15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (2024)

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May 10, 2022

Certified holistic nutrition consultant

By Lindsay Boyers

Certified holistic nutrition consultant

Lindsay Boyers is a nutrition consultant specializing in elimination diets, gut health, and food sensitivities. Lindsay earned a degree in food & nutrition from Framingham State University, and she holds a Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Savory Mushroom and Spinach OatmealGluten-Free Sweet Potato and Carrot WafflesGreen SmoothiesArugula and Sauerkraut Breakfast BurritoHerb-Roasted Zucchini FriesSauteed Leafy Greens SandwichTomato-Filled Spinach PancakesPumpkin Quinoa PorridgeChopped Kale Breakfast SaladShredded Vegetable Medley WafflesSauteed Pepper and Onion OmeletSweet Potato Breakfast PattiesVegan Spinach ShakshukaKeto Zucchini Bread

Butternut Squash Bake

May 10, 2022

There are lots of different dietary principles out there, but one thing that just about every expert can agree on is that you should eat your vegetables—and lots of them.

Yet, although current USDA recommendations advise eating between 1 and 3 cups of vegetables each day, only 9%, or about one in 101 American adults get enough, according to the CDC.

If you reserve vegetables for lunch or dinner, it can be difficult to get your daily servings in. But eating vegetables for breakfast can start you off on the right track and put you on pace to meet your vegetable (and vitamin and mineral) needs.

Eating vegetables during your morning meal also makes it more likely that you'll make healthier choices2 throughout the rest of your day, according to findings from survey data published in Nutrients. (Never skip breakfast, folks!)

If your only idea of breakfast vegetables are the home fries or hash browns served with your scrambled eggs, check out these 15 recipes that make it easy—and delicious—to eat more veggies for breakfast.

1.

Savory Mushroom & Spinach Oatmeal

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (3)

Image by Jackie Sobon / Contributor

If you haven't tried savory oatmeal yet, you're missing out. This version is a veggie trifecta with spinach, mushrooms, and onions on top of oats simmered in vegetable broth.

If you're feeling really ambitious, use a homemade vegetable broth for an extra dose of nutrients.

Get the recipe here.

2.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato & Carrot Waffles

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (4)

Image by Gillian Vann / Stocksy

Waffles don't typically make healthy breakfast lists, but this veggie-packed breakfast combines sweet potatoes and carrots for a megadose of beta-carotene (more than you need for the entire day!).

Eating just one serving of these waffles will help you eat more than 1 cup of veggies before lunch.

Get the recipe here.

3.

Green Smoothies

Green smoothies are one of the easiest ways to sneak veggies into your breakfast. Each of these green smoothie recipes hides 1 to 2 cups of nutrient-packed leafy greens per serving.

And if you need a great way to get a quick extra dose of veggies, you can add a serving of greens powder, which provides digestive enzymes and some antioxidant-rich fruit, too. For an additional boost, look for a greens powder with organic sea veggies, which are rich in hard-to-find essential nutrients.

Get the recipes here.

4.

Arugula & Sauerkraut Breakfast Burrito

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (5)

Image by Ksenia Avdulova / Contributor

Traditional sauerkraut is made with green cabbage, but this breakfast burrito allows you to get creative by opting for a beet sauerkraut, with sweetness that complements the natural bitterness of arugula perfectly.

Of course, if that flavor combo isn't your jam, you can use any vegetable filling you want. Try spinach and tomatoes, or mushrooms and bell peppers.

Get the recipe here.

5.

Herb-Roasted Zucchini Fries

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (6)

Image by Penguin Random House / Contributor

Ditch the home fries and pair your poached eggs with these low-carb zucchini fries instead. If you want to optimize your veggie intake even more, you can use a combination of zucchini, rutabaga, and turnips for some more micronutrient variety.

Get the recipe here.

6.

Sautéed Leafy Greens Sandwich

.

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (7)

Image by Cara Howe / Contributor

With peanut butter and leafy greens as its main ingredients, this sandwich may be typical, but the savory combination is as satisfying as it is nutrient-rich.

And, at one-quarter cup of cooked green veggies per sandwich, adding this breakfast to your meal plan puts you well on your way to meeting your daily needs.

