HEALTH

You've heard it before: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We all know that eating something healthy in the morning is a great start for a happy, productive day at school (or even just relaxing at home). But when it's one of those days when your alarm doesn't go off and you're about to be late for your summer job, whipping up something that's good for you (and aesthetic, ofc) seems like a lot of work.

These fruit-based breakfasts will have you out the door with something healthy in your stomach in no time...

Berry yogurt parfait

If you're a girl who loves her berries, summer might be your fave season. Late spring and summer is when blueberries, blackberries and raspberries come into season, making them a perfect addition to your breakfasts.

For a dish as healthy as it is Instagrammable, give your favorite berries a rinse in the sink and pile them onto a bowl of Greek yogurt (calcium! protein!). Top with a sprinkling of healthy granola (we love the Purely Elizabeth Chocolate + Sea Salt granola) and drizzle with a nut butter of your choice for a beautiful (and filling) bowl.

@kyndraholley

Fruit and nut butter toast

GL intern Anne Chen recommends topping a slice or two of toast with almond butter, banana slices and cinnamon. If you're not a banana girlie, berries are also a great option, as are chunks of melon like honeydew or cantaloupe.

For optimum nutrition, try a whole-grain, low-sugar option such as Ezekiel bread for your toast. And feel free to customize with peanut butter or sunflower butter instead of almond butter—all three are great sources of protein!

@veganiina

Make-your-own açaí bowl

Açaí bowls have been all the rage for the last couple of years, and for good reason: Adding açaí puree to your smoothie bowl ups the fruit factor and makes your healthy breakfast the most gorgeous shade of purple. Açai has become easier and cheaper to find in stores, with Trader Joe's and Target both selling no-sugar-added açai puree packets in their freezer sections.

To save time in the morning, you can make your açaí bowl's base in the blender at night and leave it in the refrigerator. Blend one or two açaí puree packets with a banana, a handful of berries, a tablespoon or two of nut butter and a cup of milk (almond is fine is you're dairy-free) to give your bowl enough of a base.

In the a.m., pour some of your açaí smoothie into a bowl and make an aesthetic arrangement with your toppings of choice, whether that's banana slices, more berries, granola, cacao nibs or a drizzle of nut butter or honey. Check out this recipe for a vegan açaí bowl that uses peanut butter as part of the base.

@onelovelylife1

Fruity smoothie

If you like the açaí bowl idea but don't want any extra steps after the blender, you can make a fun summer smoothie with no toppings needed!

The prospect of throwing together a smoothie in the morning can be daunting. But making it the night before means your only morning prep is taking the blender out of the refrigerator and pouring your drink into a glass (total time = three seconds).

If you like, you can use açaí in your smoothie too. But the sky is the limit for possible smoothie ingredients! Try out this recipe for an easy kale pineapple smoothie, or any of these recipes that use frozen fruit to make prep extra easy.

In a world where a pretty smoothie can be $15+ at a juice bar, your bod *and* your wallet will thank you!

@bobsredmill

Fruit charcuterie

The simplest fruit breakfast recipe of all? Cut up your favorite fruits (or buy them pre-sliced) and arrange them on a plate (so! many! colors!).

You can drizzle some nut butter over your fruit charcuterie board for a boost of protein and healthy fat (or some chocolate hazelnut spread if you're in the mood for a treat). Other toppings like berries or sprinkled granola are also totally optional.

Fruit is also a great pairing to any other extra dish. If you have a little more time one morning, you can make scrambled eggs or oatmeal to go along with it. (Bonus points if you put your fruit *in* your oatmeal for another aesthetic display.)

@charcuterie_by_p

How are your incorporating fruit into your meals this summer? Let us know on Twitter @girlslifemag!

Check out these other GL articles for more breakfast recipes and inspo:
🌻 Why you should never skip breakfast (like, ever)
🌺 5 delish peanut butter recipes for National Peanut Butter Lover's Day
🌴 4 alternatives to coffee for your morning pick-me-up

Slider image: @veganiina
Top image: @dmvfoodfinds

by Ava Slocum | 6/30/2023