It took me many years to get into the habit of having a healthy breakfast. In fact, I only really started eating breakfast late into my thirties. I hated eating in the morning before that and when I did eat anything, it was usually something unhealthy that left me feeling tired later in the day. I often started work first thing and then only remembered to eat when it was well into the afternoon.
However bad my previous breakfast attempts may have been, I have made up for it the past few years by becoming something of a breakfast fanatic. Not in a weird way – just in the way that I cannot skip breakfast without paying the price. The thing that got me into the habit is having a fully balanced, healthy breakfast every single morning.
Try These Easy Healthy Breakfast Ideas
A healthy breakfast is the best way to give your body all the energy it needs over the course of the day ahead. When you eat a good breakfast, you will stay fuller for longer, which will reduce the need for unhealthy snacking, too. You do not have to spend a lot of time and effort preparing breakfasts. Here are my favourite breakfast ideas that can be put together in no time.
Oats.
Oats are loaded with goodness, giving you plenty of energy without the sluggishness of traditional carbs. Although oats contain their own form of gluten, it is not the same as wheat gluten. Oats are gentle on the tummy and fill you up without making you feel stuffed.
I like to add fruit to mine and make my oats in the microwave. I use half a cup of oats to one cup of water (usually from the kettle) and microwave for a minute on high. After taking out and stirring, I sometimes add frozen blueberries before putting the oats back in microwave for another minute. When they are done, I add soy milk, chia seeds and sometimes dried goji berries or fruit berries. Another great variation in winter is grating an apple into fully cooked oats then adding cinnamon and raisins.
Overnight oats.
Another way to make oats in summer is overnight oats. This is quite easily one of the simplest health breakfast ideas to make the night before. What makes this a winner is that it saves you having to do much in the morning, besides taking the oats out of fridge and eating them.
Add a quarter or a half cup of dried oats to a lidded jar, add about three quarters to one cup of your favourite milk, add a tablespoon of chia seeds, add some dried fruit then pop into the fridge.
Loaded muesli.
For a while, I used to make my own muesli from scratch. I must still do that again (it was loads of fun). But now I buy a very good sugar and raisin-free muesli instead. Many mueslis are packed full of sugar, with even more sugar in the dried fruit that is added. A good plain muesli will contain only oats, seeds and nuts, with no added junk.
When you have a good muesli base to start with, you can start adding your own flavours. I keep a large container in the cupboard that I used to mix in muesli with raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds and dried goji berries. I sometimes also add decent dried fruit (the sugar and suphate-free stuff, not the commercial sugary stuff). I can then add fresh fruit and chopped nuts when I scoop out a serving size with the half cup measuring cup I keep in the container.
Quinoa porridge.
This sounded a bit weird when I first saw the idea on Pinterest. I gave it a try once as I had leftover quinoa and I was out of other breakfast options. Quinoa works much like oats. Although it takes a while to cook, it can be prepared in slightly bigger batches and stored in the fridge for a few days.
Like oats or any other porridge or cereal, you can enjoy it with your milk of choice and any other toppings. Fruit works well, along with added seeds and nuts. The taste is subtle and quinoa also has a good protein level, so it gives you a good boost for the day ahead.
Smoothie.
I love smoothies and still make them now and then. The only thing I hate about smoothies is that they can take a while to make. Oh yes, and they also involve a lot of cleaning up. Ok, that is two things. Still, besides the slight effort and the mess, smoothies are great in the warmer months.
I like to experiment with flavours and use natural proteins. Spinach, oats, berries and beetroot are all ingredients I enjoy using (maybe not together). I am a firm believer in eating the rainbow, and find that purple (blueberry and beet), red (strawberry and beet), green (apple and spinach), and orange (peach and carrot) give plenty of colour and loads of power.
Eating right is an essential part of taking care of yourself. When your body is nourished, your mind and soul can also be nourished.
What is your favourite breakfast? Share your healthy breakfast ideas below and let me know.