Get the recipe here.

7.

Tomato-Filled Spinach Pancakes

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (8)

Image by David Loftus / Stocksy

Hiding baby spinach in a crepe-like pancake is a genius way to get in a cup of leafy greens before lunch.

While the filling in this recipe calls for tomatoes and scallions, you can get creative with any veggies you have on hand. Try broccoli, sauerkraut, mushrooms, or onions.

Get the recipe here.

8.

Pumpkin Quinoa Porridge

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (9)

Image by SMarina / iStock

Start the day with this fall-inspired porridge, which combines plant-based protein with loads of vitamin A and antioxidants from the pumpkin puree into a filling, easy-to-make breakfast. You can enjoy it hot, or store extra servings in Mason jars in the refrigerator and eat it cold, a la overnight oatmeal.

Get the recipe here.

9.

Chopped Kale Breakfast Salad

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (10)

Image by Ivan Solis / Stocksy

One of the best ways to make eating vegetables for breakfast a long-term habit is to break outside of the typical fried eggs and bacon breakfast box; and this chopped kale breakfast salad does just that. But you don't have to stick to kale only.

You can switch up your breakfast vegetables by rotating between spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, or any other of your favorite leafy greens.

Get the recipe here.

10.

Shredded Vegetable Medley Waffles

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (11)

Image by Cameron Whitman / Stocksy

These vegetable waffles provide a whopping 2 cups of vegetables per serving in a delicious, easy-to-eat package.

And because the recipe calls for any combination of vegetables you want, it's a great way to use up any leftover veggies in your fridge or try something new.

Get the recipe here.

11.

Sauteed Pepper & Onion Omelet

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (12)

Image by Davide Illini / Stocksy

Omelets are a classic, easy way to get some vegetables for breakfast.

This version combines peppers, onion, and potatoes, but if you're trying to keep it lower carb (and sneak in an extra dose of nonstarchy vegetables), swap the potatoes for chopped zucchini or turnips.

Get the recipe here.

12.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Patties

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (13)

Image by Alan de Herrera / Contributor

Sweet potatoes are a higher-carb veggie, but when you combine them with protein and fiber, like in these patties, they can help keep you full for hours. Add even more veggies by forgoing the yogurt topping and serving these patties with eggs scrambled with spinach and onion.

Get the recipe here.

13.

Vegan Spinach Shakshuka

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (14)

Image by Lizzie Mayson / Contributor

You won't even miss the eggs when you try this vegan version of shakshuka, which combines peas and spinach to give you more than 1 cup of veggies per serving.

If you make it part of your regular rotation, you can switch things up and optimize your nutrient intake by using kale, Swiss chard, or mustard greens in place of spinach.

Get the recipe here.

14.

Keto Zucchini Bread

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (15)

Image by Cameron Whitman / Stocksy

Naturally sweetened loaf breads are an expert-level way to sneak in vegetables for breakfast, especially if you're trying to get some greens past your kids or a picky partner.

If you want to add in even more veggies, try shredded carrots or sweet potatoes, which add a natural sweetness, in addition to the zucchini.

Get the recipe here.

15.

Butternut Squash Bake

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (16)

Image by Teri Lyn Fisher / Contributor

With a combo of butternut squash and fresh apples, this breakfast bake is a fall lover's dream.

If you don't have butternut squash, or want to add more veggie variety, you can use cubed sweet potatoes or pumpkin in its place. Better yet, serve it as a topping for your pumpkin quinoa porridge.

Get the recipe here.

And if you want to drink your veggies too, check out our greens powder roundup.

