Breakfast on the fly (and on the cheap)

[donnafreedman]

Everybody talks about the cost of lunches out. But what about breakfast? How much are those bagels or egg-and-cheese burritos costing you -- and what's the alternative?
Just as I did with "Join the brown bag challenge," I'd like to solicit ideas for easy but not nutritionally bankrupt breakfasts that can be taken along to eat on the train or at the desk when you get to work.
Any ideas?

[bobosensei]

I keep a cannister of Quaker quick oats at work. If I don't have time to eat breakfast before I leave the house I eat oatmeal at work. The cannister costs 2-3 dollars for 30 servings. I've also been known to eat it for lunch if something happens and I can't leave work to go back home to eat.

I also bring my coffee to work with me, and I try to shove a few pieces of fruit in my purse for the munchies as well. I keep an assortment of tea for the cold winter months.

[toservewithlove]

As I mentioned on the brown bag thread, I have been known to keep the loaf of bread and peanut butter at work and make my toast once I'm there. Our breakroom has an inexpensive toaster in it and a few of us use it daily for toast or bagels. I'm never ready to eat as early as I would need to if I ate at home on a work day. Another coworker has cereal faithfully each morning that she brings in.

[wackyaunt]

I make granola bars, using oatmeal from the Amish store (the actually sell it in huge bags, but break it down for us "English" folks that shop there too!) I have also made "instant oatmeal" bags, but those aren't train/commuter friendly. I also make banana nut muffins and blueberry muffins with whole wheat flour (to try to up the fiber content). The banana ones that I make have a bare minimum of sugar and no oils only applesauce.

[Tiny]

As I'm "weight conscious" and frugal so here's some grab and go "ingredients" for on the go breakfasts. You may need to plan ahead for hard boiled eggs and put your portioned cereal in zippys...
Basically combine a Protein with a "carb" and you're good to go:

PROTEIN:
Hardboiled egg
individual string cheese
cup of lo cal/lo fat yogurt
Peanut Butter

CARB:
toasted lo cal/lo fat bagel, whole wheat bread, english muffin
1 serving of a lo cal/lo fat/hi fiber breakfast cereal (I like aldi's Crispy Oats or Cheerios)

A peice of fresh fruit rounds it out nicely or makes a good mid morning snack if you have alot of hours between breakfast and lunch.

[Tiny]

I'll also occassionally do the following:
make pancakes and flavored breakfast sausage (or occassionally bacon). I'll package up a serving of pancakes and sausage or bacn in plastic wrap (or wax paper or cereal bag liners!) and keep them in a big Zippy in the freezer. I can put a "pancake package" to thaw overnight and then in the morning just heat and go... since there's no syrup or butter I can roll a pancake around a sausage and eat it that way (or make a pancake bacon sandwich). You could also make and freeze french toast (hawiaan bread works well and adds lots of flavor so less of a need for syrup/sugar dusting) .

I also make "egg sandwiches" if I have enough time. Basically beat an egg (plus maybe an egg white) in a microwave save custard bowl. Toast up some whole wheat bread or an english muffin or warm up a tortilla (you can keep these frozen too). Put the egg in the microwave (usually for a minute or less - you need to experiment) until its cooked. Add a slice of cheese if you like. Make a sandwich with the toast/muffin, egg and cheese. You can add in some pre cooked veggies to the egg (I sometimes reserve some sauted pepper/onion for this).
If you plan ahead enough you can add a meat to this - breakfast sausage? Bacon? you can cook these ahead of time and freeze them... just heat and eat.

[Tiny]

I need to be awake for a couple of hours before I can eat - so I usually eat breakfast at my desk at work and have access to a microwave, coffee, tea, and hot water. I keep individual packages of oatmeal at the office and bring some fruit to go with it. For a change I'll package up servings of Toasty Ohs (my 'pet name' for either Aldi Crispy Oats or Cheerios or other cereal) in zippy bags and take them 5 at a time to the office. I switch off to "crunchy squares" - don't know the real names - but they are shredded wheat with some sugar coating...
I'll heat up my pancakes at the office too. I only make egg sandwiches at home.

[SweetVirginia]

I like to make homemade egg mc muffins. They are easy to make, filling and cheap.

