Try These Healthy Holiday Breakfast Ideas Today

The winter holidays are great for families to get together over delicious food. This year, family time is especially meaningful. Many families have been physically isolated from one another as a result of pandemic lockdowns. If your family is fortunate enough to gather together this year, that, in and of itself, is something to be very grateful for. In this article, we provide you with a range of healthy holiday breakfast ideas to get your 2020 off to a great start.

• Breakfast Cookies
• Whole-Wheat Apple Pancakes
• Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Pumpkin Juice Smoothie

Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast cookies don’t have to be filled with sugar. Done the healthy way, they are a great source of fiber. This recipe ensures that you get that health-promoting and fat loss inducing fiber with the addition of whole wheat flour, bran cereal, and rolled oats. You can make this recipe even healthier by replacing sugar with honey or an alternative natural sweetener. Almond flour can also be used as a substitute for all-purpose flour. This recipe also provides you with the healthy fats and antioxidants that are contained in walnuts.

This is an entry-level recipe that takes twenty minutes to prepare and twelve minutes to cook. It will yield twelve cookies.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup canola oil
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup strained carrot baby food
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup bran cereal flakes
• ⅓ cup raisins
• ⅓ cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted in a dry pan for two minutes and then chopped

Directions

1. Put a rack in the center of your oven and preheat at 350 degrees F.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a medium bowl.
3. Combine the butter, oil, and sugars in the mixing bowl of a mixer and mix on high speed for about one minute until the mixture is light in color. 
4. Add the egg, carrot puree, and vanilla, and beat for another thirty seconds.
5. Add the oats, flakes, walnuts, and raisins, and mix for a further thirty seconds at a slow speed.
6. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use 3/4 tablespoon of batter to form a ball and place it on the cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining batter.
7. Wet your hands and use your palms to flatten the cookies to a thickness of about ¼ inch.
8. Bake for twelve minutes then allow to cool before transferring to a wire rack.

Whole-Wheat Apple Pancakes

This healthy pancake recipe does away with sugar completely in favor of honey and organic maple sugar, which both provide a healthy source of sweetness, while also being rich in antioxidants. To lower cholesterol content, you may wish to remove the egg yolk from the recipe. Substituting the all-purpose flour with almond flour will also make these pancakes healthier, helping to prevent holiday weight gain.

Ingredients

• 1 cup low fat buttermilk
• ¾ cup nonfat milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 medium apple, diced
• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• ¾ whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. 
2. Place the apple in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for two minutes.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Whisk the buttermilk, nonfat milk, eggs, and honey in a small bowl. Slowly add in the dry ingredients.
5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spoon ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake. Sprinkle in the apple, and then spoon more batter on top of the apple. Cook until the tops are bubbly and the edges are dry (approx. two minutes). 
6. Flip and cook until golden brown (one to two minutes).
7. Serve with maple syrup.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

Here is a healthy oatmeal recipe that is rich in fiber and vitamin A. It includes plenty of vitamins E and D thanks to the inclusion of almond milk. The sweeteners used in this recipe are all-natural, being rich in antioxidants. Serving with heavy cream will up the yum factor, and your family members who are not watching their weight will appreciate you for it!

Ingredients

• 1 14 oz can unseasoned pumpkin puree
• 2 cups of water
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups  quicking cooking oatmeal
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• Maple syrups, or honey for serving
• Heavy cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the pumpkin puree, water, milk, pumpkin pie spice, raisins, and salt in a large saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil.
2. Add the oatmeal, turn the heat down, and cook in accordance with the oatmeal instructions (around fifteen minutes).
3. Toast the pumpkin seeds in a small cast-iron skillet over a high heat until they are golden brown (about ten minutes).
4. Serve with honey and maple syrup on the side. Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top, and add cream if desired.

Pumpkin Juice Smoothie

A refreshing pumpkin juice smoothie makes the ideal way to top off your Thanksgiving breakfast. This recipe is filled with omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and antioxidants. Blend with ice to make it even more refreshing.

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato 
• 1 carrot 
• 1/2 cup pumpkin 
• 1/4 avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1/2 cup almond milk, soy milk, or skim milk 
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the sweet potato into one inch pieces.
2. Juice the carrots and sweet potatoes first, followed by the pumpkin.
3. Sprinkle on the cinnamon

Wrap Up

This year, if your family is fortunate enough to be able to gather together under one roof, give them the gift of sumptuous, healthy food. These four recipes will get your family holiday off to a terrific, energetic, and healthy start!