You hear it all the time: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”. But due to our hectic lifestyles, it’s not always the most convenient meal of the day and, understandably, many people are guilty of regularly skipping their morning meal.
Of course you can last until lunchtime without it, but why would you want to? For example, if you have your evening meal at 7pm and your lunch at 12pm the next day, that’s a whopping 17 hours without food! Remember – food is fuel. It’s a fact that to perform to the best of your ability, whether that’s at work, at the gym or simply chasing after the kids, you need to give your body the energy it needs to keep going.
Here are some healthy and easy breakfast ideas you can prepare in advance, then simply grab and go in the morning:
Overnight Oats
These are currently all the rage with clean eating fanatics, but they are a super convenient and delicious make-ahead breakfast that will keep you full all morning. The basic formula is rolled oats, yoghurt and milk/coconut milk/coconut water, with flavour ingredients to be added afterwards. They are eaten cold, so there’s no wasting time reheating, just grab a spoon and you’re ready to go.
Whether it’s apple and cinnamon, pecan and cranberry, blueberry and honey, banana and maple… the flavour variations are endless, so you can really tailor overnight oats to your own tastes (yes, you can even make a chocolate version!).
See some great variations on overnight oats.
Eggs
We underestimate the versatility of the humble egg; there are more options than frying, poaching and boiling them. They might also be your secret weapon when it comes to a convenient, filling high-protein breakfast.
Microwave eggs are easy to prepare the night before, then eat on the go or at your desk. Simply mix two raw eggs with some cheese and spinach, in a microwavable container with a lid. Then before you leave, or once you get to work, pop them in the microwave (stirring occasionally) for a two minutes (adjust this time depending on your microwave), and voilà! Feel free to add extras like cooked lean bacon/ham, smoked salmon or cooked veggies.
Another handy way to utilise the versatile egg is to bake them in muffin tins with vegetables or whatever lovely ingredients take your fancy, then simply reheat in the microwave as and when you need them. These baked egg muffin cups are great served with brown toast.
Smoothies and Juice
If you’re looking for a super light and portable breakfast, smoothies and juices can be the ideal solution. No one likes the idea of getting up at the crack of dawn to peel, chop, juice and blitz fruit and vegetables – so don’t!
If you find yourself with a rare free afternoon, use this time to get your smoothies ready! Get some really good sealable freezer bags and fill them with prepared fruit and vegetables, seal them and whack them in the freezer. When you’re ready, take them out and blend. You’ll have an ice cold, smooth, fruity breakfast in seconds. Get inspired!
Alternatively, you can make your juices in advance and freeze them. Then they are ready to be defrosted the night before you need them. Easy peasy.
Oatmeal/Porridge
Poor old porridge is often labelled as boring or bland. But if you’re looking for a warming, satisfying breakfast, few things hit the spot on a cold day quite like a bowl of hot, delicious porridge.
Making a big batch will feed several hungry mouths for a few days, and the slow release energy packed into the oats will mean that there won’t be any rumbling tummies come 11am.
Just like overnight oats, you can really mix things up with porridge (or oatmeal). This ‘Carrot Cake Oatmeal‘ is a great example, and is a fantastic winter warmer.
There are hundreds of quick and easy make-ahead breakfast ideas out there, so get researching! Dedicating some time to prepare ahead will not only save you time in the morning, but will give you a yummy boost to start your day!
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