Like many people my husband and I have full time jobs and run a business on top of them. Skipping meals unfortunately comes with the territory. Sometimes lunch lands on the chopping block but, more often than not it’s breakfast that gets the axe. Skipping breakfast allows for a little more time for much needed sleep. We have all heard the adage that, “BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!” I thought perhaps I should re-frame our habits and find some breakfast hacks that will allow us to start our days on the right foot…with something other than smoothies.
Overnight Oats
I am not a vegan and to be honest, I was super skeptical about trying this. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It takes no time at all to whip up a bowl before going to bed and the variations are endless. It’s interesting that something so healthy and light seems so decadent. My favourite recipe comes from Angela at Oh She Glows.
Freezer Pancakes
Pancakes are super yummy and you can add chocolate chips and/or fruit to the batter BUT they take time to make and can be messy… in our house they are relegated to the weekends. If you want to enjoy them Monday-Friday you can pre-cook, freeze and then reheat them easily in the microwave or toaster. The best advice I got for this was to freeze them for at least an hour on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and then transfer them to a Ziploc for longer term freezing.
Muffin Pan Frittatas
Plan on two eggs per muffin cup; add whatever you like…chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, ham, etc. Mix it all together and pour it into your greased muffin pan and bake at 350F until they’re set and cooked through. Wrap them up and store in the fridge, reheating throughout the week.
Cottage Cheese Pudding
This is a super healthy breakfast option! Cottage cheese is high in protein and filling so you won’t be tempted to snack on doughnuts in the break room. Flaxseeds are noted for their weight loss benefits and helpful for blood sugar control. Cinnamon helps improve gut health. Half a cup of cottage cheese, one tablespoon of flaxseeds and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix and enjoy!
Morning Glory Muffins
These delicious muffins are made with a little bit of literally everything — whole wheat flour, carrots, apples, raisins, walnuts, orange juice, coconut and spices. They are easy to make; lately I make a batch on a Sunday and have them throughout the week. They are perfect to eat in the car on the way to work or to have with my coffee when I get to work. My favourite recipe comes from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy.