ago and she was VERY upset with me for not eating breakfast for like 20 years!
My own mother is the same way. She just isn’t a breakfast person. In fact, drinking coffee and orange juice would be a “breakfast” for her. Hope you find a way to work it in, even if it’s an hour or two after waking.
These are great ideas. Keeping up with my fitness goals, I need to keep my focus in attaining it.
This is a great list! I make overnight oats almost every night – the kids love them and I love that they are healthy for them!
Wow! These all sound good to me. I don’t know which one I like best. I guess it depends on what mood I am in. I would like to try them all though.
Overnight Oats and smoothies are my go-tos. I also want to start making acai bowls in the near future since no places here sell them already made.
I’ve heard about acai bowls, but like you, I couldn’t find them anywhere here. Would love to find a tasty DIY version. Got any recipes to share?
I just need a to keep on my exerciser and diet. Sometimes the weather and busy life makes me unmotivated. I can’t wait for spring to be on track again.
I’m a muffin lover so that is my go to breakfast item. It’s goes perfect with my honey vanilla chamomile tea. I don’t even break a sweat to make it.
those are all very yummy ideas for breakfast (which is my favorite food, by the way!) I’ll have to try a few of these out : )