Coffee Breakfast

I learned a long time ago that I felt much better when I had loads of vegetables in our diet. That means far more to me than any research paper, or dietary guidelines. So, I wanted to eat more, and enjoy them, of course. Thus began a journey I am still on of figuring out tasty ways to add vegetables, and LOTS of them, into my diet.

I am going to be sharing some of the ways I like to incorporate vegetables into breakfast, specifically, because that is often the hardest meal to add them to. Also, if I eat vegetables for breakfast, I am more motivated to eat healthy the rest of the day.

I will be sharing both general ideas for adding vegetables, and linking to specific vegetable friendly breakfast recipes. While I have not tried every one of these recipes as my family has several food allergies, they are examples of the ideas I use day in and day out to get myself and my kids excited about vegetables.

Warm Cereals + Beta Carotene

How is that for a category? Oddly named or not, this has some of my favorite ideas. Fall is coming which means all things carrots, sweet potato, and, of course, pumpkin. All vegetables. Why leave breakfast out of the fall deliciousness? Add some pureed squash or sweet potato, or grated carrot to warm cereals.

The great thing about most orange vegetables is they have their own sweetness. I always feel like a mad scientist nutritionist whenever I can cut back on the sweetener needed for oatmeal/rice pudding/quinoa because I added vegetables! I usually do add some sweetener, but less is needed. I also always add vanilla and spices for a true autumn taste.

Note: If adding grated carrot to warm cereals, make sure they get cooked. If the cereal takes a while to cook as is the case with quinoa or steel cut oats just cook it at the same time. If doing a quicker cooking cereal (quick oats, for example) make sure you simmer the carrot for a bit before adding the oats/other cereal.