When it comes to breakfast, you might not always want to whip up a plate of pancakes or stick to basic cereal. Sometimes you crave something heartier and more filling that can be ready in a matter of seconds. The good news is you can easily take a dinner recipe and eat it for breakfast [1], giving your body the nutrients it needs [2] and making your morning a whole lot easier. Here are the best dinner ideas you can eat in the morning.
Avocado Hummus Sandwich
A sandwich [3] can be filling for dinner and breakfast, and the avocado is a pretty awesome "brunch" staple that most people crave in the morning. "Avocados are also high in potassium and monounsaturated fat, which can help to keep your blood pressure down and promote feelings of calm," says celebrity RD and fitness guru Julie Montagu [4] to POPSUGAR.
Salmon Cakes
Salmon, again, but for good reason. These salmon cakes [5] are just like a "sausage" patty but healthier to keep you full in the morning, and they offer lots of protein to boost your energy, mood, and metabolism, Montagu says.
Baked Sweet Potato
A baked sweet potato [6] with the right set of protein-packed fixings, like beans and cheese, can be really filling for dinner and delicious in the morning, too. "The beta-carotene that gives sweet potatoes their wonderful color is a powerful antioxidant. This is great for helping to combat the damage caused by free radicals, thereby protecting the cells," Montagu says.
Tofu Scramble With Sweet Potato and Kale
This tasty tofu scramble [7] has a ton of antioxidants and fiber from the sweet potato, as well as choline, which improves cognitive function (super important in the morning!), from the eggs, Montagu says. The tofu provides good protein, so it's also great for those who don't eat meat.
Avocado Toast With Beets and Feta
There's nothing wrong with avocado toast for dinner [8] when there's enough nutrition on top. In this case, the feta provides more calcium and protein, and the beets add a bit of sweetness, which can satisfy a morning craving (as opposed to eating a huge bowl of sugary fruit). Plus, beets are great in the AM. "Beets are great, as they help to alleviate the stress placed on the liver by helping with detoxification," Montagu says, which can improve mood and create balance in the body.
Kimchi Fried Rice
If you have a big bowl of rice for dinner, throw an egg on it [9] and you've got breakfast. The egg has choline and protein to power your brain, and the rice (when brown) offers complex carbs and fiber to keep you full and provide immediate mood-boosting energy as well, Montagu says.
Quinoa Tabbouleh
Much like brown rice, quinoa is also a gluten-free and filling grain that can be a breakfast or dinner staple, and when paired with a bunch of veggies and antioxidant-rich foods, it's a perfect morning meal to provide steady energy and fuel. Try this quinoa dish [10] in the AM for something savory and hearty.
Chicken Cobb Salad Wrap
A wrap [11] is easy for dinner and breakfast, as you can take it on your morning commute, and it packs in complex carbs from the wrap and nutritious fillings for staying power. Mantagu has a preference in the type of wrap: "The BFree Multigrain Wrap [12] provides a combination of buckwheat and amaranth, both of which support cell repair and combat wrinkles. It is also very high in fiber, which can help lower cholesterol and maintain your gut health throughout the day," she says.
Spicy Turkey Tacos
Turkey is an excellent form of protein in the morning to get your day started, and breakfast tacos [13] are super popular in general. Turkey also contains tryptophan, "which helps to synthesize serotonin in the body. Serotonin is one of the most important chemical elements in the body for supporting and stabilizing your mood," Montagu says.
Lentil, Millet, and Pomegranate Salad
This salad [14] uses fiber-rich grains and legumes to give your mind and body a wake-up call. "Lentils have plenty of protein and fiber, both of which fill you up in the morning. Not to mention that the fiber will help your digestive tract be regular in the morning," says Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD [15], to POPSUGAR.
Vegetarian Chili
If you need a warming breakfast, this vegetarian chili [16] with beans and lentils can do just the trick, explains Kelly Jones, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN [17], to POPSUGAR. You can eat as is, if you're craving a richer, heartier breakfast meal or you can mix it into other items, like in rice, on bread, or with eggs. "Protein and fiber are often missed with a typical American breakfast, and the chili provides both," she says.
Chickpea Avocado Salad
Chickpeas are also high in tryptophan (to increase mood) and as fiber (to provide long-lasting energy), and the avocado has plenty of healthy fats that your body needs in the morning, explains Montagu. If you top them on an English muffin or whole-grain toast, it's the perfect open-faced breakfast sandwich [18].
Spicy Chickpea Barley and Quinoa Veggie Burger
Packed with whole grains from barley and quinoa, and those fibrous legumes, this is a great idea for dinner and breakfast, [19] thanks to the powerful nutrients and dense texture that can bring satiety. It's a healthier, nonprocessed alternative to a sausage link you typically find with breakfast.