Two types of morning people exist. Some roll out of bed and hit the ground running without giving much thought to breakfast, or even eating, for hours—move first, fuel later. Then, there are the ones who revel in a morning routine that very much revolves around food. Healthy breakfast ideas are constantly swirling as they slide out of bed to craft the perfect cup of artfully poured coffee.
There isn’t necessarily a right morning person to be, but generally, I assume anyone who doesn’t identify as a breakfast person simply hasn’t found an AM meal they truly love. So, we’re here to help. Below, I’ve rounded up a collection of easy, healthy breakfast ideas to suit every kind of morning mood, from sweet chia puddings and hearty favorites to nutritious takes on global-inspired brunches. And if you don’t have time to sit and savor, no worries. There are plenty of make-ahead meals you could easily grab and go, too.
Featured image by Michelle Nash.
In this article
Healthy Oats and Porridge
Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya
Why We Love It: Hot take: porridge is far from a bland breakfast. With so many variations, including anything from fresh fruit to yogurt, you’ll never be bored with your morning bowl. We’re obsessed with Sarah Copeland’s porridge, which uses millet and amaranth as the main grains. Top with sliced papaya and a drizzle of honey.
Hero Ingredient: Sarah recommends salt over sugar when seasoning your grains.
Spiced Buckwheat Porridge with Yogurt, Mulberries & Maple
Why We Love It: Nutty buckwheat melds with warming spices to create the perfect, cozy bowl of porridge. With complementary toppings like apples and cinnamon, it’s hard to start your day on a bad foot.
Hero Ingredient: Buckwheat might just replace your overnight oats.
Creamy Pumpkin Oat Bran Porridge
Why We Love It: It’s hard to turn down a breakfast bowl that satisfies your sweet tooth. This pumpkin porridge is the perfect bowl for chilly mornings.
Hero Ingredient: Pumpkin puree and oat bran might just become your new favorite morning combo.
Strawberry Buckwheat Porridge with Cocoa Crumbles
Why We Love It: Pink porridge is one of the only breakfast bowls that makes me excited to get out of bed. When you’re looking for a protein-packed meal that you can enjoy in the warmer months, these fresh flavors will do the trick.
Hero Ingredient: Cocoa crumbles create a crunchy texture that will wake up your taste buds.
One Bowl Baked Banana Cashew Oatmeal
Why We Love It: Meal-prepping your oatmeal is the ultimate, rush-out-the-door morning hack. This one-bowl baked banana cashew oatmeal is a stunning dish that will simplify your AM routine.
Hero Ingredient: Sliced bananas are the perfect way to add a touch of sweetness.
Kitchari
Why We Love It: This cozy kitchari is one of our food editor, Suruchi’s go-to recipes. The one-pot meal uses savory spices that double as anti-inflammatory ingredients to boost your morning.
Hero Ingredient: Add a scoop of yogurt for the ideal creaminess.
Blueberry Overnight Oats from Fit Foodie Finds
Why We Love It: These blueberry overnight oats combine breakfast and dessert to start your day in the sweetest way. This recipe also includes chia seeds that deliver a dose of healthy fats into your morning routine.
Hero Ingredient: Blueberries and oats are an elite combination.
Tropical Overnight Oats from Eating Bird Food
Why We Love It: This recipe has your back with the perfect summer make-ahead meal. Spooning up tropical fruits and cozy oats will have you feeling like you’re waking up at the beach.
Hero Ingredient: Shredded coconut keeps your breakfast sweet and summery.
Healthy Muffins
One Bowl Morning Glory Muffins
Why we love it: Morning glory muffins take a delicious, grab-and-go bite that we know and love and bring in fresh and nutritious ingredients. Who knew you could up your veggie intake in such a sweet way?
Hero Ingredient: We love shredded zucchini as a great glory muffin go-to.
Jam-Filled Gluten-Free Muffins
Why we love it: If the idea of gluten-free baking conjures up dry, bland baked goods, this luscious, sweet recipe (which also happens to be dairy-free) will be a game changer.
Hero ingredient: The details are key when it comes to nailing gluten-free baked goods (Camille learned a lot from a bit of trial and error). This is a rare case when add-ins (like cinnamon, vanilla, and almond extract) are particularly important.
Blueberry Power Muffins
Why we love it: Both gluten- and dairy-free, Brooklyn-based baker Lani Halliday’s go-to blueberry muffin recipe also serves as a nourishing, energy-boosting snack.
Hero ingredient: Use almond or hazelnut flour for baked goods that are naturally gluten-free.
Vegan Nutty Banana Muffins
Why We Love It: Banana bread is one of those morning staples we love, but don’t always have the time to throw together. These muffins take the same nostalgic flavors and pack them into a bite-sized morning meal (that’s much healthier, too).
Hero Ingredient: Sliced almonds make a great topping with the perfect texture.
Banana Pumpkin Muffins
Why We Love It: The flavors of banana and pumpkin pair together in a way that will never disappoint. Grabbing one of these on your way out the door is guaranteed to brighten up your morning.
Hero Ingredient: Cinnamon keeps these muffins warm, cozy, and just sweet enough.
Cranberry Orange Muffins
Why We Love It: In this recipe, fresh fruit flavors meet the warmth of a muffin in the best way possible. And if you’ve ever thought the tasty combo of cranberry and orange is only for the holidays, it’s time to think again. I love snacking on this tart-and-sweet pairing all throughout the year.
Hero Ingredient: Orange zest adds the perfect hit of sweet, sour, and citrusy flavor.
