easy meals week: breakfast

easy meals week is here! this post features 15 quick and nourishing breakfast options (including recipes & favorite products!) all that use less than 10 ingredients or take less than 15 minutes to make! #caitsplateeasymealsweek

I’ve been promising you guys that an easy meals week was coming and I’m happy to say it’s finally here!

Throughout the week I’m going to be sharing a bunch of my favorite easy, nourishing meals that come together quickly, making them perfect for those busy weeks I know we all have.

Those of you that have followed me for a while will definitely recognize these as they’re all meals that I’ve made and ate myself over the years. There’s nothing fancy about these meal ideas – they’re just quick, easy and offer a nice balance of nutrients!

As always, I encourage you to make them your own – add/subtract/swap ingredients to fit your needs and preferences. The idea here is just to provide you some inspiration!

1. STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE BOWL WITH GRANOLA

FOR THE SMOOTHIE BOWL:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain, unsweetened soy or almond milk
• 1/2 cup frozen whole strawberries
• 1 large banana, peeled & frozen then broken into chunks
• Optional add-ins: scoop of plain greek or skyr yogurt, 1 tablespoon chia, hemp or flaxseeds, 1 tablespoon nut butter

Directions: Combine all ingredients (including desired add-ins) together in a food processor and blend until smooth. Scoop into a bowl and top with granola of choice.

Favorite Products: Michele’s granola, Jessica’s granola, KIND granola, Erin Baker’s granola, Siggi’s yogurt, Silk soy or almond milk, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter

Gluten-free? All of Jessica’s granolas are gluten-free!

2. WHOLE GRAIN CEREAL WITH MILK & FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 1 – 1 1/2 cups whole grain cereal
• 2/3 cup milk of choice
• 1 apple

Directions: Pour desired amount of cereal into a bowl and top with milk. Serve with fruit.

Favorite Products: Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Barbara’s Morning Oat Crunch, Silk soy or almond milk

Gluten-Free? Try Rice Chex or Honey Rice Puffins

3. WHOLE GRAIN TOAST TOPPED WITH MASHED AVOCADO & EGG

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole grain bread, toasted
• 1/2 avocado, mashed
• Splash of lime juice
• 1-2 eggs, cooked the way you like
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• Optional topping: pepitas, drizzle of olive oil

Directions: While bread toasts, cook egg(s) according to your preference. Mash 1/2 an avocado with a splash of lime juice and spread over toast. Top with egg(s), salt & pepper to taste and any optional toppings you choose.

Favorite Products: Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane, Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Gluten-Free? Try Food For Life Brown Rice Bread, Whole Foods Gluten-Free Prairie Bread, Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread

4. PEANUT BUTTER APPLE CHIA SEED OATMEAL

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled or old fashioned oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2/3 cup water or milk
• 1 apple, washed & diced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions:

STOVETOP: Place oats, chia seeds, liquid of choice, diced apple and cinnamon into a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the oats begin to gel together then lower heat to ‘low.’ Stir for 1-2 more minutes or until all oats are gelatinous, then add peanut butter & stir to combine.

MICROWAVE: Alternatively, you can place oats, chia seeds and liquid of choice into a bowl and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Stir in apples and microwave on HIGH for another 30 seconds. Top with cinnamon and peanut butter and stir to combine.

Not into this oat combo? Try these recipes: Cinnamon raisin apple walnut oatmeal, Cinnamon-kissed pear, toasted walnut & honey oatmeal, Cranberry walnut chia seed oats, Cinnamon raisin walnut oats, Peanut butter & jelly oats

Favorite Products: Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter

Gluten-Free? Opt for certified gluten-free oats

5. GREEN SMOOTHIE + WHOLE WHEAT BREAD OR BAGEL WITH NUT BUTTER

FOR THE SMOOTHIE:

Ingredients:

• 2 large handfuls baby spinach
• 1 cup plain, unsweetened soy or almond milk (more as needed to reach desired consistency)
• 1/2 cup frozen whole strawberries (about 5)
• 1 large frozen banana
• Optional add-ins: scoop of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon chia, hemp or flaxseeds, 1 tablespoon nut butter

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Toast 2 slices of whole wheat bread or a bagel and top with nut butter.

