The first meal of the day is the one to get you off on the right foot. Use these quick breakfast tips to make it snappy as well as delicious.
You’ve heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That after so many hours since dinner, refueling your body is essential.
All too often, you might be tempted to skip breakfast, especially when it seems to take so much time.
That’s when you need to lean on some quick breakfast strategies to help you eat well and get on with the day.
Quick Breakfast Tips to Help You Get on With the Day
As a mom of five kids still at home, I well know how crazy the morning rush can be. For years I skipped breakfast because I was so busy getting everyone else settled.
Now, however, I live for breakfast. I’ve developed some favorite quick breakfast rituals that fuel me up and get me going in the right direction.
Follow one (or more!) of these quick breakfast tips to make your mornings easier.
Set up your morning cuppa.
Just as making dinner in the morning will help your evening, getting your morning beverages ready at night will help your morning tomorrow.
Funny how it works that way. Doing things in advance helps you out.
So, what morning beverages am I talking about?
- get the coffee maker ready
- fill all water dispensers: hot water kettle, coffee maker, and water bottles
- get juicing or smoothie ingredients ready to go through the juicer/blender
- fill sippy cups and bottles
- thaw frozen concentrates
You know you’re going to need to hydrate first thing in the morning or get a good dose of caffeine. If you set it up at night before you go to bed, the morning will go more smoothly.
Make breakfast in advance.
There are so many breakfasts you can make in advance, there’s really no excuse to skip your morning meal.
One of my favorite quick breakfast recipes to make ahead is the muesli in my Greek Yogurt With Muesli. I portion out a week’s worth of muesli in small cups and have them all ready to go when my feet hit the kitchen floor.
My daughter prefers Overnight Oats, instead. You can mix up several jars at the start of the week and enjoy them for several days without lifting more than a spoon come morning.
While toast and fried eggs are best made fresh, there are plenty of other breakfasts you can make ahead. Think about what are your favorite breakfasts and how you can make all or part of it in advance.
- Assemble a breakfast casserole.
- Precook the bacon or sausage and just reheat to eat.
- Cook a batch of hard cooked eggs.
- Bake a batch of waffles to reheat in the toaster.
- Mix up a batch of granola.
Serve a breakfast bar.
Looking for an easy, no-fuss breakfast that will serve the family even if they wake at different times? Meet the breakfast bar. I started creating the same type buffet at home after I realized how crazy my kids were over hotel breakfast buffets. It’s the same concept, only home-based.
This is so easy to do, you’ll wonder why you never did it sooner. Before you go to bed, lay out cups, dishes, and spoons as well as an array of breakfast items, such as breads, muffins, bagels, fruit, cereal, etc.
You can lay out the cold stuff in the morning or set up a tray in the fridge with spreads, cream cheese, milk, and yogurts. Then assign someone to pull the cold stuff if they wake before you.
Your children and spouse can serve themselves breakfast. You are no longer the short order cook. And you make it the responsibility of those old enough to make sure they get themselves fed before it’s time for school and all that stuff.
Start with a clean kitchen.
I hate to say it, but it’s true. Going to bed with the kitchen clean will have a transformative effect on your mornings. It will be a peaceful place to go to first thing in the morning.
And if the dishwasher is already empty, folks in your household can load their dishes and clean up after themselves quickly and easily.
That — and a full belly — will help you get on with your day with a smile.
Make several packets at one time and have easy, on-the-go oatmeal cups ready when you are. Tender scrambled eggs are dotted with sauteed mushrooms, peppers, onions, spinach, and dots of tangy feta cheese. What's not to love? Bonus: it comes together in just a few minutes. This hearty breakfast casserole can be made in advance and warmed throughout the week for a delicious These mini quinoa muffins are held together with eggs, cheese, and whatever veggies you've got on hand. Make a big batch and reheat throughout the week. A Denver Omelet is delicious, but it comes together even more quickly in a scramble. Chop the veggies and ham in advance so that you'll have breakfast ready in minutes. This Southwestern Oven Omelet is super hands-free. Mix it together and slide it in the oven while you finish getting ready for the day. An omelet is an easy and delicious meal, perfect for a quick breakfast. Add whatever leftover bits of cheese, meat, and veg you have on hand. Fried eggs take less than ten minutes and can be super filling. Cook up a panfull and enjoy a quick and easy breakfast. Smoothies are a sweet and refreshing way to start the day. Keep bags of sliced bananas and strawberries in the freezer so you can pull this together in minutes. Mango, banana, and strawberries make for good friends in this delicious, quick and easy smoothie. Blend coconut milk, mango, and banana in an creamy and tasty day-starter. Bake up a batch of granola to enjoy throughout the week on yogurt or with milk. Topped with berries, it's a great way to begin the day. Break your fast with this simple, bake-ahead oatmeal. Dotted with raspberries (or whatever fruit you like), this baked oatmeal can be frozen as well so you've got easy meals on hand for weeks to come. An oven pancake comes together in just a few minutes and then is hands-free while it bakes. Slide a pan in the oven and go finish getting ready. To be a little extra, top it with some sauteed cinnamon apples. Crepe batter is best when it gets a chance to rest. Blend up a batch of this at night before you go to bed and then cook them up in the morning. You can even freeze leftover crepes for quick and easy breakfasts for the future.Quick Breakfast Recipes
Instant Oatmeal Packets
Greek Eggs
Sausage Egg Hash Brown Casserole
Easy Quinoa Egg Bites
Denver Scramble
Southwestern Oven Omelet
Easy Omelets
Fried Eggs
Red Banana Smoothie
Strawberry Mango Smoothie with Banana
Coconut Mango Banana Smoothie
Maple Vanilla Almond Granola
Raspberry Baked Oatmeal
Oven Pancake with Cinnamon Apples
Easy Homemade Crepes
Sarah
I’ve embraced dinner leftovers as breakfast and I am loving it!
When I first learned your breakfast bar technique, I got my Mom on board for when the whole family visits (10 adults + 6 kids) so now no one (aka mom) has to short order cook eggs for two hours as people start to wake up.
The kids love making pancakes with Grandpa, so we do it for lunch or dinner since everyone is happily caffeinated by then!
(The good ol days!)
Jessica Fisher
I love that story. Thank you for sharing, Sarah!