Quick and easy breakfast ideas for fall

For many people, fall signifies getting back into a routine and  there is nothing like breakfast to help you get the day (and season) started on the right foot. Many of my clients feel that eating breakfast helps to motivation them to continue to make healthy choices throughout the rest of the day. Two ways to make sure breakfast happens is to pick foods that you actually like and to choose quick and easy solutions.

To speed up the process as well as make it effortless in the morning, preparing a few items the night before or keeping key ingredients on hand and throwing them together and eating them at the office are practical ideas. Below are some super quick and easy recipes that can be made ahead of time.

Keep a few prepared ingredients to have on hand for those extra busy mornings. I suggest individual containers of yogurt or cottage cheese, prepared fruit slices (many companies have improved the way fruit is packed and the flavor is much improved!), oatmeal packets, real fruit juice box, healthy granola bars, a small box of raisins or an individually wrapped cheese. Of course, you could prepackage your own foods into baggies or containers over the weekend to have on hand all week. Cereal, grapes, trail mix and orange sections work great for this!

Many of these recipes use similar ingredients so stocking up to make them is a breeze.

Also, most of these ingredients are staples you likely already have in your pantry and have a long shelf life. This grocery list contains all the major ingredients you will need!

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I have!

Breakfast Burrito

1 or 2 eggs

1-2 tbsp salsa

2 tbsp minced, mixed veggies (onion, pepper, broccoli, mushrooms)

1 tortilla 6”

2 tbsp cottage cheese or 1 slice of cheese

Instructions:

1. Beat eggs with salsa and vegetables.

2. Cook the eggs in the microwave using a microwaveable bowl, on high for 1.5min.

3. Place cheese and eggs in tortilla.

4. Wrap up and enjoy.

Egg N’Muffin

1 egg

1 English muffin

1 slice of cheese

Sliced tomato

Instructions:

1. Toast the English muffin.

2. While toasting, place the egg in a microwavable cup and pierce the yolk.

3. Cook in microwave for 1½ min on high.

4. Place egg, cheese and tomato slices in the English muffin.

Breakfast Smoothie

½ to 1 cup of milk

1 tbsp honey (optional)

½ cup of cottage cheese OR 1-2 tbsp natural peanut butter

1/3 cup of dry, rolled oats

½ cup frozen berries

½ banana

Instructions:

Place all ingredients, in order, into a blender. Blend on high until smooth,

Anything BUT Ordinary Oatmeal

  ½ banana

1/3 cup dry rolled oats

1-2 tbsp natural peanut butter

1 tbsp raisins

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp honey (optional)

½-1 cup of milk

Instructions:

1. Mash banana in microwavable bowl.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and stir.

3. Microwave on high for 1.5min.

Yogurt Parfait

 ½ cup yogurt

½ cup cottage cheese

1 tbsp ground flax seed

½ cup berries or other fruit

1/3 cup dry, rolled oats

2 walnuts, cracked (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix the yogurt, flax and cottage cheese together in a bowl.

2. Throw the rest of the ingredients on top and enjoy!

 Apple Crisp

 ½ - 1 whole apple, sliced

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp raisins

½ cup cottage cheese

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp sliced almonds

1/3 cup dry, rolled oats

Instructions:

1. Mix together the apples, cinnamon, honey and raisins. Microwave on high for 1 min.

2. Meanwhile, mix together the cheese and vanilla in a serving bowl.

3. Sprinkle half the oats onto the cheese mixture then layer the apple mixture on top.

4. Sprinkle the remaining oats on top along with the almonds.