My Favorite Vegetarian Breakfasts

Okay, I'll admit it. My absolute all-time favorite vegetarian breakfast is a box full of donuts and a giant mug of strong black coffee. I rarely enjoy this particular calorie-and-sugar fest, mostly because I don't want to go back to high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and unhealthy eating. But every once in a while, my wife will pick me up a donut or two and I'll enjoy a few minutes of blissful breakfast snacking.


But I firmly believe the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so when I went vegetarian, I knew I'd have to work hard to get the sausage, bacon, and other meat products out of my diet. Skipping breakfast is the best way to mess up your metabolism, make yourself cranky, and set yourself up for a really bad day. I never skip breakfasts, so I've got a head full of veggie breakfast foods that are as easy to prepare as they are delicious.

I draw a lot of inspiration for my veggie breakfasts from cafes and restaurants that serve a vegetarian-friendly menu. My thinking is, if a restaurant is having success offering a particular meat-free breakfast dish, I'll probably enjoy the meal myself, and it's likely that my family and friends will as well.

Here are my four favorite vegetarian breakfast options, in no particular order.

1. Fresh Fruit

Tinned fruit is okay if you're on an extreme budget, but to me there's nothing more refreshing than a ripe kiwi. Pair it with strawberries, melon, and banana pieces, and you've got yourself an amazing vegetarian-friendly breakfast fruit salad. Just make sure you combine your fruit with carbs, a glass of milk (soy, hemp, and almond milk are good substitutes if you're avoiding dairy), and ideally some source of protein. I personally love the veggie bacon products from the grocer, but they're not to everyone's taste.

2. Avocados

If you haven't had the pleasure of enjoying an avocado for breakfast, you're really missing out. Yes, most people probably think of avocados as a dinner item, mixed up in guacamole or spread on a sandwich for lunch. But avocados are perfect for breakfast as well. My favorite way to eat an avocado at breakfast time? Crack an egg into the cavity left behind by the avocado pit and broil it under low heat until the egg is fully-cooked.

3. Whole-Grain Breads and Cereals

Many grain products are milled - the process of milling grain removes the germ and the bran, the most nutritious and best-tasting parts. Eating whole-grain breads and cereals for breakfast is a good way to pack your body with power, and you may be surprised to find that these ultra-healthy alternatives to traditional breads and cereals are actually tastier and more filling.

4. Pancakes

The above link will take you to a great recipe for "easy peasy British-style" pancakes. This is my go-to recipe, though I occasionally make alterations to suit my taste or the tastes of whoever is eating breakfast with me. For example, my grandkids love nothing more than when I make pancakes with chocolate chips, a treat I don't mind giving them as long as their breakfast is otherwise healthy.