What Can You Eat For Breakfast As a Vegan?
If you’re reading this and you’re not vegan, I’m excited to allow you to witness the world that is making breakfast as a vegan! If you’re reading this and you’re already vegan, then you might be curious to explore other breakfast options or simply bored of your morning routine. Either way, welcome to my page!
What is Breakfast?
“Oh c’mon! We already know what breakfast is!”... What you’re all probably thinking right now. Okay, I get it, I won’t bore you with the origins of the word or who deems themselves he who coined the term. However, did you know that breakfast refers to breaking the fast from the previous night? Since it’s eaten in the morning, it is your first meal of every day, and as many people like to mention, “It’s the most important meal of the day!”
Why is breakfast important?
I won’t lie to you, when I was younger I despised breakfast. Oftentimes during high school I even skipped it. Who has the time or the energy to get up at 6am to make themselves a whole meal? Not me! Not only that, but I always thought of breakfast as being a very “sweet” meal vs “savory”, so I never enjoyed it much. As I got older, I started to incorporate oatmeal into my mornings because I became more and more interested in health and nutrition. I discovered that breakfast sets the tone for the rest of your day and kick starts your metabolism so that you are able to space out your meals accordingly. I wish I could shake high school me and say, “EAT A DAMN APPLE OR SOMETHING!” But hey, the past is in the past.
As a person who now thoroughly enjoys breakfast quite often, I will say that when I transitioned into veganism, it was hard to come up with anything other than oatmeal and fruit to eat. I definitely had to spend some time figuring out other options, and now that I look back on it, I realize it’s all so simple! If you’re a new vegan, coming up with meal ideas for breakfast may seem daunting to you. Trust me, I’ve been there. Sometimes you feel defeated, like you don’t even know where to start. Well, I’ve experienced it, and I’m here to help you through it! In fact, if you ask any other vegan, I’m sure they’d also be willing to tell you that it gets easier.
For now, let’s talk about some quick and easy meals you can incorporate into your morning routine!
Here are 7 easy and flavorful vegan breakfast ideas:
1. Avocado Toast
People like to joke that this is the ultimate millennial breakfast (and we all hate to admit that it kind of is), but it also makes for the perfect savory breakfast/snack. All you need is a toaster, or when in doubt, a pan to lightly toast the bread. Avocado is easily spreadable when ripe. Unfortunately, they often ripen too quick and sometimes become unusable within a few days of purchasing them. However, sometimes you get them at the perfect time, which makes for a wonderful breakfast experience! I regularly use multi-grain bread for my avocado toast, but you can also use sourdough, or your preferred type of bread, as well as crackers or rice cakes.
2. Oatmeal With Fruit or Nut Butter
Rolled oats are a pantry staple as a vegan! They can be used in so many things, not just for oatmeal but also smoothies, savory items, cookies, bread, and more. Oatmeal can be cooked on the stovetop or even in the microwave if you don't have access to a stovetop. All you need is oats and milk or water. Because of the simple, bland ingredients, people often complain that oatmeal is boring, but this just isn't true. There are so many things you can add to make it flavorful, these include: cacao nibs, granola, nut butters, fruit, seeds, nuts, and more. Don't sleep on oatmeal just because someone told you it's only for grandmas! (Sorry grandma).
Need some oatmeal inspo? Check out this recipe by Veggies Don't Bite:
https://www.veggiesdontbite.com/simple-oatmeal/
3. Vegan Yogurt With Fruit
Yogurt seems to be a breakfast staple with non-vegans, so don't panic when you make the switch. It is in fact a dairy product so you'll need to find an alternative to it, but have no fear! There are PLENTY of vegan yogurt options available that include coconut, soy, almond, you name it. Many stores stock the vegan yogurt right next to the regular yogurt. Although it can get a bit pricey for small, single use yogurt containers, it's good to know that the option is there if you're ever craving it.
4. Smoothies
I LOVE a good smoothie in the morning! There are definitely days where you might feel too lazy to assemble everything and then blend it all together... and then clean the pieces of your blender afterwards. However, I promise you that sometimes it's worth it and definitely hits the spot. There are so many variations of smoothie ingredients, not just fruit but also cacao powder, nut butters, nut milks, leafy greens, and more. The best greens to use are kale or spinach, and berries or mango and pineapple are some of the best fruit combinations to add in. You can also eat your smoothie in the form of a bowl! This has recently become a very popular way to have them, but slightly messier than a cup and a straw.
5. Assorted Fruit Bowl
I eat this for breakfast quite a lot when I have a lot of fruit but I'm too lazy to make a smoothie. You can put any fruit in it: strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, banana, oranges, etc. My favorite combination is a bunch of fruit with a little bit of nut butter on top. It's simple and easy to put together when you're in a rush.
6. Potato and Veggie Breakfast Hash
This is more of a weekend breakfast, as it's enjoyable to spend some time prepping and cooking it rather than rushing it. All you need is a couple potatoes and a variation of veggies, the best being peppers and onions. The best way to cook it is on the stove in a pan with chopped garlic and spices, then top off the finished product with some hot sauce. The perfect Savory Saturday breakfast!
7. Tofu Scramble With Veggies
I saved the best for last: TOFU SCRAMBLE. The best alternative to eggs that's out there. Sure, there are egg alternatives like "Just Egg" on the shelves, and those are perfectly okay too! Just slightly more expensive than the timeless tofu scramble. For a 1-2 person meal, all you'll need is one 16oz block of tofu! Then you spice it up with nutritional yeast, garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and spices of your choice. Then add a little bit of non-dairy milk. A spice that you might be interested in investing in to enhance your tofu scramble experience is Kala Namak, otherwise known as Black Salt. Kala Namak is a rock salt with a sulfurous smell, so in other words, it make a tofu scramble smell and taste like real eggs. But you only need a little bit because it's very strong! If you want to incorporate more veggies into your scramble, try peppers, onions, and mushrooms, but really you can put anything in it. If you want to get adventurous, you can also eat it as a breakfast burrito or tacos. The options are endless!
I hope this vegan breakfast guide gave you some more ideas on what to eat during your morning routine! Especially if you're a new vegan/just starting out. I want to help you make it easier to transition to veganism (or simply include more vegan options in your meals), so I hope this was helpful in providing just a few simple, plant-based breakfast options for you to keep around your kitchen!
