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Good Question: Fast, Cheap and Healthy Breakfast Ideas?

2009_06_17-Muffins.jpgHere's a great question from Nick, who asks:

I eat breakfast at my desk at work. It usually consists of store-bought cereal, a cup of yogurt, or oatmeal from the cafeteria. But I'm bored with all that. Not to mention, store-bought cereal is expensive and full of lots of other preservatives and sweeteners.

What are some other easy and/or quick, inexpensive, healthy, low-calorie breakfast-at-work ideas? (High-fiber would also be a big plus!) Or what are some ways to make the current routine more fun and interesting?

 
 

Nick, we had a similar question a little while ago, and these posts should give you lots of ideas:

Looking For: Easy and Portable Breakfast Recipes
Food On the Go: Granola Bars and Other Quick Snacks

Also, since then we published this recipe, which you might want to try:

Recipe: Crunchy Granola Bars

We really are enjoying muffins these days; a batch of a dozen sealed tightly will carry a couple people through a week of breakfasts and snacks.

Readers, what other ideas do you have for Nick? What's your favorite breakfast to brown-bag to work?

Related: Good Question: A Foolproof Recipe for Oatmeal?

(Image: Faith Durand)

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Good Questions, Health, Recipe Roundup, Brown Bag Meals, Frugality, GREEN IDEAS, breakfast, brunch, make-ahead

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Comments (22)

I had to find a way to like oatmeal, so I began making it with apple juice or pear nectar instead of water or milk, I add fresh and/or dried fruit, nuts, seeds. Now I'm trying the same concept with quinoa since it's got quite a bit of protein in it. I generally make enough oatmeal or quinoa for 2-3 days of breakfasts, warm it, and add the fruits & nuts at the end.

In warm weather I make smoothies or a shake, and add either soft tofu or protein powder, I'm trying to perfect a breakfast shake that's under 250 calories but tastes like a super rich chocolate milkshake. Cocoa, a small amount of warmed bittersweet chocolate, almond milk, protein powder... I'm getting there but it'll take a little more experimenting.

posted by Rucy on July 1st 2009 at 10:39am
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What is the recipe for the picture at the top?? That looks so yummy!!

posted by allicoop86 on July 1st 2009 at 10:45am
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I make crustless mini-quiche in muffin pans and freeze them. For breakfast I'll tak out two and warm them up in the microwave. You could add flaxseed to up the fiber.

Coconut flour is extremely high fiber (6 g in two Tbl). You could use it to make muffins, bread, or pancakes ahead of time and then freeze them. The flour is low carb but somewhat naturally sweet so you can use less sugar. Since you're making it you could replace the sugar completely with a subsititute.

posted by bleu on July 1st 2009 at 11:06am
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Do you have a microwave available? Bean burritos are quick and, if you make 'em yourself, they are reallllly inexpensive.

Smear some canned refried beans - I like fat free - on a tortilla, sprinkle on some cheese if you like, roll. pack some salsa if you prefer or add it before rolling.

posted by anntlope on July 1st 2009 at 11:10am
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I started making breakfast cookies a while back, and found a recipe a week ago for a kind that's actually pretty healthy and simple.

It contains:
quick oats (2 cups)
1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup almond milk (or whatever you drink)
1/2 cup nuts (I use almond slivers lately)
1/2 cup dried fruit (I use craisins lately)
3 mashed bananas (about 1 cup)
1tsp vanilla, cinammon, cardamom
1 tbsp brown sugar
leave to hyrdate for 5 minutes before scooping onto a tray

I usually go a bit low on the sugar, but a batch makes about 8 ice cream scoop sized balls, which I bake at 350F for 10 minutes and broil for 5, then put in the fridge or toss in tupperware in the freezer if I won't be eating them in the next few days. they go bad pretty quickly, being such high moisture cookies. One of those and a spinach/carrot/blueberry/almond milk/banana smoothie is a great way to start my day. 2 or 3 feel better if I'm too lazy to make the smoothie though. they combine health and laziness, two things I'm a big fan of.

from http://www.wisebread.com/whats-cooking-breakfast-cookies-for-the-life-hacker-on-the-go

posted by creativeusername on July 1st 2009 at 11:27am
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Fage yogurt with some flaxseed and rolled oats or almonds mixed in. Top it off with some berries and/or a little honey to add some sweetness. Very filling with lots of protein and a good amount of fiber and vitamins.

posted by Indy Jeffrey on July 1st 2009 at 11:36am
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I would make the mini fritattas in a muffin pan, a good quality protein for breakfast is key. throw in some pancetta and spinach for more flavor.
they also make a great lunch or snack.

posted by Barbara S on July 1st 2009 at 11:44am
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oh man I am *all* about this, I bring my breakfast every day and I'm always on a budget!
I second breakfast cookies
ditto on oatmeal
also:
fruit salad (I usually dress it with a drizzle of honey and some citrus: lemon, lime, grapefruit, heck even orange juice if that's what's at hand)
fruit and yogurt-- this is a TON cheaper than buying individual yogurt cups and can be a lot more exciting! plain yogurt, and even dried fruit or plain yogurt with honey and wheat germ is very yummy.
I add nuts like walnuts or pecans to my fruit salad and to my fruit and yogurt to make it more filling
I'll make a pan of baked eggs with vegetables on Sunday or monday night, then in the morning throw a square of baked eggs, 2 slices of bread (cheese carefully laid on your bread slices) in the oven for 10 min, then make an egg and cheese sandwich (usually wrapped in tinfoil till I get to work) that's much healthier than one I'd get from the deli
I'm a big fan of PB&J on toast in the morning...
Lastly (and this is a very special week)
pie
my grandma always said pie was okay to eat for breakfast. plus all your coworkers will be jealous.

posted by FromTheFuture on July 1st 2009 at 11:45am
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Some people in my office cook scrambled eggs in the microwave, then put them on whole wheat english muffins.

posted by mhirsch on July 1st 2009 at 11:46am
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These are all great ideas. Never thought to use Almond Milk in a shake or even knew coconut flour existed!