Store brand english muffins (whole wheat if available)
1 egg per work day (5 for me)
5 slices of cheese

scramble the eggs and cook
toast all of the english muffins
place egg in each muffin and top with cheese
allow to cool
wrap each egg muffin in wax paper and then foil paper
place in freezer
take one muffin out each day,remove foil, microwave for about 1 1/2 to 2 mins.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I'm boring (and eating for weight loss + diabetes), so I tend to eat the exact same breakfast every day:

1 cup of original Fiber One
1 cup of unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
2 slices of sprouted organic flax seed toast
90 calories of protein (usually salmon, but could be LF cottage cheese)

It's 350 calories, loaded with more than a day's minimum requirements of fiber, low glycemic, heart-healthy, and very filling. And it's enough to keep me fueled until lunch ~ even if I decide to bike for an hour.

I buy Fiber One on sale ... so it comes to about .41 per serving. The unsweetened Almond Breeze is .50 a serving unless I can find the larger refrigerated containers. The toast is about .45 per serving, and the salmon is .97 per serving. (Cottage cheese is much less than the salmon). So, at the most expensive ... it's $2.33 per breakfast.

Note: I buy a specialized bread that's $3.99 per loaf, and the salmon is .97 per pouch. Anyone who wanted to duplicate this could substitute any 50-calorie per slice bread and low fat cottage cheese and probably save about $.80 ... bringing this to a $1.50 breakfast. But, like I said, I am eating this for health reasons, and not because it's super inexpensive.

And I'm sure skim milk is less expensive than Almond Breeze.

[chiver78]

I do breakfast wraps sometimes. egg and cheese, usually with veggies, sometimes with bacon. I have a small frying pan that, when I let the egg set and cook, will create a thin ~6" round of 'omelet' that can be rolled into a tortilla. I'll typically dice up some mushroom, tomato, onion, and spinach to mix into the egg, or fry up some bacon separately.

cook one egg at a time, and individually wrap in plastic wrap. I'll bring in 5 rounds on a Monday morning and add to the tortillas and Kraft singles I keep in a lunch tote in the fridge at work.

microwave:
30 sec for the egg, just unwrap the egg and cook
10 sec for the tortilla to warm it up

build the wrap, and heat the whole thing for 10-15 seconds to melt the cheese. hot breakfast at your desk in a minute and a half.

[Anne_in_VA]

On the weekends I'll make "breakfast burritos" with scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, onions and or peppers, and some cheese. I'll portion them out on a tortilla and fold them up. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze.

I'll take one out in the morning before I get ready for work and heat in the microwave for a minute or so until it's hot.

I also take some oatmeal packets to work with me in case I get hungry or forgot to eat before going to work.

[cronewitch]

For a low carb instant breakfast you can make sausage muffins.

Mix together raw egg in a bowl then saute some diced onion and bulk sausage, drain and add to the raw egg. Add any spices you might like, salt, pepper, garlic whatever you want. You could add leftover veggies like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms shredded cheese to make it more of a little quiche.

Divide the egg mix between a bunch of muffin tin cups and bake until egg is cooked. Remove from the tin and put in zip bags. In the morning put two or how many you want in your lunch bag then microwave at work when they are thawed, Or microwave at home for a hot breakfast.

[sccdf]

I have to eat first thing. I never go out to eat breakfast. I eat a lot of granola.

I found ripe pears on clearance. I have been slicing up a pear and sprinkling gronola on top.

P.S. Glad to see you on the darkside Donna.

[notallwhowander]

I never buy breakfast on-the-go (ie fast food) - we only buy breakfast out at a homestyle type restaurant when on vacation or for a special occasion.

I do need my breakfast every day though. I go back and forth between two staple meals.

One is a smoothie, made with skim milk, frozen fruit, sometimes some spinach thrown in. The milk is $2.40/gallon, frozen fruit between $1 and $1.50/pound, and spinach is usually organic at $3.40/pound (but a pound of spinach goes a long way!).

The other is fat free Greek yogurt with dried cranberries and pecan pieces. Yogurt is $2.30 for five servings, I buy the dried fruit and nuts in bulk for much less than smaller packages. Works out to about $0.50 total. Very high in protein, not too bad on calories or fat.

