Have you been trying to eat healthier or lower carb? Did oatmeal used to be your go-to breakfast? Or bagels and cream cheese? Or maybe (gasp) a donut or sweet roll?
Are you feeling deprived? Or just at a loss about what to eat?
It is not hard to find breakfast items for those who eat the normal breakfast fare, but for those who eat more Paleo/Primal due to necessity or preference, breakfast can be a bit more challenging, especially at first.
Breakfast Ideas to the Rescue!
Here’s a favorite breakfast of mine that you may just want to try: Turkey Vegetable Scramble. This meal is especially great for those who are wanting to add more vegetables to their breakfast, or are tired of eggs or can’t eat eggs. It does not take long to throw together, and requires only one pan to be washed. It also freezes great in individual glass containers.
Turkey Vegetable Scramble
(Serves 4
1 lb ground turkey
1 bag frozen broccoli florets
1 container sliced mushrooms
1/2 onion chopped (0ptional)
1-2 tablespoons of duck fat (or coconut oil)
First heat the fat or oil in a large skillet adding the broccoli first. Salt and pepper it a little. Cook on medium for a few minutes, then add the turkey and onion. Salt and pepper a little more with each new addition. Lastly add the mushrooms when the rest is about halfway cooked.
You could probably throw everything in all at once and it would turn out fine, but that wouldn’t seem like much of a recipe.
There are countless variations you can make with this basic idea. For instance, the turkey can be substituted with ground beef, ground lamb, ground bison, ground organ meat, or baby shrimp. As for the vegetables, I have used chopped celery, spinach, chopped cabbage, shredded carrots, minced garlic, and zucchini chopped into bite-sized pieces. Remember to add the vegetables that need to cook the longest in first.
Other Non-Egg Breakfast Ideas
Sausage: There are a large variety of options with this one – the small breakfast links, the big Italian sausages or chorizo links, patties that you form, etc. Throw them in the oven in a 13 X 9 baking dish, and cook for about 30-40 minutes at 375 degrees when you first get up in the morning. They can cook while you drink your coffee. Make extra to heat up quickly for the next couple of days. Another good choice is Aidell’s Chicken Apple sauages. These are already cooked so they are great sliced into coins, placed in a 13 X 9 and reheated/carmelized for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Add some fruit like berries, or a leftover vegetable.
Bacon: Lay the strips out on a large baking sheet with sides, cook for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Add some fruit or leftover vegetable.
Protein shake: Blend in a blender or with an immersion blender some protein powder (I use grass-fed beef bone broth protein isolate), with coconut milk (canned) or almond milk, frozen berries, and a big handful of greens like arugula, spinach, kale, or mixed green lettuce. You can also add a number of other things like chia and/or ground flaxseeds, avocado, a little banana, almond butter, etc.
Deli turkey rolled with lettuce and avocado. Proscuitto rolled up with arugula tastes great too.
Bone Broth: Don’t laugh. One to two cups of this makes an excellent breakfast just by itself. It is very nourishing and easy to digest.
Homemade beef jerky: I have not yet made my own, but one of my brother-in-law’s made some for me, and I have had fine, quick breakfasts with beef jerky and some berries. Or you could substitute the jerky for an EPIC bar or Paleo Stick.
Leftovers: Salad with some meat like steak cut into bite sizes is one of my sisters favorites. One doesn’t normally think of salad for breakfast, but on days that I have time to chew it is pretty satisfying. Then of course, any other leftover you have can definitely be an option.
Egg dishes: From omelets to hard-boiled eggs to scrambled to egg muffin cups, eggs can be delicious and made in a huge variety of ways. My newest favorite way to eat eggs is to fry 3 egg yolks until they are partially cooked and partially runny. I find that egg whites give me a stomach ache, but I tolerate the yolks just fine. I wanted the emphasis in this post to be breakfasts-other-than-eggs, but definitely think that eggs deserve a mention.
And finally, for an occasional treat:
Paleo pancakes-There are many recipes out there you can google, or you can buy a mix. This one is my favorite. All you have to do is add water, and (drum roll please!), it contains no grains.
Paleo bread spread with a nut butter.
Paleo muffins such as the kinds Simple Mills sells. They are quick, easy, and delicious.
Intermittent fasting can be a good breakfast idea too!
Breakfast doesn’t have to be boring. We just need to think outside the box a little now and then.
As Julia Childs would say, “Bon appetit”!
And I gladly welcome any additional ideas you might have.
For more meal ideas check out these other articles that I have written:
Grab & Go Food Ideas for Travel & Busy Times
Quick Meal #1 – Super Entree Salad
Vegan Cocoa: Why You “Need” It
