7 Easy-Prep Healthy Breakfast Ideas

By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Chronicles of Passion & Facebook)   

1) Smoothies – Who doesn’t love a healthy, tasty good morning smoothie?  Whether it is green, some awesome flavour, or just thrown together with whatever fruit you have in the fridge, smoothies are a good breakfast option because you can pack so much nutrition in one drink! You can even add protein powder if you prefer as well as any other superfood powders you have.  (If you are interested in learning more about superfood powders and which ones would be best suited to your lifestyle and nutritional needs, check out this list here). I make my smoothies ahead: put all of the solid ingredients in the blender jar the night before, put it in the fridge and then in the morning, just add liquid and blend. I’m a big fan of green smoothies (like this one!), but sometimes I like to mix it up with flavours and try some others. If you need some guidance on creating the best smoothies (both tasty and healthy), have a look at this post. And then start prepping! 

2) Smoothie Bowls – Lately I am all over smoothie bowls.  They’re not as convenient if you need something to walk out the door with, but if you still have time to eat breakfast at home in the morning and just want to prep the night before, these are definitely by go to. And these are good for lunch too!  The night before, just whip up your ingredients in a blender/food processor and put in a bowl, cover and pop in the freezer. Before you leave for your workout in the morning, or when you get up, set it out on the counter to thaw.  When you come back, just top it with all the things you desire and you’re good to go.  Here’s a recipe and directions to get you started! If you want it for work at lunch, skip the thawing part in the morning and take it to work frozen. Take it out to thaw around 11 or 11:30 and it will be delicious by noon!

3) Overnight Oats/Oatmeal – I have only made overnight oats a handful of times (I’m more of a smoothie for breakfast kind of girl)!  They work great, and are definitely a good quick breakfast option seeing as they are all ready when you wake up.  Alternatively though, you can just prep all your oatmeal goodness in a pot the night before, and the next morning, add water and cook.  I usually take large flake oats and put them in the food processor so they are smaller and cook faster, then add in some chia seeds, flax, cinnamon and hemp hearts and prepare that all in a pot the night before.  In the morning, I add water, banana and some frozen berries and set it to cook.  Takes 5-10 minutes and it’s piping hot and delicious.  

4) Oatmeal bake – This one is great to make in a big batch and have all week long!  I will sometimes make this on the weekend in a big dish and then leave it in the fridge. Each morning, you can just cut a piece off, heat it up if you prefer, and then top with fruit, nuts/nut butter, hemp hearts, whatever you like and you’re all set. Try this delicious fall recipe for Caramel Apple Buckwheat Bake if you’re looking for a place to start. 

5) Green Juice and Fruit – This is one of my go-to breakfasts when I feel like I need a really great health boost in the morning.  I have a juice every day, and then on many mornings, I enjoy a big mid-morning fruit salad. It gets me my fruit servings for the day, and honestly, I love fruit salad!  I prepare the juice bowl every night, by cutting everything up and putting it in a bowl in the fridge. In the morning, I just run it through the juicer and I have fresh juice for the go! I love to make green juices, or this sunshine juice. Likewise, if I know I want to take fruit with, I cut it all up and put it in a container in the fridge so that in the morning it’s all set!

6) Protein Bars/Energy Bites – I try to make sure I always have homemade protein bars or energy bites in the house. I make a batch on the weekend and leave them in the fridge to grab all week long. Not only do they make a good quick brekky, with a smoothie or some fruit, but they’re good also good for pre and post workout refuel, or for if I know I will be having dinner late and need something healthy to get me through the afternoon!

7) Breakfast Cookies, bars and cake – Want to have cookies for breakfast? How about cake? You totally can! When I know I have a busy week coming up and I need to have breakfast ready ahead for most of the week, I whip up a breakfast cake or some breakfast bars on the weekend. I slice them up and wrap them individually in the fridge so that in the morning, all I have to do is grab and go. The key to these is making sure they are a combination of protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates, and low in sugar. This ensures that they actually fuel you and keep you full, and aren’t just a sugar laden treat. I usually pair them with a piece of fruit and it’s a great balance breakfast. Try out these healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars to get you started!