This new school year is quickly approaching and with it comes chaotic mornings of teeth brushing, bag packing, and shoe tying. Between my nursing baby and do-it-myself toddler, some mornings feel like an obstacle course just trying to make it out the door for our daycare drop off by 6:45! One thing that has become a necessity in my house in order to function peacefully in the mornings is breakfast prep. Here are a few ideas to hopefully make your morning routine a little easier.
1. Overnight oats in a jar. This is probably my favorite portable breakfast option, especially because it’s a good protein kick. Depending on the jar you choose, it can fit nicely in the cup holder of your minivan during your morning commute. Sometimes I eat this while students are filing in at the start of the day. This is also the most customizable. You can add any fruit or flavorings you like! Here’s what you need:
- ½ cup of old fashioned oats
- ½ cup of your choice of milk
- 2 tablespoons of plain greek yogurt
- Toppings: fruit, chia, cinnamon, almonds, honey, nutella, chocolate chips, etc.
All you do is combine the oats, milk, yogurt, and toppings in a mason jar (or if you’re like me, an old pickle jar!) and leave them in the fridge overnight. It takes about 5 or 10 minutes to make several jars worth for an easy grab-and-go. My favorite toppings are blueberries and crushed almonds or banana and cinnamon. Play around with toppings. The possibilities are endless!
2. Egg breakfast sandwiches. Before my husband and I started our Dave Ramsey budget, I was a little bit of a Starbucks-a-holic. Mostly because I live right next to one and it was so easy to just swing by and grab a latte and a breakfast sandwich and have breakfast on-the-go. So earlier this summer, we purchased our first toaster oven, solely for the purpose of making and freezing our own egg-based breakfast sandwiches. Like the overnight oats, this allows for some flavor creativity, but it does take a little longer to make. Here’s what you’ll need for some of my favorite variations:
- 6 eggs, whisked
- ½ cup of fresh, chopped spinach (a little more or a little less depending on your preference)
- 6 english muffin buns
- Provolone cheese slices
I combine the spinach and eggs together and cook them in a skillet using a non-stick egg ring. This should yield about 6 separate egg patties. Once they’re cooked through, just make a sandwich with the muffin buns and a slice of cheese. I like to freeze them with a sheet of wax paper in between so they don’t stick. Then, in the morning, I put one in the toaster oven for 5-7 minutes and go on with getting ready. This is a favorite to eat while driving because it’s a one hand breakfast item. Other variations include bacon/sausage patties, eggs, and cheddar cheese or chopped cherry tomatoes, eggs, and cheddar cheese. This breakfast option is also hearty enough to keep you full until lunch time.
3. Chocolate chip peanut butter bars. If you’re a granola lover, this one’s for you! This is a simple, kid friendly recipe for a healthy, sugar-free breakfast or snack. This is tasty on its own or with a fruit smoothie or side of yogurt. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 cups of old fashioned oats
- ¾ cup of peanut butter (or almond butter)
- ⅓ cup of honey
- 2 eggs
- About ½ cup of chocolate chips (because, why not?!)
- You can also add walnuts, chia, or pumpkin seeds if desired.
This one is pretty simple. Just mix all of your desired ingredients in a bowl, transfer to a greased 9×9 baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees. Once they’re baked through and cooled, you can cut them up into squares and store them for about a week. This is also a great snack option for school lunches for your kiddos.
