Healthy Breakfasts for the Holidays

We are about to begin the holiday season– a time when it can be hard to resist all the sweat treats and holiday dinner goodies! I am a firm believer in the motto “Everything in moderation.” I will partake in my share of holiday treats, but I do try to make sure to balance that out with healthy eating during the rest of the day– a sort of 80/20 rule.

A key part of this method is getting started with a healthy breakfast that has some protein in it to keep me filling full longer. I find that when I eat breakfasts that are 100% carbs, like pastries, bagels, etc., they tend not to stick with me, and I find myself ravenous about an hour and a half later!

If you are looking for some heartier breakfasts that balance carbs and protein to keep you satisfied and less likely to give in to too many holiday treats, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Greek Yogurt and Granola Bowl with Fresh Fruit— I usually prefer regular yogurt over Greek, but after I tasted the Stonyfield Greek Vanilla yogurt, I’m officially a convert! I like to mix the greek yogurt with some of my favorite granola (like Nature’s Path) and top it off with some fresh berries or other seasonal fruit. In one bowl, you get the protein, carbohydrates, and a serving of fruit!
• Breakfast Burrito— I fell in love with breakfast burritos when I moved to San Diego. They are such a great way to throw together a healthy AND filling breakfast to go. I like to fill my breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, black beans, salsa, guacamole and a little shredded cheddar cheese. Make a batch ahead, let them cool, and then freeze them for the week.
• Pumpkin Pancakes— I love pancakes, but they don’t tend to stick with me, unless I add something like pumpkin to them for extra fiber. I LOVE this pumpkin pancake recipe— I make a double batch and then freeze them for weekday mornings or an easy weekend breakfast!
• Breakfast Veggie Scramble— If you aren’t into the whole breakfast burrito thing, you can always whip up a quick batch of scrambled eggs with veggies. Throw in peppers, onions, broccoli, or whatever veggies you have hanging out in the fridge. Saute them and then add the eggs and scramble. If I have left over roasted potatoes from dinner, I will heat them up in the skillet to make some home fries too. 🙂
• Protein Smoothie— You can’t go wrong with a power smoothie for breakfast. Throw in some frozen berries (or other frozen fruit blend), milk (dairy or non-dairy), and a scoop of protein powder, and you’re good to go. If you want to make it extra healthy add in some kale, carrots, or other super smoothie ingredients.
• Overnight oats— There are so many tasty flavor combinations you can do with overnight oats. Just add the ingredients into a small mason jar, and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. When you wake up, just pop it into the microwave and you have a quick, healthy and filling breakfast.

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