How To Eat More Vegetables…For Breakfast – Top Healthy Recipes To Fuel Your Day

Forget everything you thought you knew about breakfast. Although we’ve been taught to think otherwise, there’s no law stating the first meal of the day must consist of some combination of cereal, juice, yogurt, bacon, milk, or eggs.

Breakfast is all about fueling up for the day ahead. That means you want foods that will keep you satiated and satisfied; we’re talking protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Unfortunately, many traditional breakfast items fail to meet the mark.

This Monday, we want you to reimagine breakfast. We’ve pulled some of our most creative and innovative plant-based recipes that you can make for your morning meal. Many of these recipes will be unfamiliar and surprising—but they will all be delicious. Read on to see how tofu, mushrooms, lentils, cauliflower, and dozens of other unconventional ingredients can be used to make basic breakfasts something special.

Bell Pepper Breakfast Burritos

You won’t miss eggs once you take a bite of this bell pepper breakfast burrito. Quickly cook some bell peppers, mushrooms and tofu with garlic powder, turmeric, agave syrup and apple cider vinegar, and top with spinach and dairy-free pepper jack cheese for a filling and flavorful breakfast option.

Breakfast Lentils

Lentils? For breakfast? Yes, you heard correctly. These breakfast lentils have a rich umami flavor that’s oddly satisfying even in the early hours of the day. Give the lentils a quick sauté with some shallots, onions, and soy sauce and you’re on your way to a delightfully nutritious morning meal.

Breakfast Sweet Potato

Once you start eating sweet potatoes for breakfast, you won’t be able to stop. They are so easy to make—5 to 8 minutes in the microwave—and they can be customized to your heart’s (and palate’s) delight. This recipe for breakfast sweet potatoes recommends topping them with sliced banana, creamy peanut butter, chia seeds, and ground cinnamon, but a splash of maple syrup never hurts, either.

Cauliflower Oatmeal Bowl With Fresh Berries

When it comes to breakfast, the only limitation is your imagination. This cauliflower oatmeal bowl is a nutritious dish that skillfully bridges the gap between savory and sweet. Using frozen riced cauliflower, flax seeds and rolled oats, gives this breakfast enough heft to power you into the afternoon.

Mushroom Tofu Scramble

Add a little umami to your breakfast with this mushroom tofu scramble. This totally vegan recipe is packed with protein and can be whipped together in minutes. Fold the mix into tortillas and top with salsa to make your own breakfast burrito.

Oats Umpa

Oats Umpa is a savory South Indian porridge that uses flavors more likely associated with daal or curry than breakfast. The bold seasonings may seem out of place for your first bite of the day, but the combination of ingredients can wake you and your taste buds right up.

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

These pumpkin pie overnight oats are the ultimate make-ahead breakfast. Just combine all the ingredients in a mason jar, and let the contents rest overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a creamy, fall-spiced breakfast that’s sure to keep you full till lunch.

Vegan Breakfast Quesadilla With Southwest Tofu Scramble

Cooking the tofu “scramble” with bold seasonings like chili powder, paprika, turmeric, and jalapeños makes this vegan breakfast quesadilla the perfect morning pick-me-up. Many of the additional fixins—soy chorizo, tortillas, potato hash browns—can be purchased ready-made at the supermarket for easy assembly.

Vegan Quiche

Didn’t think you could make quiche without eggs? Well, neither did we, until we found this creative recipe for vegan quiche that uses a blend of soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, and seasonings. Add in some asparagus spears, and brunch is served.

Vegetable Congee

For those new to congee, the dish, which is eaten for breakfast all over Asia, consists primarily of a creamy rice stew topped with anything from fresh ginger and scallions to eggs and proteins. This version of breakfast vegetable congee is flavored with dried mushrooms, ginger, vegetable broth, and cabbage. On a cold winter morning, there’s few things better than a hot bowl of congee.

Yellow Split Pea Coconut Breakfast Porridge

Expand your culinary horizons with this savory yellow split pea coconut breakfast porridge. Although it might seem strange at first, the rich aromatics and warm spice blend of cumin, coriander, ginger, and turmeric make this dish easy on the eyes, nose, and stomach. Because they’re loaded with protein and fiber, pulses, like split peas, are an excellent choice for your first meal of the day.

Click here for more Meatless Monday recipes. When posting pictures of recipes to your social media network, tag @MeatlessMonday use #MeatlessMonday to show the plant-based community your creation.