Frugal and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

The first meal of the day and indeed the meal that breaks the overnight fast; breakfast is a key meal. Yet it is often overlooked and neglected.

Modern lifestyles do not favour the sit down family breakfasts of days gone by. Lack of routines and organisation, too much to do and too little time to fit it in are all part of the problem. Another reason breakfast is often overlooked is diet, or rather the desire to lose weight.

However, breakfast is a key meal of the day. If you eat a proper nutritionally sound breakfast your body and mind have the fuel to get them functioning properly until lunch time. Concentration and alertness are optimised.

There is no reason, even if you are really strapped for time in the morning, to miss out on breakfast. Indeed, a healthy nutritious breakfast is achievable with just a little bit of forethought and planning. Indeed, organisation is a key feature of eating healthily and frugally.

Time is not a problem. You and your family are at home and can enjoy breakfast together. What can you have that is both healthy, filling and frugal?

Oatmeal: this simple dish is great for hearts, maintaining blood sugar levels and due it's low GI will keep you feeling fuller for longer. I love porridge and will happily have it for a snack. You can add fruits, nuts and other goodies to make it even tastier.

Eggs: these are so economical, particularly if you keep your own chickens. So much variety from such a simple ingredient: boiled, fried, poached or scrambled. What about a delicious omlette?

Breakfast in an omlette: 6-8 eggs (for 4 people) beaten added to chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon and sausages. To keep the cost down I use cooking bacon and chop off excess fat. I also use low fat sausages but if they are too expensive grill the sausages first to drain off the fat and then add to the pan. If you have any boiled or mashed potatoes left over these can be added as well. You only need a couple of sausages and rashers of bacon chopped into small pieces which keeps the cost down. Add toast, bread or bread rolls as an extra filler if wished (homemade is best).

Matt's Favourite Banana Breakfast Cake.

Muffins: there are so many variations that I shan't cover them all here. However, a particular favourite for a delicious frugal and healthy breakfast are High Fibre Muffins.

Just because you are in a rush or pushed for time it does not mean that you need to skip breakfast. It just needs a little planning and organisation and healthy, frugal and portable breakfasts are available for the whole family.

Planning and organisation is a key factor here. Particularly if you want healthy yet frugal breakfasts for you and your family. Children must have a nutritious breakfast before school to help them concentrate and achieve their best. Over the years, I have dealt with many tearful and sick children who have not had breakfast before they came to school or the breakfast that they were given was not nutritionally sound and they were still hungry. Tears and hunger do not make for a good start to the day.

Create breakfasts that are portable in advance, freeze in portions until needed. Defrost overnight.

Muffins: particularly those such as the delicious High Fibre Muffins are great for a quick, nutritious, healthy yet frugal breakfast.

Banana Breakfast Cake: ideal for breakfast on the move. Make ahead as it will keep in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days depending on conditions. Or freeze it in portions. Great to pop into a lunch box as a snack too!

Cheese on toast: by using home-grated cheese you make it more frugal and lower in fat due to using less cheese. Make ahead, cut up and store ready wrapped in the fridge.

Breakfast in an omlette: made ahead, cut into portions, wrapped and stored in the fridge it makes a simple nutritious breakfast on the go.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking about breakfast.

The Healthy Frugal Home: lots of nutritious and frugal ideas. Smoothies make a great breakfast for those days when time is limited - there is a great free ebook full of fabulous breakfast smoothies for you to download. The September Freebie Friday download is an ebook of delicious muffin recipes suitable for breakfast (available free to download from 4th September at The Healthy Frugal Home).

The Organised Home Planner: a simple planner for printing out. Includes weekly and monthly menu plan master sheets. Available free to download here.

Routines - if you need help organising your routines because you are a WAHM download the free ebook Routines - How to Organise Your Freelance Business for Success here.