26 Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Busy Mornings

As a busy parent, it’s easy to grab a granola bar, piece of toast, or skip breakfast all together. The mornings can be a frenzied rush of getting everyone fed and ready for the day ahead. What you eat at breakfast is, however, important for how you feel the rest of the day. Here are 26 healthy breakfast ideas that are easy and practical to fit into your busy morning!

The current research suggests that a higher protein, higher fiber breakfast will keep you satisfied longer, and help you feel less hungry the rest of the day. This combination will also keep blood sugar stable, therefore, keeping energy levels stable.

What does a healthy breakfast look like?

Like all meals, a healthy breakfast will contain protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates with fiber. These three components make up a balanced meal. They work together to fill you up, keep you full, and keep energy levels stable, as well as a host of other benefits. Let’s look at different healthy breakfast ideas using this blueprint!

25 Healthy breakfast ideas

Egg muffins or egg bake (idea #1)

This is a great healthy breakfast idea because it’s fairly easy and quick to prepare, packed with protein and fiber, and will last all week as a grab and go meal.

The majority of the protein in this meal will come from eggs, which are also chock-full of vitamins and minerals. Additional protein will come from cheese and or meats if you choose to add them. Egg yolks and cheese also contain fats. If you’re not adding cheese, adding some avocado or toast with peanut butter would be a great way to include some healthy fats.

Carbohydrates with fiber will come from any added veggies, and if you choose to add fruit or whole grain toast on the side.

Overnight oats

Overnight oats are easy to prepare and you can make many different variations! They can be made the night before and be ready to grab in the morning if you’re running out the door, or just need a quick breakfast.

You can make the base of overnight oats with a 1:1 ratio of old fashioned rolled oats to liquid. Oats act as a carbohydrate with fiber. Many recipes call for added fruit, which will also add additional fiber and nutrients. Protein can come from adding greek yogurt or protein powder to the overnight oats, but if you do this, you may need more liquid. Or, you could eggs on the side. Healthy fats may come from adding nuts, seeds, or nut butter.

An example may include (idea #2):

• 1/2 cup rolled oats (fiber)
• 1/2 cup milk (could contain protein, depending on the type of milk)
• 1/2 cup mixed berries (fiber)
• 1-2 Tbsp peanut butter (healthy fats + a little protein)
• 1 serving protein powder or greek yogurt (protein)

This is just ONE example. There are many possibilities with overnight oats! I love these balanced recipes from Laura Ligos.

Smoothies

There’s conversation out there that smoothies are not a healthy breakfast. This is because many smoothie recipes contain only fruit. By making smoothies into a balanced meal, however, they can be one of the best healthy breakfast ideas! Besides, they’re a great way to add in additional fiber, micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), and antioxidants, while also being easy to prepare and take on the go, whether you’re driving or simply chasing the kids around the house.

But, I’m biased because I’ve been drinking smoothies for breakfast since 2016! I personally feel my best when I begin the day with a balanced smoothie.

One of my favorite smoothie recipes is chocolate banana peanut butter (idea #3):

• 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower (fiber)
• 1 banana (fiber)
• 2 Tbsp peanut butter (healthy fats + a little protein)
• 1 serving chocolate protein powder (or vanilla + ~1-2 tbsp cocoa powder)
• A couple ice cubes
• ~1 cup or so of milk to get your desired consistency (less milk = spoonable, smoothie bowl; more milk = drinkable, liquid smoothie)

Another favorite is blueberry and nut butter (idea #4):

• 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower
• 1/2-1 banana
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 2 Tbsp peanut butter or sunbutter
• 1 serving vanilla protein powder
• A few ice cubes
• ~1 cup or so of milk to get your desired consistency

Every time I talk about smoothies, especially about adding frozen cauliflower, someone always asks me how I get them so smooth, or what blender I use. Bananas definitely help give smoothies a smooth consistency, but if you’re unable to use bananas, zucchini or avocado can help with this as well.

A good blender is also key. I’ve definitely made some less smooth smoothies in not-so-great blenders. I am partial to the Vitamix, which I know are pricey, BUT so worthwhile in my opinion. My dad bought our family one for Christmas one year, and 13 years later, it still works like new. I used to “steal” it during college and bring it back on breaks. My mom was not happy, but I also remember it as my dad buying it more for me anyway – it’s a long time family debate. Anyway, now we (my husband, two boys, and I) have one of our own and love it just the same! My husband got a refurbished one during Black Friday a few years ago – it was much cheaper this way.

I am in no way sponsored by, nor do I make any commission from Vitamix, I just truly love this blender and we use it ~3 times a day.

