Breakfast. We’re told it’s the most important meal of the day but it can be so hard to find the time. With getting kids ready for school, getting to work, and making sure everyone has everything they need, it’s hard enough to get out of the house one time. Forget about trying to fit breakfast in there! It can be so easy to just swing through a drive-through or buy frozen ready-made breakfast sandwiches. But that is killer on the budget not to mention not so healthy either!
No need to bust your budget on breakfast. Check out these budget friendly breakfast ideas that are also fast and easy.
Make ahead sandwiches or breakfast burritos
Did you know that you can make breakfast sandwiches and freeze them? Make up your favorite breakfast sandwiches, individually wrap them in plastic wrap, then keep in a freezer bag in the freezer. Prepare like you would those prepackaged ones that are super expensive. You can also make breakfast burritos and treat the same way. I find burritos easier to heat up.
Frozen waffle peanut butter sandwich
Next time you make waffles, make extra and put in the freezer (flash freeze in a single layer then transfer to a freezer bag). For a fast breakfast, just grab two out of the freezer, pop in the toaster, then spread with peanut butter and make a sandwich. Fast, easy, fairly healthy, and definitely easy on the wallet. Just make sure that you take the time to flash freeze so that they don’t all freeze into one clump.
Fruit, yogurt, and granola bars
Aim for fruit that is easy to eat. Think things like apples, bananas, grapes, blueberries, or oranges you have already peeled. Nothing that is messy or requires a fork. Combine the fruit with a yogurt tube or a granola bar. To make it even cheaper, considering doing refillable food pouches to make your own portable yogurt. All of these things can be eaten one-handed so they are perfect for those days you are really, really running late.
Smoothies
Smoothies can be a great, fast breakfast. You are in control of what goes into them so you can make them pack quite the nutritional punch. My favorite smoothie is: frozen strawberries and blueberries, cottage cheese, flax seed, and orange juice. I will use yogurt if I don’t have cottage cheese but the cottage cheese has more protein. I personally need protein in my breakfast or else I start to feel run down or sick.
To make it faster, you can put most of your favorite ingredients into smoothie-sized portions freezer bags and place in the freezer. Leave out the cottage cheese/yogurt and any liquids. Then, when you’re ready for breakfast, just grab a smoothie bag from the freezer and the items you need from the fridge, throw them all in a personal sized blender, and you’re ready to go!
Cereal
If you have a little bit of time but not enough time to make a full breakfast, cereal can be a great option. I know a lot of other frugal living bloggers will tell you that cereal is empty calories and expensive. That can certainly be true. However, there are some really good cereals out there! Just stay away from the super sugary ones, especially the ones with marshmallows. They can be super affordable too. Just keep an eye on the sales flyers and the coupons. I try to pay no more than $1 per box of cereal, $2.50 if it’s the family sized box of a national brand.
Fast and easy breakfasts don’t have cost a lot of money. The budget friendly breakfast ideas are great for mornings you are running short on time and don’t want to spend money.
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