I prefer smaller breakfasts and I'm usually in a rush and don't have time to actually cook anything.
My favourite "grab and go" breakfast are the Pineapple Upside-Down Muffins from eatingwell.com. Each muffin is only 211 calories with 6g of fat. I like to make a large batch of them on a day off and then freeze them in my freezer. In the morning, I pop one in the microwave for about 30 seconds and
voilą! Instant hot breakfast, ready to go!
Pineapple Upside-Down Muffins
Ingredients
Topping
* 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, or pecans (optional)
* 1 10-ounce can pineapple slices
Muffins
* 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 2 large eggs
* 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 2 tablespoons pineapple juice, or orange juice
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, (not drained)
* 1 cup grated carrot, (1 large)
* 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
* 3/4 cup raisins, preferably baking raisins (see Ingredient note)
* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, or pecans (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. To prepare topping: Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar into each muffin cup. Sprinkle nuts, if using, over the sugar. Stack pineapple slices and cut into 6 wedges. Place 2 wedges in each muffin cup.
3. To prepare muffins: Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
4. Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in oil, juice and vanilla. Stir in crushed pineapple. Make a well in the dry ingredients; add the wet ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Stir in carrot, oats, raisins and nuts, if using. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups (they'll be quite full).
5. Bake the muffins until the tops are golden brown and firm to the touch, 15 to 25 minutes. Immediately loosen edges and turn muffins out onto a baking sheet. Restore any stray pineapple pieces and nuts. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve upside-down, either warm or at room temperature.
On the weekends, my boyfriend and I will have waffles with maple syrup, butter, and sausage. It sounds really decadent, but in reality it's not (at least not calorie-wise)!
2 Eggo Low-Fat Waffles: 140 calories
1 Tbs. maple syrup: 50 calories
1 Tbs. butter: 90 calories (
or, you can do just 1/2 Tbs for just 45 calories)
1 link of chicken sausage: 120 calories
For a grand total of 400 calories even!