It’s Tuesday and you are late leaving for work. You know that starting your day off right with a healthful meal prep breakfast will set you up for making better choices throughout the day, but you aren’t prepared. A busy schedule is one of the top reasons why people choose quick takeout meals, which are often laden with high calories and a major contributor to expanding waistlines.
Now, imagine a different scenario where within a few minutes of waking up, you have a delicious home-cooked healthy breakfast like meal prep breakfast burritos, and perhaps even lunch packed-up for the next day.
Amidst hectic weekday schedules, meal prep or meal planning is a great tool to help keep us on a healthy eating track.
If you now eat fast food for breakfast or lunch or takeout several nights of the week, your goal may be to choose a specific day of the week to create a food shopping list and hit the grocery store. If you already food shop once a week and have basic cooking skills, your goal may be to choose one day a week to do most of the cooking, or try a new recipe. If you already cook some weekday meals for your family, you might decide to create a schedule so that you are not deciding last minute what to make and to ensure you have the needed ingredients on hand.
What are the benefits of using meal prep breakfast ideas?
Can help save money
Can ultimately save time
Can help with weight control
Can contribute to an overall more nutritionally balanced diet
Can reduce stress as you avoid last minute decisions about what to eat
Using Meal Prepping to Save Money at the Supermarket
Using meal prep breakfast ideas ahead of the trip to the grocery store is a key strategy for eating well on a budget. From the supermarket to the kitchen, here are some other strategies to get the biggest nutrition bang for your buck.
Prepping for Meal Prep
Discuss with your family what types of foods and favorite breakfasts they like to eat. Does your family prefer a flavor profile of sweet or savory at breakfast? Are there any special diets (high protein, allergies, etc) that need to be followed?
Start a monthly calendar or spreadsheet to record your meal ideas, favorite recipe sites, and food shopping lists.
Start small: Aim to create enough breakfasts for 2-3 days of the week.
Getting Started
Choose a specific meal to start
Plan the menu, whether week by week or for the whole month, and write out your grocery list
Food shop
Do your meal prep, or most of your cooking. Some of these days may overlap if you choose, but breaking up these tasks may help keep meal planning manageable.
As you find favorite ‘preppable’ meals, or your menus become more familiar and consistent, watch for sales and coupons to stock up on frequently used shelf-stable ingredients like pasta, rice, and other whole grains, lentils, beans (canned or dried), jarred sauces, healthy oils, and spices.
Here are some of my favorite meal prep breakfast ideas and recipes from across the internet from some of my friends and fellow bloggers. The first 10 recipes are egg-based and savory, the rest are whole grain based and more on the sweeter side. Comment below and let us know what you have tried.
Sausage Egg Muffin Cups | Food Like Wow
This is the egg muffin recipe you have been searching for. Perfectly dense and fluffy, loaded with sausage and cheese. Easy prep ahead breakfast!
This tortilla egg quiche recipe is the best low-maintenance, high protein breakfast option. Perfect fresh out of the oven or to reheat as part of your meal prep!
Air Fryer Egg Cups. How to air fry egg cups in silicone moulds with your favourite egg cup fillings. This is my ultimate guide to everything you would possibly want to know about making eggs cups in…
Enjoy these chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars in the morning or as a midday snack. They’re great for meal prepping in advance and packed with heart healthy oats!
These high protein overnight oats (without protein powder) are a healthy, make-ahead breakfast option and are easily customizable for your most picky eaters.
Replacing a portion of your flour in baked goods with protein powder can increase the protein content of your favorite recipes! I tried it with these protein chocolate chip muffins, and they turned out fantastic!rn
Overnight Oats are a healthy, delicious and easy way to have breakfast already made and waiting for you in the fridge. What are Overnight Oats? Overnight
Delicious homemade granola bars made with crunchy peanut butter, Greek yogurt, rolled oats, and a tasty mix of nuts and seeds. Perfect for a quick snack or on-the-go.
Busy mornings just got a whole lot easier with this Overnight Oats Without Yogurt recipe! Combine rolled oats, almond milk, and a dash of maple syrup the night before.