Good Question: Fast, Cheap and Healthy Breakfast Ideas?

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Here's a great question from Nick, who asks:

I eat breakfast at my desk at work. It usually consists of store-bought cereal, a cup of yogurt, or oatmeal from the cafeteria. But I'm bored with all that. Not to mention, store-bought cereal is expensive and full of lots of other preservatives and sweeteners.
What are some other easy and/or quick, inexpensive, healthy, low-calorie breakfast-at-work ideas? (High-fiber would also be a big plus!) Or what are some ways to make the current routine more fun and interesting?

Thanks,
Nick

Nick, we had a similar question a little while ago, and these posts should give you lots of ideas:

• Looking For: Easy and Portable Breakfast Recipes
• Food On the Go: Granola Bars and Other Quick Snacks

Also, since then we published this recipe, which you might want to try:

• Recipe: Crunchy Granola Bars

We really are enjoying muffins these days; a batch of a dozen sealed tightly will carry a couple people through a week of breakfasts and snacks.

Readers, what other ideas do you have for Nick? What's your favorite breakfast to brown-bag to work?

(Image: Faith Durand)

Comments (3)

I love packing my own breakfast! I find that making muffin versions of breakfast breads is easy and cost/time/appetite efficient. Plus, it's a great way to incorporate a serving of fruits/veggies in the bread...

My current favorite: Zucchini Bread. I make it in muffin tins and bring two to start the day. With whole-wheat flour and applesauce in place of oil, it's quite healthy.

Make a large batch--they freeze well. And really, the prep can take less than 20 minutes... followed by 35 in the oven, and voila. Twice a month baking sessions, and you're good to go.

Here are a few other delicious breakfast breads I've made from other sites:

Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Baby Bran Muffins at 101 Cookbooks
Carrot "Cake" at 101 Cookbooks

posted by amber77 on July 2nd 2009 at 12:27pm
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I like to take muesli to work. The night before, mix oats and yogurt in small bowl with a lid. I use about 1/2 c. oats and 3/4 c. yogurt. The next morning top it with fruit, honey or maple syrup, and nuts. Stir together, adding more yogurt if needed. It's very filling!

posted by suggymom on July 2nd 2009 at 2:27pm
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No Bake Breakfast Cookies

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup instant/nonfat dry milk
2 1/4 cup crushed multi-grain cereal flakes (bran flakes)

Melt honey peanut butter over LOW heat. Stir until blended. Remove from heat and pour over cereal/dry milk.
Stir. Pack the mixture into 1/4 measuring cup, and tap out onto wax paper. Cool.

Store in refrigerator-- and grab a cookie on your way out the door to work :) High in fiber, delicious nutritious!

posted by sugardianne on July 5th 2009 at 1:05pm
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