Healthy Breakfasts
Author: Montana McLaughlin-Tom
Let’s face it – when it comes to figuring out new, healthy breakfasts – so any of us lose patience. It’s SO much easier to just make the same old eggs and toast; yogurt and berries; or that one staple “healthy” breakfast that you learned a couple weeks ago. When it comes to meal planning, time management, and lifestyle choices, breakfast is often not at the top of the list. And why should it? But that’s where you’re wrong! I don’t know about you, but when I have a good breakfast after a workout – I feel so much better and ready to take on the day. While I love a good ol’fashioned eggs with toast kind of morning, there are some days where it just becomes so… boring.
Throughout my fitness journey, I’ve come to realize that one of the best ways to lose weight is by making small changes that I can put to use easily and almost seamlessly into my daily life. Part of this includes a healthy breakfast that doesn’t include a thousand new items that I’ll never
use outside of a few recipes. So here are a few to get you started!
1. Breakfast Cookies
This sounds like an oxymoron – believe me, I know. BUT these are a fun new way to have a healthy breakfast on the go! Now, if you look these up, breakfast cookie recipes are absolutely FILLED with seeds, nuts, butters, etc. So, I’m going to give you a base recipe that will include a few healthy options, and then add your own to your taste!
*Please note: this recipe can be made bigger or smaller depending on how many you want!
• Mash up ripe bananas (I used 2 ripe ones).
• Add oatmeal (around a cup).
• Chia Seeds
• Coconut Flakes
• Mix until smooth and chunky.
• Put onto a cookie sheet and cook at 350 F until golden brown (the firmness will depend on if you add anything else).
2. Savoury Oatmeal
Don’t knock it till ya try it! Oats do not just have to be a way to sneak in an extra helping of berries (or in my case, brown sugar and butter).
• Boil the oats in milk or cream (if you’re on a diet, or are watching calories BE CARFUL and use water instead). Add salt, pepper and seasoning – MAKE IT SAVOURY. ** I add cheese to help 😉
• Heat up a skillet (I have a small one), fill it half full with water and get it simmering.
• Add an egg to the skillet and put the lid overtop. Let cook for about 2-3 minutes for a soft poached egg.
• Put your oats in a bowl, with an egg and cheese on top.
• Add vegetables to taste/feel.
3. Squash Mash
The type of squash depends on your personal preference and what’s in season. This one DOES require a bit of extra time – so either be sure to cook the squash during your weekly meal prep, or have time to roast it before making the breakfast.
*This meal has two options: savoury and sweet
SAVOURY:
• Heat up the squash of your choice in the oven.
• Hollow out the seeds/middle.
• Cook an egg (preferably sunny side up or poached).
• Once the squash is warm, drizzle olive oil on top.
• Place the egg on top of the squash.
• Add other vegetables if you want (I prefer spinach).
• Add cheese (I tend to do the spinach and goat cheese combo).
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
SWEET:
• Heat up the squash of your choice in the oven.
• Hollow out the seeds/middle.
• Once it’s warm, drizzle with a little bit of honey.
• Add pecans (or nuts of your choice).
• Add Greek yogurt (don’t overflow the squash).
• Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on top.
4. Banana Pancakes
• Take 3 ripe bananas and mash them in a bowl.
• Add 2 eggs. (You want the mixture to be a bit thicker).
• Fry up in the pan.
5. Egg & Veg Bake
This one DOES require a bit more prep, so get ready!
• Grate up vegetables of your choice – but make sure they’re on the starchier side (I use potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini).
• Mix the vegetables with oil and cheese (cheddar or mozzarella would be best)
• Layer the veggie mix in a baking pan.
• Put into the oven at 350F and bake until crispy on top.
• Serve with sunny side or poached eggs on top.
These recipes are just a few to give you a start/idea on how easy it is to slowly begin changing your eating habits. While it sounds annoying – lifestyle changes such as what you eat for breakfast, or how you eat breakfast, will help you see results faster. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that it’s the lifestyle changes that have contributed to my fitness journey the most. And on top of that, if I eat a good, satisfying and unique breakfast I’ll be less way less tempted to double up my mid-morning snack (i.e. eating an apple AND a croissant).
Hope you enjoy!
Author bio: My name is Montana, And just like so many of you – I am also constantly searching for a new way to lose weight, get fit, or just be happier with my body. I strive to make choices that are considered ‘lifestyle changes’, and after having some amazing success (and some failures – let’s be real and authentic here), I decided to share some ideas with you!
