Quick, Easy, and Healthy Vegan Breakfast Ideas

As I lean into a Vegan lifestyle I have come to realize that how I start my day is vital to how my day will continue. In other words, if I blow it at breakfast I'm probably not going to have a very good Vegan day :)

And since I'm taking this step-by-step lifestyle change seriously, starting my day Vegan is pretty up there in importance.

I don't know how other people feel about breakfast but I've never been a cereal girl. Truth be told I love nothing more than a plate-full of homefries, sausage, and eggs. BUT -- that's in the past and even then, it was only a once in a while thing. What really appeals to me (beside the obvious nutrient-dense, plant-based factor) is something warm, filling, and most of all -- fast.

I'm not one to take a lot of time cooking breakfast. I don't think most people have that luxury to begin with. I think that's why I've gravitated to my fiber bars over the past few years -- all I need to do is pull one from the freezer, pop it in the microwave, and Viola! Breakfast. However, since my fiber bar recipe is not Vegan and I'm going to need a little help in coverting it, I'm searching for recipes that meet my Vegan Breakfast criteria.

I've come up with a few recipes that I'm hoping will push me through and get my day started on the Vegan track. They are:

Green Smoothie -- this is something I already make on a regular basis but usually as an afternoon treat. It typically consists of a banana, berries (strawberries and then a handful of raspberries/blueberries) and spinach. I add crushed ice to make it more of a frozen treat. If I'm having it for breakfast I think I'll start adding about 1/3 cup of white beans and maybe some oat bran to give it more oomph and keep my tummy full and blood sugar steady. It's not a warm breakfast, but as much as I like something warm, I also like something really cold to start my engine.

Broccoli Soup -- might sound kind of strange to have soup for breakfast but I truly love this totally veggie-galore soup. I have been making a big pot of it and freezing it in portions for lunch. It really would be a great way to start the day, especially if I add some beans to it for that extra fiber. I'll be sharing this recipe in the near future but for now, it makes the breakfast list.

Veggie Scramble -- I used to make this on occasion and serve it with fried eggs on top. I can just skip the eggs and enjoy the warmed up veggies. This is a great way to use up those extra veggies and grains from dinner -- brown rice, beans, or potatoes, corn, broccoli, green peppers and onions ... yum.

Black Bean Breakfast Wrap -- this is something new I'm going to try since it sounds pretty easy. I got the idea from reading Natala's post on quick go-to meals at her blog Vegan Hope. Basically it's just black beans and greens topped with some salsa served in a corn tortilla. Sounds yummy and easy. I'm thinking I could warm up the beans ...

Oatmeal and Fruit -- I'm going to be totally honest here. I have never liked oatmeal. I don't know if it's just me or whether I've just never had it prepared properly, but to me it's both bland and blah (and frankly reminds me of sticky, gummy goo.) However, I'm willing to give it another go. I've found a couple recipes for steel cut oats (which everyone claims are better for you and tastier) over at Fat Free Vegan and with any luck, I'll become a new oatmeal convert (crossing fingers!) Oh, I also found what looks like a good recipe here at Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan.

Breakfast Rice -- I also want to try this Breakfast Rice that comes from The New McDougall Cookbook (recipe found at Fat Free Vegan.) It seems simple enough, a great way to use leftover rice, and seems pretty hearty. I'm going to give it a whirl.

Grab-and-Go Chocolate Banana Oat Bars -- yes! Now we're talking my language. Fast, Chocolate, and Bananas? Doesn't seem like it could get much better than that. But it actually does get better -- there's no added sugar in these sweet oat bars! I'm definitely going to be making up this recipe by Carrie over at Carrie On Vegan and praying it's every bit as wonderful as it sounds. I especially like the idea of making up a batch and having breakfast at my fingertips for days on end (thanks to my freezer.)

I'm sure I'll be adding to this list and plan to post the recipes I use (with pictures) in a future "Breakfast" post.

Until then ...