Pumpkin Morning Glory Muffins
Why We Love It: Pumpkin flavors are hard to turn down, especially when they’re used in a healthy and flavorful recipe like morning glory muffins. They’re exactly what you want when the temps cool down in the fall, but truthfully, I’d happily scarf one of these down any morning.
Hero Ingredient: Sub in your veggies, but don’t skip out on the pumpkin puree.
Anti-Inflammatory Berry + Turmeric Muffins
Why We Love It: I absolutely love when an anti-inflammatory recipe makes its way onto my morning menu (bonus when it’s as delicious as these muffins!). With bright fruit and a hearty texture, this is the perfect recipe to boost your energy first thing.
Hero Ingredient: Turmeric’s golden color is just too pretty to pass up.
Healthy Smoothies
3 Beat-Bloating Smoothies
Why We Love It: Camille Styles wellness editor, Edie Horstman developed these three smoothie recipes specifically to help you enjoy your favorite flavors without having to worry about that uncomfortable post-breakfast bloat. Tropical turmeric, strawberries and cream, and matcha plant power each include a whole lot of goodness in one glass. Trust me, they’ll go down easy.
Hero Ingredient: The ingredients vary from recipe to recipe, but be sure to add a little something on top of each for a nice bit of crunch.
Get Figgy With It Smoothie
Why We Love It: Eating with the seasons is something we’re trying to do more of—especially because it’s healthier and oftentimes cheaper, too. This summer/fall fig breakfast smoothie will help you get the practice down pat.
Hero Ingredient: If you haven’t yet fallen for fig’s sweet, complex flavor, this smoothie is sure to hook you.
Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie
Why We Love It: Chocolate and banana commonly complement each other in dessert dishes. But in this smoothie, they combine to create a protein-packed breakfast. Simply throw it all in a blender for a quick and easy start to your day!
Hero Ingredient: Get in your recommended daily dose of protein early with chocolate protein powder.
Almond Butter Kale Smoothie
Why We Love It: Super simple, and even more delicious, this almond butter smoothie takes fresh greens and combines their mild sweetness to brighten up your morning.
Hero Ingredient: What better sweetener is there than almond butter?
Tropical Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie
Why We Love It: This kid-friendly favorite will surely make its way onto your weekly menu. Look to honey as your natural sweetener to keep the sugar content low.
Hero Ingredient: Fresh ginger is a must-have.
Healthy Egg Recipes
Spicy Mexican Baked Eggs
Why we love it: A mix of kale, avocado, bell pepper, and eggs offers a balanced breakfast, but we’re always pro anything that doubles as a clean, healthy dip.
Hero ingredient: With so many ingredients mixed in, the eggs are what hold it all together. But never underestimate the power of garlic.
Masala Eggs
Why we love it: This traditional Indian dish might just be the most flavorful breakfast you can make. (Bonus: the easiest, too.)
Hero ingredient: In addition to fragrant herbs and spices, getting the eggs silky smooth is key. Let the pros lead the way.
Arugula Breakfast Salad With Toasted Pistachio, Radish & Soft Eggs
Why We Love It: One of the things we love most about breakfast salads (or any salad for that matter) is the freedom the basic formula gives you to mix and match ingredients as you please. This particular array of components brings in flavor, a surprising mix of textures (pistachios and quinoa, anyone?), and the knowledge that you’re doing your body—and your taste buds—a whole lot of good even before opening your laptop.
Hero Ingredient: Nothing competes with the pistachio’s crunch.
Power Greens Breakfast Egg Bites
Why we love it: These power green-packed bites encompass two of our favorite recipe qualities: they can be made days ahead of time, and they’re incredibly easy to whip together.
Hero ingredient: The eggs may be the ones gluing it all together, but it’s the dark leafy greens (kale, chard, or spinach) stealing the show.
Mushroom, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Frittata
Why we love it: This could really be called the “whatever-you-might-have-in-your-fridge frittata.”
Hero ingredient: For those adhering to a gluten-free diet, browned eggs are a top-notch vehicle for enjoying a savory breakfast.
Healthy Toast Recipes
Sunday Night Avocado Toast With a Jammy Egg
Why We Love It: This toast recipe gives all the breakfast vibes. The 8-minute egg with a jammy yolk is the perfect complement to fresh ingredients like avocado and cherry tomatoes.
Hero Ingredient: How can you go wrong with everything bagel seasoning?
Yogurt Toast With Peanut Butter and Banana
Why We Love It: The custard toast trend has taken TikTok (and really the entire internet) by storm. Camille’s version skips the baking and instead layers a slice of sourdough with super smooth yogurt, bananas, granola, and runny PB for a toast that doesn’t skimp on flavor, creaminess, or crunch.
Hero Ingredient: My childhood self would go hard for the peanut butter-on-toast combo. My adult self? Still a fan.
Avocado Toast with Kale Pesto and Crunchy Veggies
Why We Love It: This recipe gives a fun variation on the classic avocado toast with garlicky pesto, crunchy radish slices, and—don’t you dare skip it—everything seasoning.
Hero Ingredient: Hands up for the nutritional yeast that gives the pesto a distinct cheesy flavor while still being plant-based.
Smashed Avocado Toast
Why We Love It: Tired of your basic avocado toast? This recipe has all you need to freshen up the timeless recipe. The possibilities are endless when garnishing this dish, but eggs in any form or flavorful herbs are always a great option.
Hero Ingredient: A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime can make all the difference on this toast.
This post was originally published on August 26, 2021 and has since been updated.
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