It’s midterm season. Waking up early and cooking up a healthy and filling breakfast isn’t always on a student’s list of priorities. Most of us are getting extra hours of sleep, studying or making sure to get to class on time. Sometimes, skipping breakfast or just grabbing a snack is the easiest way to go. For those who have the time and are looking for some quick, healthy and protein-rich meals to start off their morning routine, here are some of my favorites.
Classic Oatmeal
Oatmeal has a long-standing but undeserved reputation of being plain and bland. This antioxidant rich meal can be more than healthy and enjoyable too. This is one of my favorite meals for early mornings with a side of iced coffee!
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 medium banana, mashed
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Instructions
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Combine all ingredient into a small saucepan and turn heat to medium/high
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Bring to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to low/medium and continually stir for around 3-5 minutes as the oatmeal cooks and thickens.
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Once oatmeal is at the desired consistency, remove from heat, and serve immediately.
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Optional: top it off with spices, fruits, nuts, almond butter, or jam. For a savory bowl, add a soft boiled or poached egg, spinach, avocado slices, and chives. Feel free to get creative!
Protein Breakfast Smoothie
A smoothie is a refreshing way to get your morning up and running. This breakfast meal puts me in a good mood and inspires me to be productive. If you’re looking for a lighter breakfast, this would be the way to go.
Ingredients
1 medium frozen banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
2 tablespoons rolled oatmeal
¼ cup vanilla protein powder (for a plant based protein powder try Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein)
1 tablespoon all-natural creamy peanut butter
1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
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Place everything into a high-speed blender
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Blend on high, stopping to scrape the sides as needed, until smooth.
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Serve immediately!
Avocado Toast with Sunny Side Egg
A Californian favorite. Avocado is high on healthy fats, which will keep you going until lunch time. (Additional recommendation: I like to use fresh bread from a bakery. Blackmarket Bakery is my go-to for all things bread!)
Ingredients
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1 or 2 slices whole grain bread, toasted
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1 avocado peeled and seeded
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cooking spray
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1 large egg
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kosher salt and black pepper to taste
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hot sauce, optional
Instructions
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Mash the avocado in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
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Heat a small nonstick skillet over low heat, spray with oil and gently crack the egg into the skillet. Cover and cook to your liking.
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Place mashed avocado over toast, top with egg, salt, pepper and hot sauce if desired.
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Want to get creative? Top off your toast with herbs, pickled onions, jalapenos or sliced cherry tomatoes. You can also try switching up the bread. Some options include: bagel, sourdough or brioche.