If the idea of a whole grain breakfast sounds like something boring that your doctor might recommend, think again. These recipes are full of flavors that pop and whole grains that satisfy our under-caffeinated early morning cravings.
What about a warm bowl of mixed grains, topped with berries and crunchy hazelnuts? Or a quick omelet filled with last night's quinoa? Or if you just need something to grab-and-go, a no-bake sunflower oat bar does just the trick. Whatever your morning routine looks like, there's a breakfast here that will help get it started off right.
Eggy, Crispy Polenta with Tomatoes and Mushrooms
Whole grains can mean anything from old-fashioned rolled oats to the crispy rounds of cornmeal polenta pictured above. They're a diverse bunch, which means we rarely lack for inspiration.
If oatmeal is your breakfast mainstay, we have a few recipes for both your familiar porridge and for using those oats in satisfying bars to eat on the go. Farro and quinoa are two dinner table staples that can be transformed by the sweeter, lighter flavors of breakfast. And let's not forget about rice! White or brown rice can go into breakfast burritos or be used to make a version of our Indian poha recipe.
Any whole grain breakfast recipes to share? What are your favorites?
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TOP ROW
- 1 Breakfast Grain Salad with Blueberries, Hazelnuts, and Lemon
- 2 Eggy, Crispy Polenta with Tomatoes and Mushrooms
- 3 Whole Grain Morning Glory Muffins
- 4 Crunchy Granola Bars
- 5 Breakfast Poha
Vegan & Gluten-Free No-Bake Sunflower Oat Bars
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MIDDLE ROW
- 6 Omelet with Quinoa, Sundried Tomatoes, Spinach & Goat Cheese
- 7 Apple Farro Breakfast Bowl with Hazelnuts and Cranberries
- 8 Rye Toasting Bread with Cherries and Pumpkin Seeds
- 9 Steel-Cut Oats with Maple-Roasted Apples and Cheddar
- 10 Vegan & Gluten-Free No-Bake Sunflower Oat Bars
Hearty & Healthy Apple Muffins
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BOTTOM ROW
- 11 Hearty & Healthy Apple Muffins
- 12 How to Make a Breakfast Burrito
- 13 Hazelnut Cherry Meusli
- 14 Overnight Oatmeal with Apricots and Buttermilk
- 15 Kale, Bacon & Egg Whole Wheat Breakfast Sandwich
Related: Why Pizza Makes the Best Breakfast
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)
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#5 just to clarify, is not whole grain, it's flattened rice.
There seems to be a confusion here between "whole grain" and "whole-wheat flour." Once a grain is pulverized into flour, it is no longer a whole grain. So even though the muffins, bread, and breakfast sandwich sound yummy—and contain more slightly nutrients than if made with white flour—they are not whole-grain foods. Dr. Andrew Weil has a great explanation on his website.
My go-to breakfast is about half a cup of cooked quinoa stirred into a cup of yogurt (I like lowfat plain, but full-fat Greek is super delicious), maybe with some berries or dried fruit or chopped nuts if available. I make a big pot of quinoa on Sunday, portion it out with the yogurt, and breakfast is done for the week. (The quinoa really holds up and is not any mushier on Friday than it is on Monday.)
I love quinoa for breakfast! I like the change in texture from the traditional oatmeal. My favorite version is sweetened with strawberry jam and coconut milk. http://www.neighborfoodblog.com/2012/05/strawberry-jam-breakfast-quinoa.html
@Courtney--that recipe looks delish! Nice roundup. I'm nothing if not predictable. Oatmeal every morning--I love it. I'm thinking of switching to Courtney's recipe for the days leading up to Passover, though. I was looking for pancakes when I clicked in--I'll search the blog.