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
Week of September 15
Saturday: Weelicious: Carrot Apple Muffins, double batch of Super Chunky Granola (skip the added sugar)
Sunday: Turkey Sausage Poblano Strata
Monday/Wed/Friday: Granola
Tuesday/Thursday: Muffins
Peach green smoothies from Simple Green Smoothies
Week of September 22
Saturday: Apple Oatmeal Pancakes
Monday/Wed/Friday: Granola
Tuesday/Thursday: Apple Oatmeal Pancakes
Berry green smoothies from Simple Green Smoothies
Week of September 29
Saturday: Sweet Potato Muffins
Monday/Wed/Friday: Granola
Tuesday/Thursday: Muffins
green smoothies