Favorite Products: Siggi’s yogurt, Silk soymilk, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane, Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Thomas’ 100% Whole Wheat bagels or bagel thins

Gluten-Free? Try Canyon Ranch Plain or Everything Bagels

6. YOGURT BOWL WITH FRUIT & GRANOLA

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup plain greek or skyr yogurt
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup granola
• 1/2 – 2/3 cup freshly diced fruit
• Optional add-ins: 1 tablespoon chia seeds, nut butter, unsweetened shredded coconut, almonds or walnuts

Directions: Layer ingredients into a bowl, top with add-ins of choice and serve.

Favorite Products: Michele’s granola, Jessica’s granola, KIND granola, Erin Baker’s granola, Siggi’s yogurt, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, MaraNatha almond butter

Gluten-free? All of Jessica’s granolas are gluten-free!

7. FRUITED YOGURT WAFFLES

Ingredients:

• 2 whole grain waffles
• 1-2 tablespoons nut butter
• 4 tablespoons plain greek or skyr yogurt
• 1 small apple, diced (or other fruit of choice)
• Optional toppings: sprinkle of ground cinnamon, drizzle of pure maple syrup

Directions: Toast waffles then spread each with nut butter and top each with yogurt. Sprinkle diced fruit over the top and finish with any desired optional toppings.

Favorite Products: Van’s 8 Whole Grains waffles, Siggi’s yogurt, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, MaraNatha almond butter

Gluten-Free? Try Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles

8. OVERNIGHT OATMEAL

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup greek or skyr yogurt
• 1/3 cup plain, unsweetened soy or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• Optional add-ins & toppings: fruit of choice, 1 tablespoon nut butter, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, maple syrup

Directions: Combine oats, yogurt, milk and chia seeds and optional add-ins (except for fruit) then cover in an airtight container and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour (overnight is best). In the morning, pull out and top with fruit of choice.

Try these recipes: baked apples stuffed with overnight vanilla cinnamon raisin walnut oats, raspberry peach overnight oatmeal, banana walnut bread overnight oatmeal, super fast meal idea: cherry overnight oatmeal {with video!}, overnight apple cinnamon walnut oatmeal (with video!)

Favorite Products: Silk soy or almond milk, Siggi’s yogurt, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, MaraNatha almond butter, Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats

Gluten-Free? Opt for certified gluten-free oats

9. CHEESY VEGGIE EGG SCRAMBLE WITH WHOLE GRAIN TOAST & FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• Splash of milk
• Small pad of butter or drizzle of olive oil
• 1/2 cup fresh vegetables, chopped (broccoli, tomato, spinach, mushrooms, whatever you prefer!)
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese (any kind you like)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1-2 slices whole grain bread
• 1 orange or other piece of fruit
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Optional: butter or olive oil for the bread

Directions: Scramble eggs with splash of milk. Meanwhile, drizzle a non-stick sauté pan with olive oil (or a pad of butter) and add fresh veggies. Sauté for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Pour scrambled eggs over the vegetables once soft and cook until eggs are fully done. Turn the heat off, add the cheese, salt & pepper and stir well to combine and allow the cheese to melt. Serve with 1-2 slices of whole grain toast and a piece of fruit.

