That’s right, this article includes 5 Prepare Ahead Breakfasts and you can make all 5 of them in under 1 hour! But first, let’s get the back story on why I’m writing this article.
“What does your family have for breakfast?” is one of the most common questions I get asked.
When I share that we eat leftovers from dinner, savoury dishes, sushi bowls, chia puddings etc, I’m then asked incredulously, “how do you find time to make breakfast that’s not cereal?”
I’ll answer that, but first let me say this:
Brilliant marketing by cereal and grain manufacturers have made us believe that breakfast cereal and breads are the best and simplest breakfast.
The marketing tells us cereals are good for us and that we don’t have time to do anything other than pour from a box.
Statistics show 36% of Australians eat cereal for breakfast and a further 66% each bread. When it comes to our kids, over 50% of 2-8yo eat cereal and over 30% of 9-13yo have cereal too. (Source – ABS Data)
Like all processed food (yes, cereals are a processed food), there are some that are ok and some that are not ok. They do very little to provide nutrition for our kids and considering breakfast is the meal that sets them on their way for the first couple of hours of learning, it is pretty important.
A Choice review of 170 cereals found that 92% of cereals contained more than 1 teaspoon of added sugar, and only 25% contained a low sodium / salt level. That means, 75% had what was considered a too high sodium/salt level. (source: Choice Breakfast Cereal Review)
Don’t get me wrong, this article is not designed to make anyone wrong for using cereal, it’s designed to raise awareness that we don’t have to believe the marketing. We can have something other than cereal or toast for breakfast and it doesn’t need to take long at all.
Here are 5 Prepare Ahead Breakfasts Made In Under 1 Hour.
1. Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are a great protein, fibre and Omega 3 source, making them a great option for breakfast. Chia Pudding is our 15yo daughter's favourite go-to breakfast on days when she is playing big sports carnivals. She finds it keeps her fuller for longer but without feeling like she has eaten too much.
Chia pudding is so simple to make, taking as little as 4 simple ingredients.
1. Chia Seeds.
2. Liquid - dairy or plant based milk/cream works well.
3. Flavouring - I usually use fruit or vanilla, with a dash of cinnamon
4. Sweetener - a splash of raw honey or maple syrup does the trick
With these 4 ingredients, you can make many different varieties, simply by changing items 2-4.
As a general rule of thumb, you need 4 times as much liquid as chia seeds.
Our daughter's favourite is:
1. 1/3 cup chia seeds
2. 1 and 1/3 cup Coco Quench Coconut or Almond Milk
3. 2 mashed bananas plus 1/2 tspn cinnamon
4. splash of maple syrup
Whack it all in a bowl, stir it up and pop in the fridge overnight. The next day, top it with fruit and we usually top with homemade muesli too.
2. Overnight Oats
Oats are a great source of complex carbohydrates for longer lasting energy. Top oats with proteins and good fats to give a longer lasting energy that also keeps tummies fuller for longer and helps with growth and development.
Oats are more readily digestible when they have been soaked overnight, making this breakfast more gentle on your digestive system too.
Here's a great article from Honest to Goodness with 6 different recipes for overnight oats. The image below was sourced from the Honest to Goodness article - chocolate peanut butter overnight oats. Yummo!
3. Oh So Versatile Muesli
I always have this muesli in my pantry. It's great to have on it's own with milk or boost it by topping it with yoghurt and fresh fruit. I've also been known to throw a big handful of this as extra goodness into my smoothies. Or layer it in a tall glass with yoghurt and berries to make a delicious parfait.
4. Baked Beans
We love these beans. I usually make a batch every week. They can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here is my recipe for baked beans and the different ways you can use them.
5. Egg Pies
Here's a video I made years ago about how to make egg pies. Like baked beans, you can use these for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make a dozen of these and keep them in the fridge. They are great cold but equally you could warm them quickly in the oven or microwave if you have one.
They make a great lunchbox finger food too and for dinner, pimp them up with a side of steamed vegetables or a big salad.