Getting caught up in day to day activities can often have us forgetting about the most important meal of the day: breakfast. We’re all told that eating breakfast is a vital part of keeping extra weight off and for jump-starting our metabolism so we can have an energizing and productive day. But what about when we’re scurrying out the door every morning and don’t have time to pay much attention to what we’re shoving into our mouths before grabbing the keys and hopping the car?
While the chaos of our morning routine might not change any time soon, our breakfast routine can. The solution? Making breakfast dishes ahead of time to cut down on our time in the kitchen, so we can still eat well, but not have to spend more than five minutes preparing. Here are just a few make-ahead breakfast ideas that you can prepare on the weekend and have available in your refrigerator or freezer all week long to help you make it out the door on time without an empty stomach:
Frozen smoothies – A lot of us don’t get our required fruit servings each day, so do a little prep work ahead and you can be sure you’re getting yours each day with a cold smoothie. Freeze ½ cup portions of yogurt in muffin tins, and then once they’re frozen, remove from the tins. Portion out fresh or frozen fruit and yogurt into plastic bags to pop in the freezer. Breakfast will be as simple as dropping in what’s in the bag and turning it on. Get yourself a cup and a straw and you can have a delicious smoothie in seconds!
Mini frittatas – Create portable frittatas by making them in a muffin tin. Each cup gets an equal amount of cut fresh vegetables, cooked sausage or bacon, and one whisked egg. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one comes out clean. You can individually portion these to freeze for or keep in the refrigerator for eating throughout the week.
Breakfast cookies – What’s better than a cookie… for breakfast!? Create a batch of low-sugar, high-energy cookies, with a recipe like this one to fill you up on whole grains, dried fruit, and nuts to keep you full through the morning! These will keep in the refrigerator through the week or freeze them and reheat when you’re ready for them!
With a little preparation and dedicated time on the weekend, you can still be getting all the benefits of a well-rounded breakfast without having to get yourself out of bed any earlier on work days. Try one (or a few) of these make-ahead ideas and you’ll be off to a great start to your day, even if you’re still rushing out the door!