Suggestion when making eggs in a microwave:
-It is absolutely key to add a little bit of milk or creamer to your eggs. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, microwave for about 20 seconds and done! Because of the milk, they'll be fluffy and not rubbery. MILK IS KEY.

Breakfast at work:
-I always bring my ingredients to work. Always have milk, eggs, cheese, salsa, plain yogurt, sometimes cuban black beans, and spelt tortilla. TASTY!

posted by sassifrassi on July 1st 2009 at 12:16pm
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Not a new or original idea, but what about toast? It's easy, quick, and cheap! You can vary the types of bread and topping for variety, or to get the desired amount of fiber. One of my favorites is rye with a soft blue cheese, which melts when you spread it on. Mmmmm!

posted by komori on July 1st 2009 at 1:11pm
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Well, I don't eat at a desk, but before I head out to the gym in the morning I like to have some cottage cheese with fruit mixed in (lately it's been pineapple tidbits). If it needs to be portable, the fruit even comes in 4 oz. containers that don't need to be refrigerated.

posted by Peggasus on July 1st 2009 at 2:02pm
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I have to second allicoop86. What's the recipe for the picture? It looks really good.

posted by imake1tgirl on July 1st 2009 at 3:09pm
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Oh yeah, oatmeal. Make a batch of steel-cut oatmeal, and refrigerate in single-serving portions (great use for old yogurt containers!). Don't use regular rolled oats, as they get gummy and gross after sitting. Steel-cut oats hold up really well, and a big enough batch will last all week!

Also, make energy bars on the weekend, cut into portions, wrap, and freeze. They defrost so quickly, and you never have to worry about them spoiling. I use Alton Brown's recipe for protein bars, and vary the fruit to my taste (and wallet): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/protein-bars-recipe/index.html

http://www.abreadaday.com

posted by eprewitt on July 1st 2009 at 4:23pm
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We're big on breakfast burritos at my house. Tatertots, eggs, turkey bacon or sausage, cheese and salsa wrapped in a warm tortilla. Many of the ingrediants can be made the nigth before and then pulled together in the AM and throw in the toaster oven at work or even a few seconds in the microwave and bam breakfast. I also am a fan of grapefruit sections minus the pith on the side of a piece of toast or toaster waffle with cheese or peanut butter. And I love oatmeal and chuncky apple sauce with cinnamon and a side of sausage. I find if I get good rolled oats they don't get mushy over night - just under cook them a smidge.

posted by fmktjod on July 1st 2009 at 9:14pm
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I love a slice of whole wheat bread with a few avocado slices on top. It's even better with a few cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of salt.

posted by sjbreeze on July 2nd 2009 at 11:11am
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This is a great topic.

Any breakfast idea for diabetics?

posted by GregorSamsa on July 2nd 2009 at 6:10pm
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In Honduras, where my mother is from, they eat something called 'baleadas' for breakfast. Its a flour tortilla filled with refried beans (black or red are most popular in Honduras, but refried pintos are equally delicious. Homemade refried beans are always tastiest!), grated queso blanco (a soft mild white cheese found in spanish markets or sometimes the dairy section of regular super markets) and a dollop of crema, a Honduran sour cream. (You can also find this in spanish markets or just substitute regular sour cream.) Sometimes my mom would add scrambled eggs or avocado to the filling. If you cant find queso blanco, you can substitute cotija, queso fresco, or monterey jack. I would always look forward to this dish when my mom made it - its so simple, delicious, filling, and definitely high in fiber. And of course, very inexpensive to make!

posted by Yesenia on July 2nd 2009 at 6:49pm
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I was reading in one of my Shape magazines recently and got a good idea - cook up an omelet, cut it up into squares and put into english muffins (I'd add a bit of butter and maybe cheese). These can be frozen and then reheated in a microwave. I haven't done this yet but will be soon.

posted by Sisero on July 2nd 2009 at 7:30pm
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i used to eat pb&j on sprouted bread religiously for work-day breakfasts. now, i cook a pot of steel-cut oats and take the container to work. when i'm hungry (usually after i'm there about an hour or two), i scoop out some into a bowl, nuke it for a minute, then dress it with some organic maple syrup, sliced almonds and shaved coconut. it's fantastic!

posted by hessiebell on July 7th 2009 at 10:18am
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Well, I threw some leftover coconut rice pudding from dessert last night into my Thermos wide-mouth jar, layering it with banana slices. It was pretty tasty! I've also been known to do the same with oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins (making it at home and eating it out of my Thermos when I get to work), and fruit salad.

Other cheap, healthy ideas: breakfast smoothie, toast w/pb and bananas (or jam), breakfast burritos and breakfast sammies, plain yogurt with fruit preserves stirred in plus toast, and homemade pancakes and waffles that I toast at work.

posted by Lorena in SD on July 7th 2009 at 6:07pm
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I do a lot of scrambles- rice, veggies, egg- or oatmeal for breakfast. Easy, dairy free, and low or no gluten. Waffles are my favorite, but I don't make them nearly as often as I would like!

posted by midnightskyfibers on July 9th 2009 at 2:33am
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