Challenge: Frugal, nutricious breakfast that you can make in 20 min or less

[Radiance]

Other challenges
Lactose intolerance
20 min includes washing all, with the exception of what you use to serve
To feed: Picky toddler and mom

1) Oatmeal and generic brand whole grain cherios
2) Scrambled eggs and whole grain bread or pita bread
3) Chopped fruit

What else?

...I am not including pancakes bacuase I cannot get them ready in 20 minutes... I think I am too messy... are frozen pancakes nutritious and frugal?

[GREENBACK]

I often have a PB&J for a quick breakfast. This is not a junk breakfast when made on whole wheat bread with natural peanut butter and sugar free strawberry preserves(my favorite). I usually chase it with soymilk(I'm lactose intolerant as well) and a glass of OJ.

[MonkeyMama]

smoothies and french toast come to mind.

smoothie - blend some frozen fruit with juice and/or soy milk. I usually use yogurt - not sure if that has lactose. I don't much care for fruit but will just about eat anything in smoothie form.

I've heard recommended french toast (whole wheat bread, eggs, cinnamon - I think that's it?) for a healthy breakfast, actually. Easy peasy.

I often eat apple sauce and nature valley granola bars for breakfast. Or cereal. (Generics for cereal and granola bars are at Target - good prices). I alternate between mini wheats and cheerios.

[disneysteve]

Fruit and yogurt parfait - Layer or mix vanilla yogurt, fruits of choice (berries are good) and granola in a parfait glass.
You can use soy yogurt if you can't tolerate cow's milk yogurt.

I don't know about frozen pancakes but I do like Van's whole grain frozen waffles. I'm not sure how frugal they are. I guess it depends on your budget. I usually top those with some fresh fruit like banana or berries and natural maple syrup from Vermont - yum.

[WISEWOMAN]

*Scrambled egg whites w/vegetarian bacon or sausage mixed in.
*Muffins made from scratch. I freeze and pull as needed. Whole wheat w/peanut butter/banana or whole grain w/blueberries or apples.
*Smoothies
*Steel cut oatmeal with fresh fruit
*Toast w/peanut butter and 1/2 grapefruit. YUMMY combination.
*Fruit

There are so many possibilities. Use your imagination.

[Radiance]

I have never made muffins! any good recipes?
How do you thaw them or you just leave a batch outside and they go back to life?

[Frugal]

Quiche...I am making one tonight. Low cost...found it in a list of "$10 and under meals". I am combining eggs with half and half, some bacon, some leftover real ham, and some green onions to make a quiche in a frozen, low-cost pie crust tonight.


You can make it between six and eight pm, let it cool, and have it to heat up in the morning! Yummy, low-cost, and relatively nutritious, because you are using whole foods like eggs.

Not sure if eggs have lactose...you could also use Egg-Beaters (substitutes), and substitute a non-dairy alternative in for the half and half.

Hope that helps!

Also -- one more idea -- easy, cheap potato pancakes....made with sour cream to garnish the top. Peel and shred potatos with cheese shredder, throw in bowl and combine with salt and pepper, and flour and one egg to taste. Fry over medium-low heat and watch closely for burning. Serve warm, top with crumbled bacon bits. Can saute mushrooms in butter, and add these to the batter before you cook them. I made this recipe up myself, but it has some European origins. You could make a quick batch in under 20 mins. of maybe a dozen.

[WISEWOMAN]

Originally Posted by Radiance

I have never made muffins! any good recipes?
How do you thaw them or you just leave a batch outside and they go back to life?

Depending on your likes/dislikes my standard recipe for the past few months has been
Combine:
1/2 c sugar or Truvia equivalent
1 egg (or 3 egg whites)
1/3 c crunchy peanut butter
1 large very ripe mashed banana
1/4 c fat free yogurt (if available)
mix well

In seperate bowl mix:
1 c whole wheat pastry flour (or 1.25 c whole wheat flour)
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
mix well

*Add wet ingredients to dry mixing well. Place into pre-greased aluminum muffin cups.
Before placing into oven, I insert 3-4 dark chocolate baking chips into each muffin.
Bake 350 for approx 15-20 min.

**When pulling from the freezer, you can thaw to room temp or microwave for 15 seconds.

Bon appetite!

[jerrycates]

A bowl of corn flakes and milk or oatmeal is enough for me. I am always in a hurry in the morning anyways. Oh and a cup of strong coffee and I'm good!

[PatientSaver]

I make my own granola in batches that last a week or so. It's a no-cook recipe. See my post in the how i saved money today thread. You could have it with rice milk or it's really good with plain yogurt.Healthy, filling, quick. Make it on the weekend, then you have it on weekdays.

[SeanH]

I eat: a hard boiled egg (prepare 2 dozen at the beginning of the week and eat every day), a few stalks of celery, some sliced red peppers, a slice or 2 of bacon and lentils for breakfast each day. As far as frugal goes, you can't beat buying lentils and varieties of beans as a protein source. I thought eggs were cheap. A $1 cooked bag of lentils makes a big pile of green, is loaded with protein and fiber and will last for meal after meal.

[SnoopyCool]

One of my favorites, and I just ate it this morning, is the bell pepper omlette. It is very easy to make, too. It only takes two eggs and diced bell peppers (green, yellow, red, orange).

[riverwed070707]

Originally Posted by Radiance

...I am not including pancakes bacuase I cannot get them ready in 20 minutes... I think I am too messy... are frozen pancakes nutritious and frugal?

Instead of buying frozen pancakes, make your own (or waffles!) ahead of time and freeze. Then just pull as you need them. Heat in the toaster instead of the microwave (tastes better). Add fresh fruit to the top

I also LOVE plain unsweetened homemade yogurt with fruit or granola. It's a staple in our house but I don't know if you can make it lactose free.

[Branden62225]

Nice sharing.
I usually eat 1 slice of whole grain toast
with an egg white omelet and some yogurt.

[Staceyy]

Granola or any healthy cereal with almond milk.

[jpg7n16]

Egg Sandwich

2 pieces of bread lightly toasted
1 egg (either scrambled or cooked "over-hard"; pop the yolk or you'll have a runny sandwich)
Baby spinach/lettuce
Tomato slice
Salt and lite mayo to taste

Assemble into a sandwich. Serve with a glass of milk.

[snafu]

Similar to muffins, there are dozens and dozens of Quick Breads easy and inexpensive to make using baking powder and baking soda [no yeast rising steps]. You add whatever flavor appeals to you from apple to zucchini. Just Google Quick Breads for banana, carrot, cinnamon, raisin etc. Any weekend make the Quick Bread basic mix, add whatever is at hand and bake.

The favorite here is Blueberry Smoothies, fz blueberries, banana, soy milk & ice cubes, oh so light and filling.

[NetSkyBlue]

My favorite breakfast is leftovers from dinner, or hot soup!

[PetMom]

Old fashioned oats just poured in a bowl like cereal.
Coconut milk.
7 cashews and/or 7 raisons.
A sprinkle of cinnamon.

Cheapest bowl of cereal ever.

Great thread idea healthy but cheap breakfast foods.

[SnoopyCool]

My new fav is avocado, 3 boiled eggs, tomato - all diced together. Makes about 3 servings.