15 Healthy Breakfast Ideas
If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast, you’ve come to the right place. Because, as tempting as croissants and donuts and bagels are… let’s face it, most of the time it would be awfully tough to call them “healthy.”
But, that doesn’t mean you should be stuck eating plain oatmeal or egg whites every morning for breakfast either. There’s a happy middle ground filled with quick, easy breakfast ideas that will make your stomach and your taste buds happy.
What Is a Healthy Breakfast?
A healthy breakfast is a balanced breakfast. According to Beachbody’s Senior Director of Nutrition, Denis Faye, M.S., a balanced breakfast is “one that has a mix of carbs, protein, and fat.” That mix can vary a little depending on your needs and goals. “If your goal is to stay satiated, you may benefit by upping the protein and leaning more toward eggs, Greek yogurt, or a protein drink like Shakeology as a part of your breakfast,” says Faye. “On the other hand, if you’re working out within an hour or so or you’re super active and burn through a lot of calories every day, you might try a breakfast higher in carbs. Waffles, anyone?”
Protein-based breakfast foods include: Eggs, Shakeology, meat, tofu, and yogurt.
Carb-based breakfast foods include: Oatmeal and other grain-based foods such as whole-grain pancakes, muffins, and waffles.
Carb-Based Breakfast Options
1. Slow Cooker Banana Bread Oatmeal
Set and forget this slow cooker breakfast made with steel-cut oats, bananas, flaxseed and spices, and in the morning you’ll wake up to a fiber-rich meal. Portion Fix containers: 1 Purple, 2 Yellows, ½ Blue, ½ Orange
Just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t have waffles. Because a world without waffles… just no. This recipe is a pretty classic waffle recipe with whole wheat flour swapped for standard all-purpose flour, but the addition of flax seed takes its healthy factor up that extra notch. Make them ahead, freeze, and pop one in the toaster when the waffle craving strikes. Portion Fix containers: 2 Yellows, 1½ tsp.
3. Baked Oatmeal Cups with Raisins and Walnuts
Oatmeal cups are a great grab and go breakfast and the carb-forward cousin of the egg bites below. Like with those, make a dozen ahead of time and heat up in the morning before going to work. Portion Fix containers: ½ Purple, 1 Yellow, ½ Blue
4. Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes
With 13 grams of protein per serving, these could technically fall into the high-protein breakfast selections below. Either way, they’re light and delicious. Portion Fix containers: ½ Purple, ½ Red, ½ Yellow
5. Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon
One of my favorite oatmeal recipes is apples and cinnamon, but this slow cooker recipe takes it to the next level with steel-cut oats and a touch of maple syrup. It’s worth the wait. Portion Fix containers: ½ Purple, 2½ Yellow
6. Multi-Grain Banana Pancakes
Warm, fluffy pancakes. Yes please. If you don’t tell anyone these pancakes are healthy, I won’t. At 280 calories and 10 grams of protein, these could easily become a weekend staple. Did someone say brunch? Portion Fix containers: 3 Yellows
7. Blueberry Banana Blender Muffins
It might sound bananas to make muffins in a blender, but it works! For these, we added a little Greek yogurt to the recipe to up the protein content of this healthy breakfast. Portion Fix containers: ½ Purple, 1 Yellow, ½ Blue
High-Protein Breakfast Options
1. Mozzarella and Egg White Breakfast Sandwich
Raise your hand if you want the best cheesy, eggy, healthy breakfast sandwich! For even more melty cheesy goodness, pop it in the toaster oven or microwave. Portion Fix containers: ½ Red, 2 Yellow, ½ Blue
A freshly baked cinnamon roll from a bakery will set you back around 500 calories. Mostly of fat and sugar. Avoid the sugar high and get the taste of a cinnamon roll in this healthy smoothie that has 17 grams of protein. Portion Fix containers: ½ Yellow, 1 Red
3. Goat Cheese, Tomato, and Parsley Scramble
If you want to load up on protein but not calories, this egg white scramble will do the trick. Can’t stand goat cheese? Swap it out for any of the other Portion Fix or 21 Day Fix-approved cheeses. Portion Fix containers: ½ Green, 1 Red, ½ Blue, 1 tsp.
You could get one of this quick breakfasts at the drive-thru, but it’s actually faster (and healthier) to make it yourself at home. Also, do you really want to deal with traffic while waiting for breakfast? I think not. Portion Fix containers: ½ Purple, 1 Red, ½ Yellow
5. Egg White Breakfast Burrito
For an easy, healthy breakfast on the go, make these egg white breakfast burritos ahead of time and store them in the freezer. Then in the morning, heat one up, add salsa if desired, wrap in foil, and go. Portion Fix containers: ½ Green, 1½ Yellow, ½ Red, 3 Tbsp.
Blend ice, raspberries, and almond milk together for a healthy, simple Shakeology smoothie that adds 18 grams of protein to your breakfast. Portion Fix containers: 1 Purple, 1 Red, ½ Yellow
7. Super Green Egg Cups
Whether you call these egg bites or egg cups, these portable healthy breakfasts are easy to make ahead of time — bake 12 at once in a muffin pan — and grab in the morning on your way out the door. Portion Fix containers: ½ Green, 1 Red
8. Mexican Tofu Breakfast Scramble
Last, but definitely not least this is one of the best breakfast scrambles you have yet to try. Made with onion, bell peppers, beans, and turmeric, it’s a great weekend breakfast. Or, chop the ingredients ahead of time and stir fry it together in the AM. Portion Fix containers: 1 Green, 1 Yellow, ½ Red, 1 Blue
Article Credit: Rebecca Swanner