[Apple]

When I make waffles I'll make a few extra to throw in the freezer (same with pancakes). Just heat them up and run. I also do the egg muffin sandwiches, they're quick and easy (and cheap if you can get everything on sale!)
I also keep bread at work with a jar of peanut butter so that I can make toast. I've changed break room locations a few times as I'm moved to a different crew, but my toaster comes with me (I brought it from home, if someone in the old break room misses it, he can bring his own...)
I have to take a thyroid pill every morning so I can't eat until an hour after I take it, which is pretty much the time I walk in the door. I show up early enough (I'm in a vanpool with 9 guys) to throw something in the toaster or microwave and be ready to go when the clock starts.
I also have an easy fruit salad I make, I'll post it over in the recipe section when I get a chance.

ETA: Recipe posted in the "misc" folder.

[emptypockets]

Pre-made stuff and last night's leftovers make great breakfasts on the run. Besides, the nutritionists all say our largest, heaviest meal should be breakfast so we can work it off during the rest of the day.

[Apple]

I love oranges but find I'm too lazy to peel them when I'm looking for something quick. I just bought a bunch and cut them into slices so they're ready to eat. Little things like this work for me.

[Opti]

My last job I used to keep a box of cereal at the office so if I didn't
eat breakfast before I left I'd have cereal there. I also like fruit like clementines and apples.

[Apple]

Ok, I've been working on transferring recipes for a few hours (and I have hundreds more saved and ready to transfer). In that group were some recipes for breakfast muffins--go check it out
notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=drinks&action=display&thread=885

[Artemis Windsong]

I eat old fashioned oatmeal with protein powder and cinnamon nearly every day. Some flax seed oil is supposed to be added but I'll use a butter substitute.

I miss the cottage cheese because I developed lactose problems.

[Deleted]

So a 2 egg omelet with some cheese and onion and bacon bits is about $0.60 or so? I like that!!!

[daisylu]

I keep oatmeal in my desk. Sometimes I slap together a PB&J and eat it on my way to work. I also like to cook up a batch of sausage patties for the week as I am making Sunday breakfast - they reheat very well.

[NastyWoman]

Weekdays breakfast consists of oatmeal (instant Trader Joe's) made in the microwave and -since it is too hot to eat right away-cooled down by adding frozen fruit.

[celticqueen]

I usually keep yogurt in the refrigerator at work and I'll throw some cereal in that and eat it.

On the old board someone posted a recipe for omelet muffins. Bascially you scramble a bunch of eggs, throw in whatever is left in your fridge - peppers, bacon, ham, cheese, etc. Add a little salt and pepper. Pour into muffin tins (I recommend using liners) and bake until they're done. Then you can freeze them. Pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds when you're ready to eat. They're really yummy.

Also, when I make pancakes on Saturday mornings I usually make extra and freeze them in stacks of 3 or 4 in individual baggies.

[wackyaunt]

I make breakfast for supper sometimes. When I make French Toast, I freeze and wrap individual slices then for a fast breakfast OR lunch, I will toast a slice in the toaster (crispier than nuking it) put a bit of pretend butter on it and sprinkle with either a packet of fake sugar or sprinkle a bit of my hubby's cinnamon sugar mixture on it--very lightly. Less mess than syrup.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...I've used a "meal in a shake" or a "meal bar" for quick breakfasts on the go... very portable and works well to consume during the commute... plenty of weight loss options out there and it certainly does the trick...

[telephus44]

I make my own fruit and yogurt parfaits. A bulk container of yogurt is $3.00, then I add some oatmeal ($2.00 for the cannister) and whatever fruit we have on hand. Sometimes if I have it hanging around I'll add nuts or honey.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I make muffins and if I am sick of muffins I've been making breakfast burritos with frozen hashbrowns, cheese and bacon/sausage. I rotate between the two.

[moneywhisperer]

Something that seems to be a staple in the Netherlands: Sliced Hard Boiled Egg & Bacon with mayo on a roll - it's a cold sandwich there & available in any deli shop. I LOVE them, so adopted it for my own American breakfast on the run!

[dancinmama]

You can make those biscuit and egg sandwiches (either with home made biscuits or Pillsbury type which are less healthy). Add some chese and/or sausage if you want to (or not). Wrap in foil and stick in a freezer bag. You can pop them in the micro at home before you leave or take them with and microwave at work.