Have you taken on the Better Breakfast Challenges this month?

Have you experienced any new breakthroughs?

Did you try oats or eggs in a new way, or any of our kid-friendly breakfast ideas?

 

We would love to hear about your experience!

 

In this last part of our Better Breakfast series, we want to take you in a little different direction.

We want to take you to the world of “planned-overs meets breakfast!”  Remember, we like to think of “planned-over meals” like 2-for-1 meals.  You make enough on the first night that you will have leftovers, which are then transformed into super easy and delicious meals the next day (or later in the week).

We are not talking about boring leftovers!  The second (and even third) meals seem brand new – and you and your family will completely forget they are eating leftovers…because they are not, they are PLANNED-OVERS!

 

What does this have to do with breakfast?

When it comes to breakfast, something happened to us along our REAL food journey.  The foods that we always considered “typical” to eat for breakfast (you know…cereal, muffins, instant oatmeal, frozen waffles) have changed.

It probably goes hand in hand with our taste buds and our cravings changing.  Yes, we still crave something sweet for breakfast once in a while and we have SO MANY options on the website to satisfy that craving – everything from Apple Cider Baked Doughnuts to the Fruit Topped Dutch Baby Pancake to the Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake (just to name a few)!

 

But, honestly, many of our breakfasts now tend to be more savory.  And, one of the things we absolutely love is to transform our leftovers from the night before into a delicious and nutritious breakfast the next morning.  It can be as simple as cooking an egg (poached and over-easy are our favorites), and then serving the egg on top of reheated leftovers from the night before.

Now, I have to say that if you would have told me that one day we would be adding an egg and enjoying the leftover Butternut Squash Veggie Bake or Sweet Potato Tostadas for breakfast, I would have said you were crazy!  But this is EXACTLY what happened!

 

The universe of foods that we now enjoy for breakfast has exploded!

We have also found that these “planned-over” breakfasts give us great energy and keep us full until lunchtime.  After all, they are typically loaded with veggies, lean meats, whole grains and all kinds of other ingredients that are loaded with protein, fiber, antioxidants and SO MANY other nutrients!

Are you now thinking we’ve lost our minds?!

Don’t knock it ’til you try it!  We have had Eat REAL America members tell us, “we love our Sunday brunch time…we now enjoy ideas for breakfast we would have never dreamed of before!”  Maybe simply the idea of a savory breakfast is outside of your “box” or maybe the thought of taking advantage of last night’s leftovers for breakfast seems pretty far-fetched, but we want to challenge you to give it a try!

The challenge for this week:

Try reheating “planned-overs” from the night before for breakfast the next morning.  And then, take it to the next level and cook up an egg and add it on top (we highly recommend this!).  Or, simply try something savory for breakfast!

Here are a few ideas to inspire you…in our experience, these are excellent to get your morning started!

 

Buddha bowl breakfast extravaganza!  These delicious one-bowl meals are typically overflowing with vibrant, healthy ingredients that include whole grains, protein, lots of veggies and a flavor-popping dressing.  You can swap out ingredients based on your favorites or whatever you have on hand.  Plus, add an egg on top!  Double the recipe and enjoy the “planned-overs” for breakfast…some great ideas include the Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Buddha Bowl, Roasted Veggie Bowl with Secret Sauce and the Bi Bim Bop!

 

 

Mexican morning madness!  Mexican is one of our favorite cuisines to turn into a delicious morning meal and add an egg — try the Mexican Spaghetti Squash Stir Fry, Mexican Breakfast Pizza, Mexican One Pot Pasta, Hatch Chile Southwest Quinoa, Mexican Black Bean Veggie Pizzas, and the Butternut and Black Bean Enchilada Skillet.

Curry-inspired breakfast!  Curry dishes are also absolutely fantastic to transform into breakfast…a few favorites are the Summer Vegetable Curry, Slow Cooker Curried Lentils, Curry Roasted Vegetable Pasta, Moroccan Vegetable Curry and the Kedgeree Rice Bowl.

 

Salad for breakfast?!  If they can be incredibly good at lunch and dinner, why not breakfast?  My husband has even tried to convince me that we should write a cookbook called “Salads So Good You Can Eat Them for Breakfast!”  If you are enjoying a “planned-over” salad from the night before, consider holding off on adding the dressing to the leftover salad until the next day so the greens don’t get soggy.  This isn’t an issue with kale or cabbage, which hold up well even after they are dressed, but other greens can transition to the soggy side when they hang out with the dressing overnight.  A few amazing options include the Roasted Beet Salad with Candied Pecans, the Kale Chopped Salad with Maple Almond Vinaigrette and the Huevos Rancheros Salad!

 

Get smashed!  Avocado toast — ridiculously simple and no recipe required.  Toast some good quality whole grain bread, add some mashed avocado, and then get creative with your toppings…the possibilities are endless.

Check out our coaching tip for more information and inspiration!

 

 

SO MANY MORE SAVORY IDEAS!

 

• Simple Skillet Hash
• Egg in the Hole Acorn Squash (great to serve over the holidays)
• Sweet Potato Hash with EOT (Egg on Top)
• Shakshuka – we love these so much we have several versions!
• Open-Faced Smoky Greens & Beans
• Egg & Veggie Stuffed Mushrooms
• Stout Beer Breakfast
• Farmers’ Market Hash with Kale & Bacon
• EBLT with Balsamic Mayo
• Chorizo Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches
• Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry

 

What are your favorite savory breakfasts?

 

Have your taste buds changed when it comes to breakfast?

 

And, what do you think?

 

Should we start working on the “Salads So Good You Can Eat Them for Breakfast” cookbook?!