5 Great Breakfast Finds I Started Buying This Year (They’re All Less than $5!)
I’m always on the hunt for new and new-to-me groceries, and this year has taken my search to the next level. Whether it’s due to the rise in prices or certain staples being out of stock where I shop, I’ve had to alter my purchasing habits a bit more than usual. On the bright side, it’s allowed me to try more items — including ones I typically would have passed over. There have been hits and misses, but I’m here to talk about the hits!
These are the five new-to-me breakfast finds I started buying in 2022. They’re all perfectly delicious in the morning and they’re all less than $5 each!
1. Pocono Cream of Buckwheat Organic Cereal, $4.89 for 13 ounces
It’s no secret that oatmeal is a mainstay in my breakfast routine, but even I like to branch out once in a while. Ready in just three minutes, this cream of buckwheat comes out nice and smooth and the texture reminds me of grits I grew up on. Despite the name, buckwheat is gluten-free. It’s also one of my new favorite sources of amino acids, minerals, and fiber.
2. Lifeway Kefir Plain Unsweetened Cultured Lowfat Milk, $3.99 for 32 ounces
Kefir is a cultured milk that’s high in probiotics. (It looks like a pourable yogurt and it has more probiotics and more beneficial strains than yogurt.) This brand has 12 different probiotic cultures; is full of protein, potassium, calcium, and vitamin D; and is by far the best one I’ve ever had. I love that it’s plain and has no added sugar. It tastes fantastic in smoothies with some frozen fruit (try strawberries!) or in place of milk in cereal.
3. Folgers Coffeehouse Blend Medium Roast Coffee, $4.69 for 10.8 ounces
Like a lot of people, I’ve seriously changed up my coffee routine. For me, that’s meant nixing the ready-made, bottled cold brews for a more budget-friendly option. I started buying the ground stuff and making my own! My mom has enjoyed Folgers coffee for almost her entire life, so I recently decided to try their Coffeehouse blend. This is a medium-dark roast ground coffee, and I have to say, I’m a fan. It’s half the price of the coffee I was buying and has an incredibly deep, full-bodied flavor that (bonus!) doesn’t mess with my sensitive stomach.
4. Bigelow Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea, $3.50 for 1.31 ounces
This Bigelow tea is the one I find myself reaching for most mornings. The lemon ginger flavor is delightful and the tea contains a shelf- and heat-stable form of probiotics known as Bacillus coagulans (I’m a nutritionist, and gut health is important to me), which you also see in some other shelf-stable products like protein powder, cereal, and more. I like to drink this tea warm or iced with a wedge of lemon. It’s also available in bulk for $16, if you’re interested in stocking up.
5. Bob’s Red Mill 5 Grain Hot Cereal, $4.79 for 34 ounces
This blend has a rich, nutty flavor; is a great source of fiber, B vitamins, protein, and minerals; and makes phenomenal overnight oats with strawberries and kefir (mentioned above). Made with whole-grain wheat, rye, barley, triticale (a hybrid grain of rye and wheat), ground flaxseed, and whole-grain oats, it’s a filling, delicious, and wholesome meal I’ve yet to tire of. If you prefer a warm version, it also tastes great combined with rolled oats (I like using a quarter cup of each) topped with blueberries and extra flaxseed.
Do you have a new, budget-friendly grocery you want to share with the group? Let us know in the comments below.