5 Quick & Easy Nourishing Breakfasts

When I first started adulting (AKA when my breakfasts became less about McDonalds pancakes and more about "okay fine, I'll get some healthy stuff in there"), I had no idea where to start.

I knew I should probably ditch regular cereal (processed, high in sugar, lacking nutrition), despite my then-boyfriend  (now husband) being very unimpressed with this.

But to be fair, he was unimpressed because it was less of suggestion, and more me literally throwing every cereal packet in the bin... but sometimes I have to be bold like that.)

By now I have a solid repertoire of healthy breakfasts I can make in just a few minutes during the week, or spend a bit more time on the weekends when I want to feel ready for the week ahead.

Here are my top 5 favourites.

Quick and easy healthy breakfasts

1. Avocado Toast

Mash some avocado and spread it on two pieces of toast. Too easy! I use gluten-free toast and a few extra spices and flavours to jazz it up (my full recipe plus my 4 favourite variations are here). It's tasty and filling.

2. Gluten-Free Granola

I make a big batch of my granola once a fortnight (although sometimes it doesn't last that long because I literally eat it from the jar by the spoonful). It's free from gluten, grains and sugar – although to bulk it up and keep it gluten-free you could add oats or puffed rice. Once prepped, eat it for breakfast with a dollop of yoghurt or milk of choice (I like coconut yoghurt or almond milk) and top with fruit like berries or sliced banana.

3. Zucchini Slice

My zucchini slice is one of my favourite recipes. I get a serve of veg in at breakfast, plus it's easy to pack to bring to work, add to kids' lunchboxes or to take to picnics. I created the recipe with almond meal instead of flour so it’s gluten-free as well.

4. Chia Pudding

Dessert for breakfast? Yes please. My chia pudding seems naughty but is actually nice. It's also easy to mix up the flavours with whatever you have in your pantry, so you can get creative.

5. Smoothies

Smoothies are quick, easy and healthy. I use a single-serve blender where the blender cup is portable, plus there's less cleaning.

My favourite recipe is my Avocado & Blueberry Power Smoothie (yum).

Experiment with your own combination by playing around with whatever you have on hand. You can't really go wrong, but it's helpful to stick to a rough formula of:

• 1 cup of liquid – e.g. water, coconut water, almond milk
• Something to thicken it – e.g. half an avocado, a tablespoon chia seeds, frozen banana
• Something to sweeten it – berries, banana, coconut water
• A handful of greens – spinach, rocket/arugula, kale, half a zucchini (which has no taste!)
• Optional: various powders – e.g. cacao powder or maca powder (1 teaspoon), protein powder or a greens blend (1 tablespoon)