Favorite Products: Organic Valley Butter, Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane, Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Gluten-Free? Try Food For Life Brown Rice Bread, Whole Foods Gluten-Free Prairie Bread, Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread

No time to make eggs? Try these easy make-ahead egg bakes that you can then just heat & eat! Pesto vegetable and mozzarella egg bake, Spinach, tomato & mozzarella egg bake, Broccoli, pepper & feta cheese egg bake

10. ALMOND BUTTER, BANANA & CINNAMON TOAST

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of whole grain bread
• 2-4 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 banana, peeled & diced
• Sprinkle of cinnamon
• Drizzle of pure maple syrup

Directions: Toast bread, top with almond butter, sliced banana (or other fruit of choice), sprinkle of cinnamon and drizzle of maple syrup

Favorite Products: Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, MaraNatha almond butter, Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane, Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Gluten-Free? Try Food For Life Brown Rice Bread, Whole Foods Gluten-Free Prairie Bread, Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread

11. WHOLE WHEAT BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE & FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 100% whole wheat bagel
• 2-4 tablespoons whipped cream cheese
• 1/2 – 1 cup fruit or 1 piece whole fruit
• Optional toppings: sprinkle of ground cinnamon or everything but the bagel seasoning

Directions: Toast the bagel, top with cream cheese & additional toppings of choice. Serve with fruit.

Favorite Products: Thomas’ 100% Whole Wheat bagels, Philadelphia whipped cream cheese, Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning

Gluten-Free? Try Canyon Ranch Plain or Everything Bagels

12. WHOLE GRAIN PANCAKES WITH NUT BUTTER & FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 2 whole grain pancakes
• 1-2 tablespoons nut butter
• Drizzle of maple syrup
• 1/2 – 1 cup fruit or 1 piece whole fruit
• Optional toppings: plain greek or skyr yogurt, sprinkle of ground cinnamon

Directions: Warm whole grain pancakes (unless making them from scratch), top with nut butter and other toppings of choice. Serve with fruit

Want to make your own? Try this recipe: Easy short-stack whole grain pancakes or gluten-free banana bread pancakes

Favorite Products: Whole Foods 365 frozen whole wheat pancakes, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, MaraNatha almond butter, Siggi’s yogurt,

Gluten-Free? Try Van’s Gluten-Free Pancakes

13. HARD BOILED EGG, WHOLE WHEAT CINNAMON RAISIN TOAST & FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 2-3 slices whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread
• 1-2 eggs
• 1/2 – 1 cup fruit or 1 piece whole fruit
• Optional: butter for toast, salt & pepper to taste

Directions: Hard boil eggs by placing them in a saucepan over high heat. Once the water comes to a boil, lower the heat slightly and allow to cook for 10 minutes. While eggs cook, toast bread, top with butter. When eggs are done cooking, drain hot water, cover with cool water and allow to sit for an additional minute or two before peeling & serving.

Favorite Products: Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread

Gluten-Free? Try Canyon Bakehouse Cinnamon Raisin Bread or Rudi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread

14. PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY SANDWICH WITH FRUIT

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 1-2 teaspoons jam or jelly
• 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 – 1 cup fruit or 1 piece whole fruit

Directions: Toast bread, spread one side with peanut butter, the other with jam (or a little of each on both!) and pair with fruit

Favorite Products: Polaner All Fruit, Trader Joe’s Raspberry Preserves, Crazy Richard’s, Trader Joe’s or Teddie peanut butter, Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane, Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Gluten-Free? Try Food For Life Brown Rice Bread, Whole Foods Gluten-Free Prairie Bread, Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread

15. EASY EGG, CHEESE, AVOCADO & TOMATO BREAKFAST SANDWICH WITH FRUIT

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat english muffin
• 1-2 eggs
• Splash of milk
• 1 slice of mozzarella or provolone cheese
• 1 slice of tomato
• 1/4 avocado, mashed
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/2 – 1 cup fruit or 1 piece whole fruit

Directions: Toast english muffin. While english muffin toasts, scramble eggs with splash of milk, then place a small pad of butter or olive oil into a non-stick sauté pan and turn heat to medium low. Add eggs to pan once butter has melted and scramble. Once eggs are done cooking, turn off the heat and top with a slice of cheese. Place eggs inside english muffin and top with salt & pepper then tomato. Spread mashed avocado over the other half of the toasted english muffin and place on top of the tomato.

Favorite Products: Thomas’ whole wheat english muffins

Gluten-Free? Canyon Bakehouse english muffins

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