The Vegan Protein Boost Your Breakfast Porridge Is Missing

If you’re looking for a way to make that morning bowl of oatmeal have even more staying power, you may have already tried to fancy it up. Maybe you’ve cooked it in milk or topped it with a fried egg, but there’s still another way to boost the protein content of your breakfast cereal and it starts by swapping out those oats all together.

Quinoa flakes are a solid swap-in for oats or other more common hot breakfast cereals. Made from quinoa seeds that have simply been rolled out flat, they are a great plant-based source of protein and they’re naturally gluten-free. While oats contain protein too — and in fact, they contain a similar amount — the protein in quinoa flakes is extra valuable because it’s a complete protein. That means it contains all the essential amino acids the body can’t make on its own and needs for energy and more. The protein in oats is incomplete, so it contains only some of these essential amino acids.

Since the flakes are so small, they also cook incredibly fast. In fact, stovetop instructions for preparing the flakes as a breakfast cereal requires just 90 seconds of cooking time! Their texture is similar to instant oats because of their size. Try a half-and-half mix with your favorite oatmeal or go for a full whole bowl. Either way, you’ll get a hearty, cozy bowl of breakfast porridge that will keep you satisfied.

From there you can top them just like your favorite oatmeal. So if the aforementioned fried egg sounds tantalizing, by all means, add it in! But since you’re already getting a generous dose of complete protein, you can keep this vegan with the addition of almond milk, dried fruit, and a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar.

While quinoa flakes haven’t gained widespread popularity just yet, you can find them at stores like Whole Foods or health food markets, as well as online.

Read more: What Exactly Are Quinoa Flakes?

Have you tried quinoa flakes for breakfast?