Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having a healthy breakfast provides you with energy, it improves your mood and will maintain a healthy weight.
Choosing cereal regularly, has an air of easiness towards it - considering it usually takes less than five minutes. But spending more time (even just ten extra minutes) on preparing a healthier breakfast packed with protein and nutrients, has a myriad of great benefits.
Many strive to eat healthier meals, and dedicate time and effort towards it, yet they get stuck on what to make. Eating the same meal every day is exceptionally tedious, so here are 5 breakfast ideas, ranging from quick and easy five minute meals, to ones which require a bit more effort - but are absolutely worth it!
Healthy oat pancakes
Not only are these pancakes easy to make, but are also healthy and delicious! Just containing three ingredients, the oat pancakes require minimal effort, and have an exceptional outcome.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1 banana
- 2 eggs
Method:
- Blend all your ingredients till a smooth batter forms.
- Drizzle a small amount of oil, or a knob of butter on a frying pan and warm on a medium-high heat.
- Scoop two to three tablespoons onto the heated pan and wait till small bubbles form. Flip over and wait an additional minute.
- Take off the pan and repeat with the rest of the batter.
- Serve with your favourite toppings and enjoy!
Recipe from: Meaningful Eats
Toat three-ways
Topping your toast with these healthy ideas is a perfect way to incorporate protein and your daily dose of fruit. This breakfast is exceptional if you only have a limited amount of time.
The classic avocado on toast
Ingredients:
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- A pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 slice wholemeal bread
Method:
- Start by making the avocado topping. Add the avocado, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a bowl and mash with a fork. Set aside. Toast the bread
- If desired, poach the egg. Start by filling a pan a saucepan with water and put on medium heat. Once simmering, add the egg and wait for 2-3 minutes.
- Top your toast with the avocado and then add the egg.
Berry-topped toast
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of berries of your choice
- 1 slice wholemeal bread
Method:
- Toast the bread. Pour all the berries in a saucepan, on a medium-high heat. If it starts to steam excessively, reduce the heat.
- Stir every so often with a wooden spoon. After five minutes, the berries should release their juices. Once the berry jam goes to the consistency you wish, pour it over the toast.
if you choose a smaller fruit, such as raspberries or blueberries, the mixture will be a lot runnier than a cherry or strawberry jam (which tends to have pieces of the berry)
Peanut Butter Banana Toast
Ingredients:
- A big spoonful of peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
- 1 banana
- A sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1 slice wholemeal bread
Method:
- Toast the bread and spread the peanut butter on top.
- Slice the banana and put it on the PB toast. Sprinkle cinnamon for extra flavour.
Overnight oats
Prepared the night before, overnight oats are ideal for a rushed morning. Although this breakfast only takes minutes to make, it is an outstanding meal containing nutrients and fibre.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Extras and toppings:
- cocoa powder
- Peanut butter
- Vanilla extract
- Fresh or frozen fruit
- Cinnamon or any other desired spice
Method:
- On the night before eating, mix the water and oats. Then add the chia seeds and maple syrup. If the mixture is too thick add a tablespoon of extra water. Or, if it is too runny, add more oats till you reach the consistency desired.
- There are many different ways to make and dress-up overnight oats - the opportunities are endless. Whichever flavour you wish to pursue, whether it is chocolate (cocoa powder), peanut (peanut butter) or fruit oats, they all taste delicious.
Smoothie Bowl
Incredible on a warm day, smoothie bowls can be many with a myriad of variations. A healthy yet filling and fruity breakfast, can be made as quickly as 10 minutes! All that is required is blending the ingredients and add a finishing touch with your favourite toppings.
Summer berries smoothie bowl
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen summer berries
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup milk
For the toppings:
- 1 banana, sliced
- A handful of your desired berries
- chia seeds
- granola
Method:
- Blend the banana, berries, peanut butter, chia seeds and milk. The consistency should be thick enough to eat, similar to ice cream. If it is too thin, add extra milk. Put the smoothie a bowl.
- Place the fruit, chia seeds and granola on top of your smoothie or add any other toppings you wish.
Tropical smoothie bowl
- 1/2 mango, cut into chunks
- 1 cup pineapple, cut into chunks
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup milk (although you might need some extra, depending on the consistency)
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
Toppings:
- a handful of mango chunks
- a small handful of blueberries
- granola
- coconut flakes
Method:
- Biltz the mango, pineapple, banana, peanut butter and milk in a blender. Once it has reached the desired thickness, put in a bowl.
- Top with mango, blueberries, granola and coconut flakes, or, choose your favourite toppings
Chocolate banana smoothie bowl
Ingredients:
- 2 frozen bananas
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/2 cup milk
Toppings:
- 1 banana
- cocoa nibs/ dark chocolate chips
- oats
- nuts (almonds, peanuts)
Method:
- Blend the frozen banana, cocoa powder, honey, peanut butter and milk. Put in a bowl once smooth.
- Put the banana, cocoa nibs, oats and nuts on the smoothie, or choose an alternative topping.
3-ingredient oat cookies
Cookies for breakfast seem like the most unhealthy thing which you can feed yourself, yet these oat and banana cookies are far from it. Only containing banana, oats and maple syrup, this healthy breakfast treat includes fibre, nutrition and vitamin C. Although this breakfast takes 15 minutes to make, the time spent is returned in the form of deliciously healthy cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oats
- 2 bananas
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- A dash of cinnamon (optional)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180°C and line one baking tray with parchment paper.
- With the back of a fork, mash the banana until a lumpy mixture forms.
- Add in the oats, followed by the maple syrup (and cinnamon).
- Once all combined, roll into balls, then flatten and put on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes and enjoy!
Recipe from veryveganish.com
