Healthy Breakfasts for September

I think I’ve written more about breakfast than any other meal on this blog. I believe a healthy breakfast habit is one of the best life lessons I can give my daughter. And it’s important for my own health. If you’ve read my breakfast posts you know I’m all about a nutrient-rich breakfast and aim to pack in as much as I can:

whole-grain
2+ fruits/vegetables
nuts and/or seeds
spices
protein

That’s a lot to think about and if I had to decide every morning what to eat for breakfast, it’d probably be processed cereal — organic but still processed cereal. However, over the last couple of years I’ve developed a repeatable routine that makes daily healthy breakfast do-able

Starts with a written plan
Based on a repertoire of fruit, oats/grains
Execute a routine starting with fruit and alternating oats/grains and whole-grain muffins/pancakes

The plan: A written plan means I have all the ingredients, and know what’s for breakfast every morning. General plan guidelines:

Make a double batch of granola the first weekend of the month
Make a double batch of whole-grain pancakes or muffins on Saturday, freezing extras to use later in the week.
Make an egg dish (such as overnight bake, frittata or basic scrambled eggs) on Sunday
During the week we rotate oats, pancakes/muffins

I choose a “focus” fruit for each week for green smoothies to simplify budget and grocery list. I aim to start with a green smoothie at least 3x a week, and always fresh fruit the other days.

Voila! Now I don’t even have to think about what to have for breakfast. Every morning, simply execute the plan

The repertoire

Green smoothie or fruit: As soon as we come downstairs, I give M a bowl of berries, a sliced peach…the options depend on what’s in season locally. While she is eating her fruit, I get the rest of breakfast together (sipping my green smoothie or munching on fruit or while doing so).

Granola: My main staple is CMF Basic Granola changing it up every time I make it with different nuts/seeds and dried fruits. Minimalist Baker is my #2 source for granola recipes, but I always add spices such as cinnamon or ground ginger to the recipes, and I eliminate the added sugar.
Overnight Oats 7 Ways are a delicious way to change things up from granola
Muffins: I’m all about muffins with multiple plant foods: whole-grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, spices. I especially like ones that have oats making them extra fiber-rich
Pancakes and waffles, I make whole-wheat plus recipes – the plus being fruit (berries, banana, apple…), vegetable (sweet potato, pumpkin, beet) and/or nuts

The Routine

Week of September 1

Saturday: Weelicious: Very Berry Muffins, double batch of CMF Basic Granola with pumpkin seeds and walnuts

Sunday: Veggie Egg Bake

Monday/Wed/Friday: Granola with greek yogurt

Tuesday/Thursday: Berry muffins

Cherry green smoothies from Simple Green Smoothies

Week of September 8

Saturday: Cottage Cheese Pancakes with berry sauce

Sunday:Pineapple Upside Down Cake Smoothie Arugula frittata

Monday/Wed/Friday: Pineapple Mojito Smoothie, Granola

Tuesday/Thursday: Simple Green Smoothies: Pineapple Smoothie, Cottage Cheese pancakes