Here are six fun and delicious ways to eat quinoa for breakfast! Spice up your morning routine, boost your nutrition and get more protein naturally.
Did you know that September is national breakfast month?
Which ispretty much perfect because breakfast is a favorite around here. It’s the category that you get most excited about, the one that I get the most emails about and is a fabulous way to show the versatility of quinoa.
Quinoa is the ultimate breakfast food. Not only is it packed with protein and fiber, but it’s also a complex carbohydrate meaning it digests more slowly in your body. So if you’re like me and you hate feeling famished mid-morning, quinoa is a great thing to add to your daily breakfast routine.
Now I know it might seem like your options are limited in the quinoa breakfast realm, but today I’m going to show you 6 fun ways you can add quinoa to your breakfast, while not eating the same boring breakfast each day. And the best part? These recipes are super easy and fast to make!
1. Smoothies
Sneaking quinoa into my morning smoothies is one of my favorite things. It helps give the smoothie that ultra-thick texture, which is a must-have for me, while alsobulking them up a little bit. You get the extra boost of protein, some added vitamins and minerals, and it actually makes the smoothie feel more like a meal (I’m often full all the way until lunch!).
Recipes to try:
- The Ultimate Post-Workout Smoothie
- Grapefruit Margarita Green Smoothie
- Refreshing Raspberry Smoothie
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Smoothie
2. Granola
While I love 100% oat-based granolas, I’ve found that adding quinoa to my recipe makes it much more interesting. I usually opt for a blend of oats and quinoa flakes, which together I think are the ultimate power couple. Oats are really high in fiber and have a heartier texture, but quinoa flakes have more protein and the lighter texture helps the granola form better clusters and get more crunchy. Granola is a perfect thing to make over the weekend and keep on hand for the busy weekday mornings when you’re trying to race out the door. Just throw some in your bag with yogurt and a banana and you’ve got a nutrient-packed, filling and delicious breakfast!
Recipes to try:
- Vegan Coconut Oil Quinoa Granola
- Maple, Cinnamon & Apple Quinoa Granola
- Honey Blueberry Quinoa Granola
- Peanut Butter-Banana Quinoa Granola
- Oatmeal Cookie Quinoa Granola
- Healthy Pumpkin Quinoa Granola
3. Hot Cereal
Now that we’re getting into autumn, warm cereals are getting thrown back into my breakfast rotation. You can go in a number of directions when you make a quinoa breakfast bowl, but my favorite is to use quinoa flakes. And the beauty of quinoa flakes is that they actually cook faster than oats. So if you’re always feeling rushed (ummm hi), making quinoa flakes can lessen the stress because they literally cook in less than two minutes. Plus they’ve got all the nutritional goodness inside. Easy + healthy? It’s a win to me!
Recipes to try:
- 90-Second Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa
- Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Quinoa
- 90-Second Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Quinoa
- 5-Minute Chai Spiced Breakfast Quinoa
4. Pancakes
Who doesn’t love a stack of fluffy pancakes? What’s great about pancakes is that they’re a fairly forgiving and customizable breakfast. You can use different toppings, different flour blends, different add-ins, etc., and they're still delicious. That’s exactly why they’re easy to add quinoa to! Whether it’s whole quinoa, quinoa flakes or quinoa flour, adding a little more goodness into your morning stack is oh-so-very simple.
Recipes to try:
- Fluffy Vegan Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes
- Simple Banana Quinoa Pancakes
- Vegan Cinnamon Oatmeal Quinoa Pancakes
- Banana Buckwheat Quinoa Pancakes
- Superfood Chocolate Quinoa Pancakes
- Healthy Pumpkin Quinoa Pancakes
5. Wraps/Burritos
Switching gears to the savory side of things, quinoa is a natural addition to things like breakfast wraps and burritos. If you usually make yours with scrambled eggs (or even tofu), next time try throwing in some cooked quinoa. I think you’ll be surprised to discover that it adds a nice texture without throwing off the flavor at all. Since quinoa is so mild, it can be spiced up any which way your choose. It really just adds some substance to the meal and makes your body feel more satisfied.
Recipes to try:
- Herbed Quinoa Breakfast Wraps
- Savory Chickpea Pancakes with Tomatoes + Spinach
- 5-Ingredient Quinoa Tortillas
6. Breakfast Cookies
Eating cookies for breakfast might just be one of my favorite things ever. It feels like you’re eating a dessert when in reality, you’re basically eating the same thing you would add to your bowl of oatmeal, it’s just in cookie form. Plus, they’re great for those of us who are on the go in the morning. You can just pop a few in your bag on your way to work and you’ll have a nourishing breakfast whenever you need it!
Recipes to try:
- Peanut Butter + Jelly Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
- Pecan Pie Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
- Matcha Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
- Lemon Poppy Seed Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
- Sea Salt + Date Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
- Blueberry Muffin Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
Ready for more?
If you're someone who struggles to find time in the morning to make a healthy breakfast, or you've found yourself in a breakfast rut, I think adding some quinoa to your routine would be incredibly helpful!
And since there are so many different ways to use it, I decided to write an entire eCookbook on the topic! My newest book,Quinoa for Breakfast, will be available for purchase on Tuesday, September 15this now available!! This book is the only one of its kind and is going to help you reimagine your morning meals.
Click the button below to choose the package that's right for you!
Ican't wait for you to check it out!
xo Alyssa
