One thing I learned on my journey to lose the baby weight (I only have 4 pounds left!!) is that you must eat breakfast. A cup of coffee doesn’t count either. As a parent mornings can be pretty crazy. Feeding the kid, cleaning up the mess, getting the kid and you ready, packing up the diaper bag and any other objects before you dash to your destination. Well today I bring you 12 quick and healthy breakfast options for those crazy on the go mornings.
1. Fage greek yogurts and a banana. The banana is a no brainer for an easy fruit option for breakfast. Fage (pronounced “fa – yeh”) has become an obsession for me. The cherry flavor tastes so good it could easily be mistaken for a cherry cheesecake. Don’t believe me?? Mike even likes it and he’s not a fan of healthy foods.
2. Oatmeal. Yes you have to cook this…but in the microwave!! So no excuses. Before I even head in to get Lily from her crib I will mix ½ cup of old fashioned oats with 1 cup vanilla almond milk and heat it for 3 minutes. After getting her up and brushing her teeth I check on the oats. Sometimes I will cook it for another 30 seconds. Sprinkle some cinnamon, add 1 tbsp of peanut butter and drizzle a little honey (or agave nectar) and you have a something so good your toddler will want seconds. Yep Lily LOVES this stuff.
3. Pancakes. Sure you can get the ones in a box and heat them in the microwave or toaster. BUT you can have healthy pancakes with 30 seconds if you remember this tip! Next time you make the huge mess of making some healthy pancakes from scratch, make a little more and freeze them! Most pancakes only take 30 seconds to heat up (watch out for over cooking them, they will turn rubbery!).
4. Yoplait Frozen Smoothies. Oh my husband loves these. Yoplait takes all the hard work out of making smoothies for you, you just have to add milk and then clean the blender. Open one of their frozen packs and dump it in your blender, add low fat milk and blend until you have a yummy smoothie. I pour mine into a plastic cup and drink with a straw if I have to take this on the go. I have tried without a straw and I always end up with a wall of frozen yogurt up my nose and all over my neck and shirt!
5. Green Monster Smoothie. For a healthier smoothie try this recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. I became obsessed with this yummy green drink during my 30-day eat clean challenge. The best part is that Lily LOVES this drink too and with four cups of spinach I am happy to let her slurp it up! My adaptation of the recipe is = in a blender place 4 cups of baby spinach, 1 tbsp of peanut butter, 1 frozen banana (make sure you peel your banana and cut in in half before you freeze it to make it easier for you!), 1 cup vanilla almond milk.
6. Egg White & Spinach Omelet. Spray a pan with cooking spray and place egg whites in a pan. Add salt and pepper to taste. When the egg starts to firm on the bottom of the pan, add a handful of spinach and sprinkle some goat cheese (you can use any cheese you like!). Using a spatula fold the egg in half to form the omelet and flip after 30 seconds. Continue to cook until the egg is cooked.
7. Scrambled Egg & Veggies. Apply some cooking spray to a pan. Add chopped bell pepper (any color) and 1-2 tbsp of chopped onion, a few spinach leaves. Saute until onion turns translucent. Add 2 mixed large eggs (or you can use egg whites) and salt and pepper to taste. You can scramble the egg and veggies or create another omelet. You can also pour the egg & veggie scramble into a wheat pita and sprinkle some low fat mozzarella on top.
8. P.B. & B on a Muffin. Toast a wheat English muffin and add a tbsp of peanut butter to each piece (or you can use almond butter). Slice a banana and add the slices on top of the p.b. You can make it even sweeter by giving it a light drizzle of honey, but ripe bananas give it the sweet flavor already!
9. Mexican Egg Roll. Similar to the scrambled egg & veggies, but you scramble up 1 large egg, 1 tbsp of mild green chilies (I always have these in a Tupperware container waiting to be used), handful of spinach and ¼ cup cooked black beans. You can toss washed canned black beans in while you cook the egg. Also purchase the lower sodium option for beans if available. Once your Mexican scramble is cooked place it on a tortilla. Spoon some salsa on top and cheese (if you want) and roll the tortilla.
10. Cereal….but the healthy kind! I am a big fan of the multi-grain cheerios and serve that up with some vanilla almond milk and I’m golden. I also grew up eating Grape Nuts, and milk with a sliced banana. I used to add three heaping spoons of sugar to my Grape Nuts as a kid, but the banana and vanilla almond milk makes it sweet enough.
11. Fruit Parfait. This breakfast is so good I have it as dessert some times. Grab a bowl or cup (red solo cup if your on the go!) and spoon some vanilla yogurt (If you have a Publix- you MUST buy their fat free vanilla yogurt….it’s so good it’s sinful!), spoon some granola (I love the Naked brand), toss in some blueberries, add some more yogurt, granola and then blueberries again. SO SO GOOD!
12. Mike’s favorite. Scramble up 1 large egg, add salt and pepper to taste. Toast an English muffin and then spread some hummus to one slice. Top that slice with the scrambled egg, sprinkle some cheese and then top with the other toasted English muffin for a yummy breakfast sandwhich!
Oh the dreaded Florida heat has approached us. The humidity is a hair killer and a tantrum maker. We are huge fans of otter pops or frozen yogurt while we attempt outdoor playtime. With the heat I am always looking for simple recipes that don’t require too much cooking so I can escape the heat outside and in the kitchen! Today I bring you a simple no-bake pie that is perfect for hot summer days.
Yummy! I love anything lemon and would love to have a piece right now. I’ve craved citrus-y things during this pregnancy.