15 Easy Breakfast Recipes To Help Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet (2024)

FAQs

What are good veggies for breakfast? ›

29 Ways To Eat More Veggies For Breakfast
  • Add sauteed spinach or kale to an open-face egg sandwich. ...
  • Pack lemony rainbow chard into an egg white frittata. ...
  • Tuck a bunch of asparagus, leeks, and roasted tomatoes into a quiche. ...
  • Blend finely chopped broccoli and cauliflower into a quiche with a gluten-free crust.
Aug 19, 2013

How do you get a serving of vegetables for breakfast? ›

Which is why having some tried-and-true easy ideas for breakfast that are also veggie-loaded can be oh-so helpful.
  1. Smoothies. ...
  2. Omelettes or scrambles. ...
  3. Muffins. ...
  4. Breakfast casserole. ...
  5. Breakfast Quesadilla. ...
  6. Veggie-loaded quiche. ...
  7. Breakfast cookies. ...
  8. Veggie-loaded oatmeal.
Sep 1, 2020

How can I sneak more vegetables into my diet? ›

  1. Try zucchini lasagna. Another creative way to eat more veggies is by making pasta-free zucchini lasagna. ...
  2. Make a cauliflower pizza crust. Cauliflower is extremely versatile. ...
  3. Blend into smoothies. ...
  4. Add veggies to casseroles. ...
  5. Prepare savory oatmeal. ...
  6. Try a lettuce wrap or veggie bun. ...
  7. Stuff some bell peppers. ...
  8. Make cauliflower rice.
Sep 9, 2020

How can I eat more vegetables without noticing? ›

Video: How to eat more veg without even noticing
  1. Sneaky mashed potato. Potatoes don't count towards your 5-a-day – so try adding some other vegetables to get a wider range of nutrients. ...
  2. Pasta sauce. ...
  3. Curry sauce. ...
  4. Homemade burgers. ...
  5. Cauliflower rice. ...
  6. Carrot cake. ...
  7. Vegetable hummus. ...
  8. Chips with a twist.

What are the 14 best breakfast foods? ›

14 Healthy Breakfast Foods That Help You Lose Weight
  • Eggs.
  • Wheat germ.
  • Bananas.
  • Yogurt.
  • Smoothies.
  • Berries.
  • Grapefruits.
  • Coffee.
Jan 25, 2024

What is the healthiest food to eat in the morning? ›

The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.

What are 3 healthy breakfast foods? ›

What are healthy foods to eat for breakfast? Good choices for breakfast foods will be ones that fill you up, so you don't get hungry again for a while, and they are nutrient-dense. Try whole fruits, eggs, wholemeal toast, nuts, and smoothies for a tasty and satisfying start to the day.

What happens if I eat eggs for breakfast everyday? ›

The researchers noted that eggs may even have a protective effect. People who ate up to one egg per day had an 11% lower risk of heart disease—and an 18% lower risk of dying from it—than those who did not.

How many eggs should I eat for breakfast? ›

For most healthy adults, it's safe to eat 1–2 eggs a day depending on how much other cholesterol is in your diet. If you already have high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease, it may be best to eat no more than 4–5 eggs per week.

What vegetables go well with eggs? ›

Many vegetables complement eggs well, including spinach, bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, and avocado. These can be added to an omelet or frittata, scrambled with eggs, or served as a side dish with a fried or poached egg on top.

What a daily serving of vegetables looks like? ›

But what exactly is a serving size? It can be: 1 cup of raw vegetables. 1/2 cup of cooked (roasted, steamed, etc) vegetables.

What protein can you eat for breakfast? ›

There are a variety of ways you can add protein to your breakfast; some of the best protein-rich breakfast ingredients are eggs, nuts, nut butter, beans, and cheese. Whether you're a savory food lover or you have a sweet tooth, there's a protein-rich breakfast option for you! U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Is it OK to eat raw vegetables for breakfast? ›

Eating raw vegetables in the morning can be a healthy choice, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, whether it's the best choice for you depends on your personal preferences and digestive system. Some people find raw vegetables easy to digest, while others may experience discomfort.

Can I eat vegetables before breakfast? ›

A growing number of studies have found that eating fiber-rich vegetables, protein or fat at the start of a meal, and eating refined carbohydrates like rice, bread or pasta last, can improve blood sugar levels and stimulate higher levels of hormones that promote fullness and satiety.

How do you eat leafy greens for breakfast? ›

They're more satisfying with a little give, and much more appealing when bright green in hue. Season with salt and pepper, plus anything else you're into, and eat immediately. Pile them on toast, use them as a bed for a fried egg, add a dollop of plain yogurt, or just eat straight from the pan.

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