Chia pudding

Not only is chia pudding fun to eat, it’s high in soluble fiber, full of healthy fats, great for gut health, mineral-rich (like magnesium and calcium), filling, and easy to make! I’m all for enjoying foods with multiple benefits! Plus, it’s delicious (in my opinion – people either love or hate the texture)

Many recipes will have you add chia seeds and liquid to a jar and continually shake it.. I personally forget to keep shaking it and end up with all the seeds settled at the bottom instead of a pudding-like consistency.

Instead, I prefer and recommend blending the chia seeds, liquid, and protein source. This evenly distributes the seeds, and I find they absorb the liquid more quickly, which reduces the waiting time (especially if I haven’t planned ahead!).

To make chia pudding, one recommended ratio is 1 Tbsp chia seeds to 1/4 cup milk. You can make it the day of, or ahead of time and leave in the fridge overnight. A healthy breakfast will be ready and waiting for you in the morning!

Like overnight oats and smoothies, there are numerous variations of chia pudding. Here’s one example (idea #5):

Blend together 1/2 cup milk, 2 Tbsp chia seeds, and 1 serving of chocolate protein powder. Then top with granola, raspberries or cherries, and almonds when you’re ready to eat it!

See more variations here.

Toast with __

Toast, bagels, english muffins, or some type of bread product are common, easy breakfast foods, HOWEVER, they aren’t super filling on their own, and can leave you hangry by 10 AM. When paired with foods that have more staying power, like adequate protein, healthy fats, and fiber, toast (or other bread products can make a more filling and balanced healthy breakfast. Here are some examples!

Toast with:

• 6. Mashed avocado, cherry tomatoes, and eggs (fried or hard boiled) and/or turkey sausage
• 7. Peanut butter, greek yogurt, berries
• 8. Peanut butter, banana, and a protein shake or greek yogurt on the side
• 9. Herby cottage cheese and cherry tomatoes and cucumbers
• 10. Cottage cheese and fruit
• 11. Hummus, eggs, and sprouts or arugula

Protein milk + Cereal (idea #12)

Cereal is another common, easy breakfast option, and, like toast, isn’t always sustaining on it’s own. A simple way to make cereal more filling is to add protein powder to the milk! Just blend whatever milk you prefer with your favorite protein powder and add it to your bowl of cereal (or add your cereal to your milk – your preference!). To make this meal even more satiating, you could add fruit and nuts or nut butter. For example, berries and a drizzle of peanut butter. I haven’t actually done this as much for breakfast, but as a nursing mom, I’ve had this a lot as a bedtime snack and it’s both delicious and filling!

f you are looking for a cereal with more protein and/or fiber (aka, more filling), here are some brands to look for!

• Puffins
• Kashi
• Nature’s path
• Love Grown
• Food for Life

Cottage cheese or yogurt bowls

Having cottage cheese or greek yogurt on their own are great starts to breakfast! They’re protein-rich, so they will be more filling than say, a granola bar on it’s own. Having JUST cottage cheese or yogurt, however, is still not much food, and even if it keeps you full for awhile, you may wind up overly hungry later in the day. Adding some additional ingredients can help fill this meal out a bit.

• 13. Cottage cheese with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, hemp hearts, and EBTBS (everything but the bagel seasoning)
• 14. Cottage cheese + strawberries, almond, and granola
• 15. Cottage cheese + pineapple (use one of the pre-made cups) + walnuts
• 16. Greek yogurt + peanut butter + banana + chocolate granola
• 17. Greek yogurt + peaches + pecans + granola
• 18. Greek yogurt + berries + peanut butter + cereal

Grab N’ Go

Some mornings, even the easiest of recipes take too much time to put together and you literally need to grab something and GO! Here are some healthy breakfast ideas to take with you:

• 19. Aloha protein bar + apple, pear, or orange + a serving of rice cake, pretzels or crackers + greek yogurt or HB eggs (optional for added protein + staying power)
• 20. Protein shake (I love OWYN*, especially the ElitePro) + banana + handful almonds + optional toast or rice cake
• 21. Protein shake + banana with peanut butter + on wrap (optional)
• 22. 2 HB eggs + fruit + handful of peanuts + 1/2 protein shake in your coffee
• 23. 2 HB eggs + 1 cheese stick + 1/2 to 1 full english muffin (or preferred bread – we like sourdough) and single serve guacamole + fruit (optional)
• 24. Protein coffee (or protein shake*) + 1/2 to 1 full english muffin (or preferred bread product) + single serve peanut butter packet + fruit
• 25. Single serve greek yogurt + Aloha bar + fruit
• 26. Single serve cottage cheese + fruit + handful almonds
  
  *use code OWYNHCP-5947 for 20% off your order!
  

Conclusion

Breakfast is a very important meal for most women, especially moms and those who want to be moms, but it’s often skipped for various reasons, a common one being limited time, or limited mental energy to think of an easy, healthy breakfast. I hope these healthy breakfast ideas can help you feel well-nourished and energized throughout the day!