The most important meal of the day tends to be at the busiest time of the day. It's 8 AM and there is so much to be done before you head to school/work/etc. There is always the option of grabbing a protein bar or a banana and calling it a meal, but after about 10 minutes into your day, your stomach starts making those weird noises (agh!)
I wasn't much of a breakfast person until this year. In fact, I had always been the one to grab a yogurt or munch on an apple and wait until I had a free period to eat lunch. It wasn't that I didn't love breakfast food because trust me, french toast will forever be a top priority, but it was that I never felt like I had enough time to make breakfast. This wasn't a good excuse though because I realized that there are so many yummy breakfast recipes that take less than 10 minutes. Here are a few quick and healthy recipes to give you a fresh start to the day.
1. Overnight oats
There are so many delicious overnight oat recipes, but my absolute favorite is one I found on Minimalist Baker (recipe and steps in the link below). In my opinion, the peanut butter and maple syrup are a perfect combination of enough flavor and the chia seeds are loaded with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids leading to a perfect start to the day.
http://minimalistbaker.com/peanut-butter-overnight-oats/
*Don't forget to add either granola or bananas in the morning for some extra flavor and if you're craving more of sweets and bananas aren't your thing, add some honey*
Another recipe of overnight oats that I absolutely love is one I found on allrecipes dish website and it's for all of my fellow pumpkin pie lovers.
Stir in 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice, and add maple syrup for honey and almond milk. In the morning, add either chopped toasted pecans or sometimes I use walnuts chopped up in smaller pieces with a mix of almonds as well.
Regardless of the flavor, just mix the desired flavor with the oats (make sure that the oats are completely soaked in), let it sit in the fridge overnight, and voila, breakfast is served.
2. Morning oats
Morning oats are essentially the same concept as overnight oats except that morning oats are warm. Similar flavors as the ones above can be used, however, here a few delicious recipes that I've learned.
Take 1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup of water, and boil it on the stove until the water is absorbed. Then, add frozen berry mix or fresh blueberries and strawberries (frozen fruit usually lasts longer, but both are great!), and mix evenly. Add 1 small scoop of honey and peanut butter (crunchy or smooth, whatever you prefer), top it with chia seeds and or fruits you are craving.
Another one is an apple pie taste that I was inspired by from the same websites.
Take 1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup of water, and boil it on the stove until the water is absorbed. Cut up apples into smaller squares and add it on top of the oats. Add a bit of brown sugar and a small scoop of honey for a small serving of an apple pie taste.
3. Hard boiled eggs
Hard boiled eggs surprisingly keep me full throughout the morning and take less than 10 minutes. Put cold water in a small pot and boil. Once it is boiled, place egg(s) in the pot and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes. After, place the egg(s) in cold water and let it sit for about 2 minutes. Crack the eggs and enjoy. If you're craving a bit of flavor, add a bit of salt to the side.
Hard boiled eggs are super good with tomatoes (whether they are prepared on the stove or just washed and eaten right away) as well.
4. French toast in a mug
This recipe I saw on Food Network and didn't believe that it would work until I tried it one morning. It's so delicious and so quick.
*Here are a few substitutes, but the recipe is in the link below.
Whisk together almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, egg, and a pinch of salt in a large mug until combined.
You can put smart balance olive oil spread on a whole grain/whole wheat piece of bread or you don't have to put anything on it at all and the taste is still delicious. Cut the bread into bite-size pieces and add them to a microwavable mug, then press down lightly so all the bread pieces are submerged. Sprinkle with thinly sliced bananas and/or almonds. Microwave the bread mixture on high power for 2 minutes and pause every 30 seconds. Let the French toast cool in the mug about 1 minute before serving and there you have it, the best breakfast in the cutest mug!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/french-toast-in-a-mug0.html
Now, breakfast is my incentive to wake up a bit early. 10 minutes for delicious treats is absolutely worth it. Some of these recipes have modifications and substitutions, but they are all delicious.
"Take a break, make breakfast" Happy cooking!
