Upon being faced with a brand new and fresh fall semester, some of us may be dreading the inevitable: early mornings and eight-thirty lectures. Most students who are night owls (such as myself) will never quite comprehend how early risers can have their lives put together SO early in the morning. One aspect of your morning that is necessary to ensure you’re on your “A” game is a breakfast. Many of you may be thinking “How in the world will I have time to prepare a breakfast when I’m already running late”? Well, I am here to help! You can prepare these 5 delicious meals within a few seconds or a few minutes. Some of them you can even eat them to-go, which is a huge bonus. Here are breakfasts for the rather tardy, champions:
Almond butter, banana and cinnamon on whole grain
This wholesome breakfast requires very minimal time and effort to prepare. Pop a piece of toast in the toaster, generously spread with creamy almond butter, place your chopped up banana on top and garnish with cinnamon. You can even add a second piece of toast to create a sandwich, if you think that you’ll need the extra calories. This meal is filled with nutrients such as fiber, potassium and protein. Your fellow passengers on OC-Transpo will be envious once they see you devouring this, as their stomachs are viciously growling.
Homemade instant oatmeal
This meal may need some preparation the evening before, but don’t fret! I promise that you won’t regret those precious extra minutes of beauty sleep. You can customize your oatmeal according to your taste buds’ needs. For example, if you’re craving something sweet, you can add dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pecans and dried mango. Make sure to use whole rolled oats because they are a great (and healthy) alternative to pre-made oatmeal packets. If you have access to a microwave or a kettle to boil water, you’re good to go!
Avocado toast and boiled eggs
Similarly, to the homemade instant oatmeal mentioned above, this protein-loaded meal may also require some preliminary preparation. The night before, you can boil eggs as you usually would and then remove the exterior shell and refrigerate. In the morning, you can cut up a ripe avocado, pack the second half to-go for later and generously spread the rest on top of whole wheat toast. The final step is to mash up the eggs you prepared the night before, spread them on the toast, sprinkle with some pepper and coat with olive oil.
Greek yogurt, granola, cinnamon and chia seeds
This option might not be the most ideal to eat on-the-go, but I do suggest that you store it in a tupperware and eat it once you get to campus. For the healthiest option, next time you’re in the grocery store, make sure to purchase Greek yogurt without additional flavouring or sugar. Instead, you can naturally sweeten your fluffy and creamy yogurt with honey and cinnamon. To get that satisfying crunch, toss in some granola and chia seeds. Chia seeds are nutrient-dense and energy-packed, which will surely offer you the support you need to start your morning!
Smoothies!
This is the most convenient to-go breakfast for those of you never seem to be punctual (like me). If you really can’t afford 5 minutes to sit down to enjoy your meal, or if your hunger is far too severe to wait until getting to campus, a smoothie can easily replace your morning cup of coffee. The options are ENDLESS when it comes to choosing your smoothie ingredients. Here is a suggested quick AND healthy base smoothie recipe:
- Banana
- Frozen berries of your choice (i.e., strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- Almond milk
- Protein powder (why not add the extra protein?)
- Hemp hearts (another great source of protein and essential fatty acids)