Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
These simple breakfasts get the most flavor out of the least effort. Each of these delicious dishes are lower in sodium and saturated fat to support a healthy heart. Whether you prep some flavorful overnight oats for the week, throw together a quick toast or blend up a frosty smoothie, there’s no shortage of options. Recipes like our Eggnog Baked Oats and Banana-Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait will have you excited to wake up and start your day!
Eggnog Baked Oats
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
These eggnog baked oats offer a festive twist on a breakfast classic and bring a little holiday cheer to your breakfast table. This easy breakfast combines the warm, spiced flavors of traditional eggnog with the cozy, hearty texture of baked oats. You can even prepare it days ahead of time, allowing you to enjoy the season with loved ones.
Pumpkin-Date Overnight Oats
The combination of prebiotic ingredients like oats, flaxmeal and dates makes these pumpkin overnight oats a delicious and nutritious option for supporting gut health. Dates add natural sweetness, while yogurt adds tang as well as a healthy dose of probiotics to start your day off right.
Banana–Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
This banana–peanut butter yogurt parfait is a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack that relies on the natural sweetness of ripe bananas to create a creamy, flavorful base. The combination of banana and peanut butter is a classic pairing that also provides healthy fats and a boost of protein.
High-Fiber Apple-Cranberry Baked Oats
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This cranberry-apple baked oatmeal is the perfect fall breakfast to cozy up to. Combining the comforting warmth of baked oats with the seasonal sweetness of apples and the tartness of cranberries, this dish is a delicious and nourishing way to start the day. Oats and apples are packed with fiber, promoting a healthy gut and keeping you fuller longer.
Anti-Inflammatory Lemon-Blueberry Smoothie
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist Jennifer Wendorf
The kale, hemp seeds and green tea in this bright, lemony smoothie all contain antioxidants that can help fight inflammation. If you can’t find baby kale, baby spinach will work well in its place. Banana adds natural sweetness. If you want it a little sweeter, just a touch of honey will do the trick.
Shredded Wheat with Raisins & Walnuts
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
This shredded wheat with raisins and walnuts is an easy breakfast to reach for when you want something quick with plenty of fiber and healthy fats. For a no-added-sugar breakfast, be sure to use unsweetened shredded wheat cereal. Read the label and opt for brands that contain 0 grams of added sugar.
Apple-Pomegranate Overnight Oats
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Sylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Apple-pomegranate overnight oats are a delicious and nutritious breakfast option that combines the natural sweetness of apples and pomegranates with fiber-rich oats. The tartness of pomegranates complements the sweet, crisp flavor of apples.
Orange-Mango Smoothie
Ali Redmond
The vitamin C from the oranges helps support immune health, making it a great staple during cold and flu season. Plus, it tastes just like a creamsicle. If you don’t have almond milk, any other dairy or nondairy milk will work.
BLT Breakfast Sandwich
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
This open-face sandwich is a delicious way to start your day. Turkey bacon provides savory flavor and crunch while keeping fat and calories in check. Country-style whole-wheat bread (or sourdough) often comes without added sugars, making it the best choice here.
High-Protein Cinnamon-Roll Oatmeal
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
Flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup and a Greek-style yogurt “frosting,” this cinnamon-roll oatmeal is a winning breakfast worth waking up for. Oats offer lots of filling fiber to help keep you full and your heart healthy. Add toasted chopped walnuts if you want a little extra crunch.
Anti-Inflammatory Strawberry–Passion Fruit Green Smoothie
Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This anti-inflammatory smoothie draws its bright tropical flavor from frozen passion fruit pieces available in the frozen fruit section of well-stocked supermarkets or natural-foods stores. If you can’t find passion fruit at all, substitute with frozen pineapple.
Spinach & Egg Sweet Potato Toast
Skip the gluten and get some vitamin C with this healthy sweet potato toast recipe. Topped with spinach, egg and a dash of hot sauce, it’s a delicious alternative to eggs Benedict.
Banana-Bread Baked Oats
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
Banana-bread baked oatmeal is a breakfast worth waking up for. This delicious breakfast combines the warm spices and sweet flavor of banana bread with fiber-rich oats, creating a warm, satisfying start to your day. Serve banana-bread baked oatmeal alongside fruit, yogurt and a cup of tea or coffee.
Cottage Cheese Toast
Ali Redmond
Had your fill of toast that barely takes the edge off your hunger? Say hello to our delicious and nutritious cottage cheese toast! This toast, made with whole-grain bread and topped with creamy cottage cheese, is just the beginning with several tasty variations to try out.
Black Forest Cake-Inspired Overnight Oats
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
These overnight oats are filled with classic Black Forest cake flavors. From the rich chocolaty oats to the sweet, dark cherry yogurt base, it feels like having dessert for breakfast in the best way possible. Dark sweet cherries are traditional for the classic cake, but you can replace the cherry yogurt and chopped cherry topping with another fruit if you prefer.
Creamy Strawberry Smoothie
It’s hard to beat this quick and easy strawberry smoothie. All you need is five ingredients and five minutes. It’s versatile, too: you can use any unsweetened milk for creaminess, choose your preferred yogurt, and the maple syrup or honey is optional. The vanilla extract acts as a great flavor backdrop that will work with most fruits. Get blending!
High-Protein Peanut Butter, Banana & Blueberry Overnight Oats
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
These overnight oats pack 17 grams of protein per serving thanks to Greek-style yogurt, peanut butter and soymilk. We sweeten these oats naturally with banana, and add blueberries for more fruity flavor. Divide the mixture into Mason jars for an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
3-Ingredient Overnight Berry Muesli
Using prepared muesli is an easy way to add different grains, nuts and dried fruit to your overnight oats, without needing to buy them separately. Opt for frozen mixed berries instead of fresh as frozen berries will release juices as they thaw in the fridge.
Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This cinnamon banana bread is perfect for a special breakfast, a delightful snack or even a thoughtful homemade gift. The streusel filling makes each slice satisfying, with a lovely texture contrast between the moist bread and the crunchy, flavorful filling.
Caramel Apple–Inspired Overnight Oats
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield
This easy, meal-prep-friendly recipe takes all the flavors of a caramel apple and imparts them into breakfast. Applesauce ensures the texture is creamy yet light while also providing balance to the sweet-tart flavor of the oats. If you don’t have Granny Smith apples on hand, Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp apples work as well. Crushed honey-roasted peanuts mimic the coating of a caramel apple, but any salty-sweet nut would be delicious.
Apple-Cinnamon Muesli
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Muesli, a Swiss breakfast cereal, is soaked in liquid overnight, softening the oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits. This version is chock-full of apples from the applesauce, apple juice and fresh apple topping, with a little cinnamon to warm the flavor. We use a combination of yogurt and almond milk for the base, but any dairy or nondairy milk or yogurt will work well.
Anti-Inflammatory Cherry, Beet & Kale Smoothie
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Kale, cherries and beets team up in this powerful anti-inflammatory smoothie. All three of these fruits and veggies contain unique anti-inflammatory compounds that may help stave off diseases associated with chronic inflammation, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. The cherries help sweeten the smoothie and add a fruity flavor.
Banana Cream Pie-Inspired Overnight Oats
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Start your day with a breakfast that feels like a treat—these layered overnight oats offer a delightful blend of banana, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla to elevate the taste. Right before enjoying, a finishing touch of crumbled graham crackers adds a pie-like charm to this easy breakfast.
Maple-Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
This comforting sweet potato bread is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast or served with a dollop of maple ice cream or sweetened whipped cream for a light dessert.
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