Easy, healthy breakfast ideas you haven’t thought of

For many of us, mornings are a blur of getting ready for work, school or wherever our busy lives take us. We need a breakfast that’s quick to make but we don’t want to sacrifice good nutrients for the sake of convenience.

It might be tempting to reach for a pre-packaged breakfast drink but remember, these are often high in sugar and additives and create unnecessary waste that flows into our landfills.

So we found a few alternatives that won’t slow you down in the morning and will provide the energy you need for your busy day.

Breakfast in a jar

We love layered breakfasts – they can be made the night before, saving precious minutes in the morning, they are easy to take to work or the gym if you need breakfast on the go, and every spoonful tastes different.

You really can’t go wrong here – just layer the ingredients you love (such as healthy, low-sugar cereal, fruit, nuts, yogurt, grated carrot, spices) in a eco-friendly reusable glass jar, pop the lid on and leave in the fridge overnight.

But if you want some inspiration or ideas, we’ve got six yummy recipes on our breakfast in a jar page.

Layered breakfasts are not only nutritious, they are cost-effective too – our gluten-free rhubarb recipe works out at around $1.60 a serve or try the muesli with grated carrot and apple jar at about $1.75 per serve. On par with a breakfast drink from the supermarket and much better for you!

Salmon the superfood

Breakfast and bacon have been a popular combination in New Zealand for decades but have you thought about starting your day with smoked salmon? It’s got great health benefits - it's a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium and selenium – and it doesn’t need to be cooked so it’s quick and easy.

One of our favourite quick breakfasts is scrambled eggs with a couple of slices of smoked salmon diced and stirred through. It can be ready in less than 10 minutes! Smoked salmon can also turn a simple omelette into a culinary delight.

Or, if you don’t want eggs, try smearing a thin layer of low-fat cream cheese on a slice of wholegrain toast, then top it with slices of smoked salmon and a sprinkle of capers.

High-performance fruit salad

Not everyone feels like a big breakfast in the morning but it’s important to eat something to boost your metabolism and stabilise your blood sugar. If you are not a fan of food first thing, a fruit salad is a great light option. However, on its own, it won’t provide the nutrients you need for energy and to keep your brain sharp. Luckily, it’s easy to transform a simple fruit salad into a high-performance breakfast.

Sprinkle a handful of your favourite Te Atatu Toasted muesli on top of your fruit salad. All our mueslis are low-GI foods, which means they provide slow-release energy throughout the day. If you choose our original blend, you are getting a mix of fruit, almonds, seeds and whole oats which will help keep you feeling full longer.

Our healthy-blend is also low in sugar, we have a gluten-free option and one for anyone following a paleo diet.

Adding a dollop of yoghurt to a fruit salad is another way to add protein to your breakfast.

Now you are on your way to having mornings sorted.