Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to put together five different real food breakfast plans that are super simple and cost about $1.00 per plate. We’re going to save money, save time, and eat well…all at the same time.
Confession time – my family of teenage boys eats BIG. Three of my boys cannot eat these foods for $1.00 because they eat such a freakishly large amount of food in one sitting. I do all I can to keep our costs down, but their plate quantities are something else. So just know that when I say $1.00 per plate – we’re talking about normal people plates. Not active, growing, hungry all the time, teenager people plates. (Not that my boys aren’t normal. But just, you know.)
Other Disclaimers: Your costs and my costs are not going to match up exactly. Fruit prices fluctuate, so I recommend price-matching (if it is an option for you), ordering from Bountiful Baskets or Azure Standard (if it an option for you), and buying in season and on sale.
1. Fried or Scrambled Eggs, Whole Grain Toast with Butter, Fruit
I love that this meal can be prepared and put on the table in such a short time – and that is so packed with nourishment from protein to vitamins to minerals.
2. Oatmeal with Fruit and Nuts
Make this inexpensive meal easier than ever by making ahead Instant Oatmeal Packets or Frozen Oatmeal Cups. Add any fruit you have, whether fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried.
3. Muffins, Eggs, Fruit Smoothies
Make muffin batter ahead as described here, then bake in the morning. So easy! Scramble or fry some eggs. Throw frozen fruits into the blender for a smoothie. Voila! Our favorite smoothie recipe is: Pineapple Mango Smoothie. It is so delicious! We also love Green Machine Milkshakes and Creamy Orange Coolers.
4. Homemade Grape Nuts Cereal, Fruit
This is super easy to make ahead of time, and the cereal is very filling! Throw berries into your cereal bowl or eat fresh fruit on the side. Need some protein to finish this off? How about a hard boiled egg? Perfection.
5. Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls, Fruit
My family can’t get enough of these, and you can make them according to your veggie preferences. These can be made ahead and re-heated in the morning if you like. They are great for a grab and go breakfast!
I’d love to hear what your inexpensive real food go-to breakfast plates look like! Because my wheels are turning now, I feel like I could put together another post with an additional 5 Breakfast Plates for About $1.00. I’ll see what I can come up with – and I’d love to include your ideas too!
Stay tuned for 5 {Easy!} Real Food Lunch Plates for Less Than $1.00 Each and 5 {Easy!} Real Food Dinner Plates for Less Than $1.00 Each coming up in the next couple of weeks. (If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to our free newsletter so you won’t miss out! This one is daily; this one is weekly. Join us!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Huge savings here —> Check out our amazing Simple Meals program!
You will love this!
You’ve mentioned quite a few times that the boys eat a LOT. I’m guessing that your photos are usually of the mom plate. I’d love to see lots of photos and quantities of what the kids eat. My nephew used to be able to eat an entire large pizza and complain that (a) he was tired of chewing, and (b) he was still hungry.
Typically, my boys’ plates look like what I show in a picture – but then they go back and fill it again two or three times. :) Still hungry but “tired of chewing…” oh that cracks me up. :)
My kids always liked peanut butter toast for breakfast. Add a banana and a glass of milk and the nutritional bases were decently covered. A variation on that theme is a “breakfast hot dog” made by smearing a piece of bread with peanut butter and wrapping it around a banana before grabbing a sports bottle of milk and running out the door!
Perfection! I can’t wait for your other related posts!
End of the month breakfast scramble- Eggs and throw in whatever is left in your bare fridge (mine was a handful of spinach, a tomato and small amount of cheese) ! No eggs end of the month idea, – quinoa porridge or soaked wheat berry porridge with frozen berries or cut up fruit and milk in both scenarios.
Your breakfast plans are excellent and because I follow you every day, they are some of our standard breakfast items too! :) Another idea would be breakfast burritos. Pan fry hash browns (we know you love hash browns) and then add bits of your homemade cooked turkey sausage (crumbled) and then pour in eggs mixed with milk. This could be used for a breakfast bowl or the contents may be wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. Top with salsa, cheese, and sour cream. Delicious and thrifty.