Making Breakfast FAST and EASY!

It’s Monday and you’re ready for a fresh start – a healthy week full of nutritionally packed meals, loads of greens, waistline-friendly proteins and saying a big fat (or skinny?) ‘no’ to the bad stuff. It’s going to be home prepped meals and freshly pressed organic juices all the way and not a single packaged food will stand in your way!

There’s only one problem…

You forgot to go shopping. Or you have a super early start at work and running out the door at 5:30am means you literally don’t have time to whip up a plate of eggs and greens. Or the kids have been up all night with runny noses and the last thing you want to think about is grilling that lean cut of grass fed beef your trainer swears will boost your focus and weight loss efforts if you can just manage slip it into your breakfast routine. And whipping up a smoothie? Nice idea but who needs the mess on a morning like this!

Sigh, if only eating well were as easy in today’s manic, mile-a-minute world as it was in the simple times of yester-year.

Despite the rush, there’s something about starting your day (and week) off right that sets you in good stead for the day/week to come, so just in case your Monday is getting off to the same feverish start ours is this week, here are a few simple brekky ideas to get you revved up, despite the hussle.

For cereal lovers…

Keep your cupboard stocked with some rolled oats and a selection of nuts/seeds. Pop a selection of the above ingredients (whatever you like and is easiest) in a portable container, pour your choice of milk (we love almond or coconut and you could even use water with a dash of apple juice or coconut water if you’re avoiding milks altogether) over it and allow to soak overnight, or even just while you make your way to work. Eat with a drizzle of honey or a spoonful of yoghurt/kefir mixed through. If you feel like getting fancy, or have a few further ingredients at your disposal, try adding a few of these: chia seeds, flaked coconut, flaxseeds, berries. Need a pre-packaged solution to keep on your desk at work, or don’t have time to pre-soak? Grab a packet of The Muesli – 5 nuts, 4 seeds, oats and coconut nicely packaged up for you and practically sugar free! Or for a grain-free option, pick up some Kapai Puku, an amazing superfood option!

For protein lovers…

This one’s easy and mess-free: boil a bunch of eggs on the weekend, let them cool and pop them in your fridge (we even like to pre-peel ours so they’re super handy). Then as you’re running out the door, toss a few in a container, sprinkle with pepper or a little Himalayan crystal salt and they’ll be ready to devour when you’re ready to consume ‘em! Don’t like the idea of eating eggs on their lonesome? Throw a few iceberg lettuce leaves in your lunch bag too and when you’re ready to eat, wrap your egg up in the lettuce to create an instant ‘sandwich’. Problem solved! If you have a few extra minutes to spare, you could add some salsa or a little mustard to your morning sanga too.

For MUFA (good fat) lovers & vegans…

Nature has created an awesome, pre-packed and satisfying solution to your meal-on-the-go issues, complete with your daily dose of healthy, plant-based fats (those MUFAs we mentioned previously) and guaranteed to keep your appetite, focus and mood in check throughout the day. Yep, the humble avocado is a health nut’s best friend and the perfect quick-brekky solution! Simply throw one in your lunch-box whole and either eat it plain with a sprinkle of sea/cystal salt, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic, or eat loaded with a scoop of mustard. If you love your avo-on-toast, choose a small piece of sourdough, spelt, rye, or gluten-free and pop your avo on top, OR eat with (ideally brown or wholegrain) rice crackers, which you can keep at your desk, and drizzle with olive oil for added ‘oomph’. Keen to get a little fancier with your avo-for–brekky options? Cube both your avocado and a grapefruit, pop in a bowl, sprinkle with seeds (and fennel if you really want to go for it) and voila! This is even yummy topped with balsamic or drizzled with lime juice.

If nothing but a green ‘juice’ will do…

Keep frozen spinach and some frozen fruit (mango , berries, or banana are great) in your freezer. Throw the spinach, fruit and some water/coconut water and ice in your blender. Add cubed cucumber if you have some handy. Add a quarter of an avocado, or some coconut oil if you like it thick. Blend and take with you in a portable cup.

When you’re really desperate…

• Grab an apple and a handful of nuts. Eat!
• Throw a scoop of vegan protein powder in a shaker, along with some almond milk. Shake and sip on your way to work!
• Toss a banana, a handful of nuts, some berries, ice and your milk of choice in a blender, BLEND! Add protein powder or even better frozen spinach if you have it, for added nutrition.
• Throw some nuts/seeds/fruit in a bowl, add a scoop of plain, organic yoghurt and munch away.
• Eat last night’s leftovers. Cold chicken stir-fry for brekky is actually an awesome option.
• Rinse some tinned beans, mix with whatever you have in the cupboard – brown rice, salsa, chopped tomato, avocado – and voila!
• Local café your only option? Order eggs, hold the bread and add avocado. Perfect! Or go for the untoasted muesli/bircher. Never choose the granola people – it’s probably worse for you than a chocolate brownie!