Hannah Blanton
We all know it’s the most important meal of the day. I’m in the camp of “people-who-can’t-function-without-breakfast,” but I know that lots of people prefer to run out the door in the morning with nothing but a freshly brewed coffee in their bellies. Breakfast doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming. If you get breakfast right, you’ll wonder why you ever doubted it.
Eating a healthy breakfast is a sure-fire way to set yourself up for a productive day. It provides us with essential nutrients to keep our energy levels high throughout the day and prevent us from reaching for the snack draw mid-morning.
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But not all breakfasts are equal. Grabbing a sugary doughnut or slice of white bread and jam isn’t going to fuel our bodies and minds particularly well. Thankfully for us plant-based eaters, some of the healthiest and most nutritious breakfast foods come straight from Mother Earth.
Here are five healthy, vegan breakfast foods that will boost you through the morning and fill your belly with goodness.
1. Oats
Oats are basically the king of breakfast. They are quick to prepare and can be used in a wide variety of breakfast meals. Oats are a great healthy choice because they are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, are a good source of carbs and fibre, help improve blood sugar control and fill you up for a long time.
For a nutrition-packed breakfast, try preparing some overnight oats with almond milk, raw honey, bananas and seeds. Or simply add oats into some homemade granola with nuts, raisins and various seeds for a tasty bowl of goodness.
2. Chia Seeds
These tiny seeds are becoming increasingly popular nowadays thanks to their incredible array of health benefits. They’re loaded with antioxidants, fibre, calcium, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and a lot of other fancy nutrients that most of us can’t even pronounce.
Chia seeds are perfect for adding to granola, smoothies, breakfast bowls and salads, making them an ideal breakfast choice. Combine them with some coconut milk (another super healthy vegan breakfast food) and fruit the night before for an instant breakfast boost.
3. Blueberry Smoothie
Blueberries are some of the most nutrient-dense berries. They contain huge amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, fibre and manganese, and they make the perfect smoothie ingredient. They also boost your heart health and brain function.
Fresh berries can be expensive, but a bag of frozen blueberries is great to have on hand for a quick morning smoothie. Customize your smoothie however you want. I love to add coconut milk, avocado, maple syrup and chia seeds to mine. Pour it into a mason jar or sealable container and you have the perfect breakfast-on-the-go too.
4. Loaded Toast
The smell of freshly pinged toast is one of my favourite smells. It makes an easy and quick breakfast, and if you pick a whole-grain loaf, it’s also very healthy. Whole-grain bread is the healthiest because it has been minimally refined.
Cliché, as it may now be, avocado toast, is a great and healthy way to start the day. Pile on some micro greens and sesame seeds and you have a delicious, healthy, vegan breakfast.
5. Nuts
Nuts are a great item to have stocked in your pantry for a healthy addition to your breakfast bowl. And they come in so many forms. Enjoy them raw atop your bowl of granola, as a nut butter in a smoothie or on toast, or as a non-dairy milk substitute.
Try some almond milk in a smoothie or bowl of cereal, some chopped walnuts in your granola, or some natural peanut butter on whole-grain toast. Your body and your brain will thank you.
These five healthy, vegan breakfast items are easy to incorporate into even the busiest of morning routines. Most of these ingredients can be combined for a truly superfood breakfast experience. You’ll never want to skip breakfast again!
