6 Balanced Breakfasts for Guests
With the Holiday season quickly approaching our to-do lists can be overwhelming. One thing that we often overlook is the benefits of menu planning for family gatherings. We plan out the dinner meals, but the other meals fall to wayside. Unplanned breakfasts can lead to a carbohydrate overload (cereals, breads, croissants, bagels etc.). This can easily increase the pounds, affect our mood for the day, and make it more difficult to stick to our health goals.
A balanced breakfast can help:
- Maintain your energy and blood sugar level throughout the day by giving you enough protein and fibre to balance out the carbohydrates.
- Decrease your risk of overeating at other points in the day.
- Reduce your mid-afternoon cravings for foods high in fat, carbohydrates and salt.
When having guests over for breakfast, try to provide all the components of a healthy plate. If you are not providing diary then make sure there are enough protein options so that your guests can get 14-21 grams of protein from high quality sources.
Here are some easy balanced breakfast ideas that require minimal preparation or can be prepared in advance:
DIY Breakfast Parfait
- For a healthy option try mixing vanilla Greek Yogurt with plain Greek yogurt and allow your guest to add their own toppings. Have fresh, frozen (thawed) or dried fruit and some of Revive’s Famous Granola made ahead of time. You can even make a little extra to send home with your guests.
Baked Oatmeal
- Pre-bake the oatmeal and warm it up for your guests, the smell alone will put everyone in the holiday mood. Top it with vanilla Greek yogurt mixed with plain for some additional protein and fresh fruit for added fiber.
Breakfast Sandwiches
- These are an easy dish to pre-make or make the morning of. Place scramble eggs, grilled back bacon and a slice of cheese on an English muffin. Serve with some fresh fruit for a balanced meal.
Potato Hash
- To make this breakfast pre-chop all the vegetables, sweet potatoes, potatoes and Italian sausage (I recommend Spolumbo sausages). Roast the sweet potatoes and potatoes in the oven while cooking the sausage in a pan with onions, mushrooms and peppers. Once the sausage is cooked, add spinach. Fill a bowl with roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, add the sausage hash and top with a poached egg.
Frittatas or Egg Muffins
- Here is an easy way to use up leftover vegetables. In an oven-safe pan sauté some vegetables and leftover meat of your choice. Once cooked, add 6-12 (depending on size of group) beaten eggs to the pan and top with shredded cheese. Place in the oven at 350 °F until fully cooked. Serve with toast or roasted potatoes and fresh fruit for a complete meal.
Breakfast Burritos
- Have everything premade then allow everyone to create their own. All you need to do is scramble some eggs and warm the wraps! Then let your guest pick their toppings: fresh tomatoes, salsa, sautéed peppers, onions, mushroom, cooked spinach, refried beans, black beans, corn, guacamole, and cilantro are all great options.