Clean Eating Breakfast Recipes to Start Your Morning Off Right

January 09, 2017
Photo: Grant Cornett; Styling: Alistair Turnbull 
At it’s heart, the term “clean eating” means eating whole foods, or foods that are not processed and essentially exist in their natural state. In other words, no additives, no preservatives, no gross stuff. With these outstanding and clean breakfast recipes, you'll put a good foot forward into a healthy lifestyle that's right for you. From flavorful eggs, to tantalizing pancakes, or even a simple smoothie, find your next favorite clean eating breakfast recipe right here. 
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Mushroom Frittata

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Mushroom Frittata Recipe

A frittata is a baked, open-faced omelet with Mediterranean flair. This omelet features fresh mushrooms and arugula tossed over the top to invoke a savory and warm start to your day.

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Overnight Oats with Kefir, Berries, and Toasted Coconut

Photo: Alison Miksch Styling: Lindsey Lower
Overnight Oats with Kefir, Berries, and Toasted Coconut Recipe

This oatmeal bowl is a great on-the-go breakfast and is also made probiotic-rich with the addition of kefir.  This bowl is best enjoyed cold becuase the active cultures in kefir are sensitive to heat. Resist the urge to microwave the oats, keeping it chilled for maximum benefits.

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Veggie Eggy Scramble

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Veggie Eggy Scramble Recipe

Katie admits that she and her family "aren't big morning people." They rush through and typically grab what's convenient. We like the idea of getting them to incorporate veggies into the morning meal, and it's not hard or time-consuming to do. Katie can spend a few minutes prepping everything the night before (including beating the egg-cheese mixture) to make the next morning a breeze. When they need this to be grab and go, they can stuff the scramble into a whole-wheat pita.

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Citrusy Banana-Oat Smoothie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr
Citrusy Banana-Oat Smoothie Recipe
Make morning prep even faster by freezing the banana and cooking and refrigerating the oatmeal the night before.

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Melon Salad with Savory Granola

Photo: Neil Dacosta
Melon Salad with Savory Granola Recipe

Heirloom Charentais melons have smooth, gray-green skin and bright orange flesh that is supersweet and fragrant. For a substitute you can use a combination of honeydew melon and cantaloupe.

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Grapefruit, Avocado, and Prosciutto Breakfast Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grapefruit, Avocado, and Prosciutto Breakfast Salad Recipe

Bright, refreshing grapefruit pairs surprisingly well with nutty-earthy toasted sesame oil. This meal is full of satiating heart-healthy fats that will keep you full for a long time.

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True Whole-Wheat Bread

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Kevin Crafts
True Whole-Wheat Bread Recipe
A bread that's 100 percent whole-grain can be dense and dry, but this one, by Lorrette Patzwald, who works with Ponsford's Place in San Rafael, California, is a revelation--moist and springy, with amazing depth of flavor. She starts by soaking some coarse grains to give the bread texture. Patzwald's secret for working with local flours, which aren't as predictable as supermarket flours, is to let your eyes and sense of touch--not just measurements--guide you along. Her directions tell you how.

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Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Granola Parfaits

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Granola Parfaits Recipe

This simple parfait requires just a few ingredients: yogurt, blueberries, and a luscious granola layered in between the yogurt. Don't have blueberries? No problem. Substitute your favorite in-season fruit. Because these great parfaits are so easy to assemble, they're great for kids who want to help out in the kitchen.

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Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits Recipe
To make this portable breakfast a snap, prepare the granola in advance and store it in an airtight container. Be sure to keep a close eye on the broiler so the granola doesn't burn. You can also sub pitted fresh cherries or any ripe berry for the raspberries.
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Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower
Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries Recipe

I've remade the typical syrup-doused waffle breakfast into a lower-sugar, fruit-forward, gluten-free, whole-grain plate with 273 fewer calories. In place of refined all-purpose flour, I go with gluten-free buckwheat flour, which adds 2.4g filling fiber per serving; strawberries add another 2.4g. Barely sweetened berries and yogurt replace maple syrup, slashing 18g added sugar per serving.

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Fried Egg and Crunchy Breadcrumb Breakfast Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Fried Egg and Crunchy Breadcrumb Breakfast Salad Recipe

If you have access to whole-grain rye bread, definitely give it a try here; it's so flavorful on its own and adds a special lift to this salad. You can make the toasted breadcrumbs up to two days ahead; just store in an airtight container or zip-top bag until you're ready for them.

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Glowing Green Smoothie Dr. Oz

Photo: samolo
Glowing Green Smoothie Dr. Oz Recipe

1 1/2 cups water 1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped (about 6 cups) This smoothie supplies you with the energy, vitamins and minerals to give your skin a youthful, sexy glow. 2 stalks organic celery (about 1 1/2 cups) 7 cups of chopped spinach 1 organic apple or pear, cored and chopped 1 organic banana 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice

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3-Ingredient Pancakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
3-Ingredient Pancakes Recipe

These single-serving pancakes are a bit more like the custardy center bite of French toast: fluffy, eggy, and golden delicious.

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Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta Recipe

For a tangier citrus flavor, go with lemon; for more floral, sweet notes, try tangerine. To keep prep simple, use purchased pomegranate arils from the produce section, or pre-prep a fresh pomegranate the night before.

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Baked Egg-in-a-Hole

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr
Baked Egg-in-a-Hole Recipe
These bacon-and-egg toasts make for a fun breakfast or easy dinner.
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Smashed Avocado on Toast

Photo: Grant Cornett; Styling: Alistair Turnbull 
Smashed Avocado on Toast Recipe
Smashed Avocado on Toast is a great snack before a run or workout. With the perfect combination of healthy fats and carbohydrates, this snack will keep your body energized without weighing you down.
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