Some of us skip breakfast almost every morning no matter how often we hear that it’s the most important meal of the day. A quick apple or glass of milk won’t keep you going through classes whether they’re online or in-person. Breakfast can be fun and creative, but most importantly delicious and filling. Some of us may hit our snooze button a few times and end up waking up 10-15 minutes before getting ready for class. If you’re online you might reach for your laptop even a few minutes before your Google Meet or Zoom starts. You need a good and healthy breakfast to keep your energy up until your next meal. Here are many recipes that can be made during that slim time between when you wake up and the start of your morning class.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal can be a very hit-or-miss food for some people. It can be bland or boring eating those pre-packaged oats. You can have so much fun making oatmeal and get incredibly creative! Here are a few recipes that prove that oatmeal isn’t just brown sugar and cinnamon.
Image is courtesy of A Simple Palate.
Ingredients:
⅔ cups oats
⅔ cup water OR ⅔ cup milk
½ mashed banana
Splash of vanilla
½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Directions:
In a pot on medium-low heat add all the ingredients
Cook for 7-10 minutes
Stir occasionally
Optional: After 5 minutes add 2 tbs of protein powder
Carefully remove from heat and pour into a bowl
Optional: Top with chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and slices of banana
Image is courtesy of The Charming Detroiter.
Ingredients:
⅔ cup oats
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup water OR ¼ oat milk
½ tbsp maple syrup
Splash of vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Directions:
In a pot on medium-low heat add all ingredients
Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally
Optional: After 5 minutes add 2 tbs of protein powder
Carefully scoop contents into a bowl
Optional: Top with Nutella, chocolate chips, peanut butter, fresh strawberries
(Psssst you can make this with any other frozen fruit such as blueberries, peaches, or raspberries)
NOTE: For those of you who are vegan you can use oat or almond milk.
If you have a nut-allergy skip the Nutella or any nut toppings.
Check out this TikTok account that shows you how to make super fun oatmeal breakfasts!
Bagels
You can never go wrong with a good bagel. Smear some cream cheese and you’re good to go! It’s a classic and fast breakfast, but let’s look at a couple of recipes that elevate the flavour.
Image is courtesy of What's Gaby Cooking.
Ingredients:
1 plain or everything bagel
3-4 slices of avocado
1 thick slice of tomato
2 pieces of crispy bacon or any meat of your choice
1 egg scrambled
Slice of cheese
Directions:
Slice the bagel in half and begin layering your toppings
If you have a toaster oven you can melt the cheese over your bagel
NOTE: For a vegetarian/vegan option, you can omit the meat and cheese
Image is courtesy of Dempster's.
Ingredients:
1 plain or everything bagel, halved and toasted
2 eggs
Pinch each salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tsp olive oil
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup baby spinach
Optional: 1 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
Directions:
Whisk together eggs, salt, and pepper; set aside
In a nonstick skillet/pan, heat olive oil over medium heat; cook tomatoes for about 4 minutes or until starting to soften
Add in the spinach and release your inner chef as you sauté for about 2 minutes or until slightly wilted
Pour in the egg mixture; cook for 3 - 4 minutes or until egg mixture starts to form soft curds (looks like scrambled eggs basically)
Optional: Stir in the feta cheese.
Top your toasted bagels and enjoy!
Image is courtesy of The Lemon Bowl.
Yogurt parfaits are incredibly easy to make and you can truly have it any way you prefer. Layer a spoon of any yogurt you prefer; blueberry, vanilla, strawberry, coconut, Greek. Go nuts with toppings adding well... nuts, granola, fruits like mango, strawberry, raspberries, blueberries, drizzle with honey if you’d like, and BAM! You’ve got a delicious breakfast.
NOTE: This recipe serves 5!
Ingredients:
32 ounces plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups mixed berries (i.e. raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mangoes, etc.)
½ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup chia seeds
¼ cup flaxseed meal/ granola
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla. Pour into a liquid measuring cup and set aside.
In another bowl, mix together seeds, nuts, and spices.
To assemble parfaits, set out five glasses or mason jars and pour in ¼ cup or so of the yogurt mixture into each glass.
Top the yogurt layer with a few tablespoons of the nut and seed mixture.
Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of berries on top of the nut mixture then begin again with yogurt.
Repeat the layers until all ingredients have been used.
Seal mason jars or cover glasses with plastic wrap until you’re ready to serve.
You can also keep these in the fridge for 5 days so you have a pre-made snack/breakfast!
Smoothies & Smoothie Bowls
It might still be pretty chilly outside to have smoothies for breakfast, but we’re Canadian, so we can handle it!
Image is courtesy of Wholefully.
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1 cup strong-brewed coffee
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
Honey or maple syrup, to taste
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
Image is courtesy of Wholefully.
Ingredients :
1cup frozen mango chunks
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional add-ins: chia seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, ground flax, collagen, Greek yogurt
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
Image is courtesy of Fablunch.
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1½ cups frozen strawberries
1 cup almond milk
½ cup frozen grapes
3 dates
Toppings: fresh strawberries, banana slices, dried strawberries and bananas, chia seeds, shredded coconut
Blend all ingredients and pour into a bowl. Add your toppings and enjoy!
Image is courtesy of Joy Food Sunshine.
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup of frozen pineapple chunks
1 ¼ cup of frozen mango
1 cup fresh spinach
Your preferred amount of kale
1 banana
3-4 tbsp of almond milk
Optional: 1-2 tbsp of honey or maple syrup
Toppings: Coconut shavings, chia seeds, granola
Blend all ingredients and pour into a bowl. Add your toppings and enjoy!
Image is courtesy of Rachel Schultz.
Ingredients:
1 apple
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup almonds, sliced
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Slice the apple into thin rings and remove the core.
Spread peanut butter over one side of the ring. Top with almonds, walnuts, coconut, and chocolate chips, or any toppings of your choice!
Image is courtesy of Yummy Mummy Kitchen.
Ingredients:
1 cup quick oats (certified gluten-free if needed)
1/3 cup flax meal
1/2 cup sunflower seed butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 cup raw or toasted sunflower seeds
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Place the oats and flax meal in a medium-sized bowl. Stir to combine. Add the seed butter and maple syrup and stir to combine. Stir in the sunflower seeds and chocolate chips. This mixture should form a dough that's easy to form into balls that stick together. If the mixture seems too dry, add a splash more of maple syrup, or add a drizzle of coconut oil.
Using a small spoon, roll the dough into balls. Transfer to a small storage container and refrigerate.
Final note
You can modify any of these recipes as you wish. Hopefully, you found one that you’ll try out in the future! Try to take the time out to sit down at a table and eat your breakfast. Once it becomes a routine, you'll find that it puts the morning off to the right start every day. Enjoy!
Article author: Alizeh Qaiser
Article editors: Sherilyn Wen, Valerie Shirobokov