Happy and healthy 2018, my dears! I've heard that happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. I can't help you with the last one, but I can surely lend a hand with the healthiness part. I'm sure you've had these mornings where you have no idea what to eat or what you crave. No need to worry about it any more! Hopefully this post will help you out and give you some new ideas on how to start your day with delicious nourishing food.
Breakfasts are really individual and personal when it comes to taste. I've seen so many preferences. In the early hours of the morning, some people can only fruit, while others (like me) have no problem devouring greasy pan-fried potatoes. There are cereal people, sandwich people, yogurt people, porridge people and smoothie people. Or folks that eat everything together. There are so many options and the best thing to do is to eat exactly what you like and what suits you the best.
1) Chickpea omelette. My most favorite breakfast. And often it's also my lunch or dinner. This protein-rich, filling and delicious vegan omelette is made of chickpea flour. It's perfect with your morning porridge or on a toast. It's also wonderful to grab on the go, because it transports well and doesn't spoil quickly. It's really important to use the right kind of chickpea flour here. My favorites are TRS or PaPa brand ones that are in the big one kilo bags. If you have the right flour, then your omelette will always come out perfect and never falls apart.
2) Porridge. For many years, my favorite morning porridge was made with buckwheat flakes. But lately I've been really digging good old oatmeal. I discovered quick wholegrain oats in the store and been really loving them. My porridges have always been savory. I like to boil the oats in water seasoned with herb salt. Then I drizzle some quality cold pressed olive oil on it and sprinkle it with some fairy dust as known as nutritional yeast flakes. Sometimes I even add some vegan cheese chunks. So good! But of course you can eat a sweet porridge with fruits, berries, nuts, cinnamon, cane sugar, agave syrup and coconut fat for example. And if you're not craving porridge, there's always cereals and granolas with plant milk or some vegan yogurt.
Simple oatmeal porridge (serves one person):
- 2 cups / 480 ml water or plant milk (rice or oat milk for example)
- ¼ - ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup / 80 g quick (wholegrain) oats
Bring water to a boil. Add salt and oats. Boil for 3 - 4 minutes. Remove the heat, cover the pot with a lid and let the porridge sit for a few minutes.
3) Smoothies and fruits. One of the easiest choices. Just grab your favorite fruit or blend yourself a quick smoothie and you're good to go. It's rich in fiber and vitamins and ready in no time.
Start your day with this refreshing green kiwi smoothie or this seasonal creamy orange smoothie. The basic smoothie formula is really simple: if you want two glasses of smoothie, blend two ripe bananas with a cup of cold water and your favorite fruit or handful of berries. If you want a sweeter smoothie, add a handful of dates or raisins or some unrefined cane sugar.
4) Wraps. If you have a bit more time in the morning, try experimenting with different wraps. It's good to fill them with something juicy, crunchy and filling. For example, add hummus, tofu, tomato and lettuce. Try these delicious carrot wraps with guacamole and peppery tofu or these seasonal pumpkin and hummus wraps. Another great meal to grab on the go!
5) Sandwiches. Of course you can always have sandwiches with vegan cheese or sausage, but the most filling, affordable and healthy option is to make your own sandwich spread. Try this creamy avocado hummus or this roasted carrot and garlic spread. If you are a fan of mushrooms, enjoy this mushroom pâté. For a really filling breakfast, cook up this simple lentil and onion spread.
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| Veggie pancakes with sunflower sour cream. Photo from my Estonian gluten-free vegan cookbook |
6) Pancakes. Can't skip this classic breakfast option. Definitely try this fool-proof pancake recipe. I usually make pancake batter with water, but you can always use some plant milk of your choice. Instead of eggs, vegan pancakes are made with baking powder. You can eat them with fruits or jam or maple syrup or serve them as a savory meal. My favorite pancake topping is just pan-fried onions and zucchini. Simple but tasty!
7) Buns. I already feel the weekend vibe with these fluffy multigrain buns. You can serve them with different spreads or jams. And in the evening, use them as burger buns.
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| Savory omelette muffins. Photo from my Estonian gluten-free vegan cookbook. |
8) Muffins. Another perfect breakfast for these weekend mornings. Really easy to make too! Try these moist savory muffins with sun-dried tomatoes and olives or these easy apple and walnut muffins.
9) Banana bread. This is my most favorite banana bread recipe! So moist and decadent yet healthy. You can make it gluten-free by just replacing the regular flours with a gluten-free mix. My favorite is Schär's gluten-free flour mix with rice flour. If you leave out the chocolate, then this banana bread is completely sugar-free too. The batter is sweetened with bananas and dates. But I would think twice about skipping the chocolate... :)
10) Cinnamon rolls. A breakfast classic indeed. If you have a sweet tooth, breakfast is the best time to satisfy it since you'll have the whole day to be active and forget about the calories. So on your next Saturday or Sunday morning bake these amazingly fluffy and dreamy cinnamon rolls and enjoy the little things in life.
