Simple & Healthy Breakfast Ideas

We all know eating a good breakfast is an important way to start our day but how many of us actually take the time to plan for breakfast?  Breakfast is part of my regular weekly menu planning because it takes the guesswork out of waking up and asking, “What's for breakfast?”

Below is a list of some of our breakfast staples here and also some links to some favorites from around the web.  We are still grain eaters and I do soak my grains or buy bread that has been sprouted (ex. Ezekiel Breads).  We do not eat gluten free but I have been trying to eat gluten-less :).

Sugar is an area I'm always working to cut back on. We use natural sweeteners such as raw honey or maple syrup as much as possible.  If I bake I use Rapadura in place of white sugar in recipes. I like Stevia but it seems to give me headaches so that is a huge bummer because I like my sweets!  I still use it on occasion and it doesn't seem to bother me as much when it is baked in something as when I put it directly into a beverage and drink it.

(If any of you have any thoughts or helps on my headache issue with Stevia I would love your advice.)

I either soak my wheat, sprout it, dehydrate it and grind it myself or lately I've been slacking and buying sprouted flours (I can buy them at my local Whole Foods). We've (well me, I live in a house with three men) had some fun experimenting with gluten-free recipes and Against All Grain has been a fun cookbook. Love her Banana Muffin Recipe!

Trim Healthy Mama has been another cookbook that we have benefited greatly from in the areas of weight loss and energy.  For a more detailed review than I am ready to give a visit here.  We have several favorite breakfast recipes from the book and I'll share some from around the web.

We are blessed to have a family in our church that raises free range eggs.

Our family favorites may not be yours (they may not work if your family deals with food allergies too) but hopefully, this post will get you thinking of making a list of your own to end those, “What's for breakfast?” mornings.

Our Basic Family Staple Breakfast List:

Soaked Oatmeal with nuts, dried fruit & maple syrup with milk of your choice (I use unsweetened almond milk)

 Soaked Oatmeal Recipe – (You have to prepare this the night before)  Place oats and 1/2 the water with a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar in a pan covered overnight.  When ready to cook the next day add the rest of the water and cook until oats are desired consistency.  If the apple cider vinegar taste concerns you, draining the oats and rinsing before cooking is an alternative but not necessary. I cook my oats with a 1:2 ratio.  Example 2 cups of oats to 4 cups of water. )

Omelets with Fresh Fruit – If we have homemade pizza I saute up extra veggies to use in omelets the next day for breakfast.  

Smoothies – I have a link here but really experiment on your own.  Your base can be milk of your choice or yogurt, add some fruit (fresh or frozen), greens (spinach or kale), honey and protein powder if you use it. I usually have good quality free-range eggs on hand and use them raw instead of protein powder.  Save extra fruit leftover that is getting a bit overripe in a bag in the freezer and you always have fruit on hand for smoothies.  I do buy bags of frozen fruit from Costco and bags of frozen greens from Whole Foods. 

Greek Yogurt with Granola and/or Fresh Fruit – Use unsweetened yogurt and sweeten yourself with raw honey, maple syrup or Stevia

Bacon, Egg & Cheese open Face on Slice of Toast – If I don't have homemade bread we use Ezekiel Brand bread

Trim Healthy Pancakes

Puff Pancake & Fresh Fruit – Puff Pancake recipe: 6 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1/2 t. salt, 2 T melted butter.  Beat together eggs, milk, flour, and salt.  Pour melted butter into 9 x 13 pan and add the batter.  Bake at 400 degrees uncovered for about 15-20 minutes.  Serve with maple syrup.  Serves 4-5

Healthy Muffins

Scrambled Eggs with Salsa, Black Beans, and Cheese in a Tortilla

Sausage Patties with Fried Apples – I cook the sausage patties remove from pan and saute the apples with butter in the same pan. Add a bit of maple syrup to the apples if you would like.

Overnight Oatmeal Bake  – I double the recipe and we eat it for two days.

Poached Eggs on Toast

Cereal – Yes cereal.  Well, not every morning works out so well and I buy good quality cereals to have on hand for those quick mornings.

Coconut Milk Smoothies Chocolate Muffin in a Mug – Trim Healthy Mama recipe

Some Favorite Breakfast Recipe Links:

Stacy Makes Cents is a go-to blog for recipes around here. Some breakfast favorites to check out are, Pumpkin  Breakfast Cake, so yummy treat Overnight Cinnamon Rolls and Cottage Pancakes.

Easy Sausage Gravy & Biscuits – This is my cheater recipe because my husband's family is from down south and I am from up north and never figured out how to master sausage gravy.  This is a special treat and we usually fry some apples and scramble up some eggs to go along with it.  Because it's pretty messy we usually end up eating breakfast for dinner instead on this one.  Since my husband reads my blog now he knows I cheat on this one lol.

Overnight Sausage, Egg & Cheese Casserole – This is a staple on Christmas morning and I change the recipe from year to year.  We enjoyed Mary's at The Encouraging Home last year and will probably try it again this year.

Cinnamon Baked French Toast – The Pioneer Woman – so scrumptious.

Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes – These are truly the most excellent pancakes ever.  Every time I buy a tub of sour cream from Costco these get on the menu plan.  If you haven't tried them – just do it at least once.  You'll be hooked.

Well, some of my links may not have been overly healthy but they are yummy and great for special occasions or when you have overnight guests.

Favorite Breakfast for Overnight Guests:

I keep it simple with Baked Breads (banana, pumpkin or zucchini) Yogurt, Granola, Fresh Fruit and offer Coffee, Juice, and Water.  I always offer to cook an egg or make toast if they would like too.

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What are some of your family's staple breakfast menus?  If you're looking for a good book that has all healthy breakfast options check out Beth Ricci's book, The Breakfast Revolution.  You can buy it here for $8.95.

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