7 High-Protein Breakfasts That Aren't Eggs
Amp up protein in the morning (and throughout the day). There are many high-quality protein options that you can enjoy in the morning to keep it interesting.
Overview
A lot of diets skew protein consumption toward the evening meal, leaving breakfast lacking in this essential muscle-building, satiating nutrient. This unbalanced intake doesn't quite give the hardworking muscles all they need, nor does it perform the job of helping curb appetite throughout the day.
Furthermore, our bodies have a limited capacity to store excess dietary protein from a single meal. In other words, your steak dinner isn't going to help with building muscle the next morning. The solution? Amp up protein in the morning (and throughout the day). And while eggs are the most likely choice, there are many other high-quality protein options that you can enjoy to keep all your daytime meals interesting.
1. Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast
While smoked salmon gets a lot of love on the weekends (hello, brunch!), it usually gets ignored during the week. In addition to being an excellent source of protein, smoked salmon offers a solid dose of healthy omega-3 fats that can help reduce heart disease every day (not just on Saturdays and Sundays).
Want to make it even better? Try topping sprouted-grain bread with avocado, wild salmon and a little garlic and herb seasonings. The combination of sprouted-grain bread, which racks up about four grams of protein per slice, along with the smoked salmon, puts this combination above 20 grams of protein.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast
Read more: 10 Low-Carb Breakfasts That Will Fill You Up
2. Red, White and Blue Parfait
This easy parfait will win over both kids and adults, whether it's for breakfast or a midday snack. The combination offers 13 grams of protein per half-cup of cottage cheese, and another six grams can be found in the almonds, topping out at almost 20 grams of protein in total.
To keep this meal interesting throughout the year, choose seasonal berries and swap out the almonds for sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Red, White and Blue Parfait
Read more: 18 Paleo Snacks Under 200 Calories
3. Sunshine Smoothie
Smoothies are fast, simple breakfasts that can be loaded with nutrition and have become synonymous with eating on the go. And while these shakes can be packed with quality nutrition, it's crucial to craft them carefully to get the nutrition you need without overdoing the sugar and calories.
This version is a perfect start to the day; it offers high-quality protein, kefir for a healthy gut and nuts for some healthy fats as well.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Sunrise Smoothie
Read more: 16 Snacks That Are OK to Eat at Night
4. Amped-Up Bircher Microbe Muesli
Muesli, like smoothies, can be done the right way (good-for-you ingredients) and the wrong way (loads of sugar). Be sure you choose the right ingredients, such as Greek yogurt, dried fruit, chia seeds, hemp seeds, apples and almonds.
The beauty of this amped-up breakfast bowl of muesli is that it offers probiotics, fiber, protein, omega-3s and vitamin E.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Amped-Up Bircher Microbe Muesli
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5. Quinoa Porridge
While everyone has come to think of quinoa as a dinner staple, it can seamlessly step in as a breakfast "cereal." And with eight grams of complete protein per cup, it fills the morning's nutrient void. Add some milk and almond butter and you've got one seriously high-protein breakfast option.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Quinoa Porridge
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6. Chocolate Nutter Butter Smoothie
This tasty concoction has everything going for it — and not an egg in sight! It has kefir (a fermented dairy product) for a healthy and balanced gut, plus high-quality whey protein for that muscle-building power. And let's not forget cacao, bananas, pecans and spinach for a flavorful, nutrient-dense way to start your day.
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Chocolate Nutter Butter Smoothie
Read more: Cut Calories With These "Pasta Poser" Recipes
7. Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast doesn't have to be a precious affair, and this meal takes its cue from whatever leftover protein you have from the night before. Pair the protein with sweet potatoes and Greek yogurt, and wrap it all up in a sprouted-grain tortilla. The result is an on-the-go protein-heavy breakfast that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime (or beyond).
Recipe and Nutritional Info: Breakfast Burrito
Read more: 5 Tasty (and Healthy!) Jerkies and 4 to Avoid
What Do YOU Think?
Do you eat high-protein breakfasts without eggs? What are some of your favorite recipes? Let us know in the comments below!