Eating a nutritious healthy meal in the morning is key for a balanced diet, not to mention it helps us start our day the right way, so if you're looking for some healthy breakfast ideas, remember that they should contain unprocessed key nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and fibre. Each of these play an important role in the body; carbs provide us with energy, protein repairs and builds muscles, fat helps us absorb vitamins, while fibre assists our digestive system to function.
Whether you're looking for healthy breakfast ideas to help you lose weight or you're simply looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, we've rounded up the best breakfasts that are good for your gut health, but tasty too! You can find all sorts from cold dishes to low calorie breakfasts.
Many of these meals are great to eat before a workout, as they're packed full of delicious ingredients and nutrients. They also provide a brilliant way of getting your plant points to achieve your 30 plants a week as part of a balanced diet.
Breakfast burrito
Big on brekkie and love burritos? Then this breakfast burrito is a winner. It’s quick and easy to make and you get a good helping of veggies, protein from the eggs and carbs from the whole wheat tortillas.
Mushroom hash with poached eggs
Not only is this recipe from BBC Good Food healthy, (ensuring you get three of your five-a-day) it’s also low in calories too. Its star ingredient, mushrooms, are a great antioxidant, packed full of fibre and are rich in B vitamins, which can help protect your heart. You could even have it with some low-calorie bread.
Banana porridge
Porridge is one of the most nutritious, healthy breakfasts that you can have, as oats contain beta-glucan, which can lower your cholesterol and balance your blood sugar levels. This recipe tops your porridge with banana and raspberries, which are both a great source of potassium, and some Greek yogurt too for a good dollop of protein.
Tip: Try and stay away from instant porridges that are sweetened or flavoured, as these are usually high in sugar.
Salmon bagel
Salmon is a heart healthy food as it's rich in omega 3. Pair it with some cream cheese and calcium and any veggies you prefer. How about red onion, avocado or spinach and a sprinkling of pepper?
Overnight oats
If you’re pushed for time and aren’t able to make a bowl of porridge in the morning, then overnight oats are a great alternative, as you can prepare them the night before. Simply mix your oats and milk together (as you would if you were making porridge), pop in an airtight container and leave in the fridge overnight. Spruce it up a little by adding some healthy toppings, such as raspberries, a nut butter for some added protein, chia seeds, blueberries, strawberries or banana.
Tip: Want to make your porridge flavoured? Try mixing in a small amount of cocoa powder.
DIY oaty fruit cereal
Lots of cereals (especially granolas) are packed full of hidden sugars, but this oaty version by Jamie Oliver is transparently healthy as it’s high in carbs and protein, but lower in sugar and fat. It contains dried fruit, unsalted nuts, oats and mixed seeds. Make a big batch and enjoy throughout the week.
Omelette
Not only are omelettes great for a healthy breakfast, but also a healthy lunch and dinner too. Eggs are a wonderful source of nutrients, including protein, vitamin D, B12 and mineral iodine. To get a good dosage of your five a day before midday, pack your omelette with a selection of colourful veggies, such as spinach, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes. A small sprinkling of cheese will also provide you with some extra protein, calcium and fat.
Tip: Instead of using butter to make your omelette use olive oil instead (you can even get 1 cal spray versions) as it’s a healthier source of fat.
Shakshuka
Wonderful for the weekends, this one-pan shakshuka has a five star rating and is full of flavour and nutrients. It includes tin tomatoes, a brilliant antioxidant which are also high in lycopene, which can improve heart health; peppers, eggs and natural yoghurt. You’ll get a good helping of carbs (22.9g) and protein (14.5) in each serving too.
Peanut butter, banana and cinnamon smoothie
Shop bought smoothies are full of sugar, but made at home can be healthy as you know exactly what you’re putting into it. This recipe from The Spruce Eats, which contains a decent amount of carbs from two bananas and protein and fat from the peanut butter takes five minutes to make. Perfect for those morning’s you’re pushed for time.
If you've got a slow cooker make sure to give these breakfast recipes a go for a fuss free morning.
Poached eggs, salmon and spinach
Poached eggs are high in protein, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fats) and spinach is full of fibre and vitamins, plus they all taste great together too! This Co Op recipe combines the three.
Granola
Shop-bought cereal can be packed full of hidden sugars (although there are some weight-loss cereals out there), so it's worth making your own. Sainsburys has a fantastic granola recipe which contains porridge oats, mixed seeds, honey or maple syrup, dried fruit, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla extract.
BBQ pulled pork, eggs and potatoes
If you prefer brunching or something filling and hot for breakfast, you'll love this comforting pulled pork, poached egg and toast combo. To add crispiness bake some potatoes and chop up some spring onions to sprinkle over the top. Delicious!
Bryony Firth-Bernard has contributed to various Bauer Media brands such as Yours and What’s The Best as a Health and Fitness Product Writer since 2022. Having previously sat on the editorial team for Mother&Baby and Yours as a Digital Writer, she is now pursuing her passion for fitness further at T3.com as an Active Writer.