We all know and acknowledge that having a satisfying breakfast is important. Having a nice, filling breakfast meal equates to starting your day on a good note. But busy mornings can make it challenging to prepare a nutritious meal. While it is important to prioritise work and as adults, busy mornings with meetings or work lined up are common, it is also important to take care of our bodies, which help us do all of these tasks. And breakfast is indeed the first step in doing that.
On such busy mornings, meal prep comes to the rescue! With a little planning and effort, you can enjoy a delicious and wholesome breakfast even on the busiest of mornings. That important meeting will not come between you and the most important meal of the day! So, here are seven time-saving tips to streamline your breakfast meal prep routine:
Plan Ahead:
The key to successful breakfast meal prep is planning. Take some time out during the weekend to decide what you'd like to eat for breakfast throughout the week. This can include a variety of options like overnight oats, smoothie packs, breakfast burritos, or muffins. Once you have your menu planned, make a shopping list and gather all the necessary ingredients. Having everything on hand will save you precious minutes during the week.
Make Overnight Oats:
Recipe - The Cooking Foodie
Overnight oats are a quick and convenient breakfast option that requires minimal effort. Simply mix rolled oats with your choice of milk, like dairy, soya or almond, sweetener, like honey, sugar, or jaggery, and toppings like fruits, nuts, or seeds in a jar or container. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, and your breakfast will be ready to grab and go in the morning. Experiment with different flavours by adding ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla extract, or cocoa powder.
Prep Smoothie Packs:
Smoothies are an excellent choice for busy mornings because they're not only nutritious but also portable. To save time, create smoothie packs by pre-portioning your ingredients into Ziploc bags and freezing them. Include a combination of frozen fruits, leafy greens, protein powder, and any other desired add-ins. In the morning, simply dump the contents of the bag into your blender, add your liquid of choice, like yoghurt, milk, or fruit juice, and blend for a quick and healthy breakfast.
Bake Breakfast Muffins:
Recipe - Breakfast For One
Baking a batch of breakfast muffins on the weekend can be a lifesaver during busy mornings. Choose a muffin recipe that's packed with nutrients and make a large batch. Once they're cooled, store them in an airtight container. In the morning, grab a muffin and a piece of fruit for a balanced meal on the go. You can easily have this breakfast while travelling in your cab, by bus, or by metro. Look for recipes that include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for added nutrition.
Prep Breakfast Burritos:
Breakfast burritos are another option that can be prepped in advance. Scramble eggs, sauté vegetables, and cook some form of protein like chicken sausage, salami, paneer, or tofu. Assemble your burritos by placing the fillings in the tortillas and rolling them up tightly. Wrap each burrito in foil and freeze them. When you need a quick breakfast, pop one in the microwave or grease a non-stick pan with a little oil and heat it up. You can customise your burritos with salsa, cheese, or tandoori dressing for extra flavour.
Utilise Make-Ahead Parfaits:
Parfaits are a delightful and healthy breakfast option that is also super quick to assemble. Layer Greek yoghurt with granola and fresh or frozen berries in a mason jar or a reusable container. Make several parfaits at once and store them in the fridge for the week. If you're worried about the granola getting soggy, keep it in a separate container and add it just before eating. This ensures a satisfying crunch in every bite, with minimal effort required on D-day.
Overnight Planning:
If you know that the next morning is going to be hectic, plan dinner accordingly a night prior to that. Make extra servings of the dinner and store them so that they can also double up as breakfast. We all have had our mothers do it for our school lunches, and we need to do it as adults to save time. Make extra rotis and sabji and make them into quick roti rolls or keep an extra bowl of pulao from last night and heat it up for a filling breakfast meal.
Eating a nutritious breakfast is essential for starting your day right, and with these seven time-saving tips, you can enjoy a healthy morning meal even on the busiest of mornings. By planning ahead and at least getting your breakfast sorted, you'll have the feeling that you are already in control and put together in the eye of the storm during very busy mornings. So, take a step ahead and set a positive tone for the day by meal-prepping for breakfast. It will save you more time than you think.