Cuddles Blog | Pet Business Resources & Marketing Tools

Quick & Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Pet Business Owners (& Busy People)

Written by Cuddles Team | Dec 12, 2023 8:05:47 PM

Providing pet care services can be hectic and stressful, but it’s also very rewarding work! We know how hard it can be to create an organized morning routine, especially in an industry that can have so many unforseen circumstances thrown into every new day:
no shows, cancellations, walk-ins, staff call outs …just to name a few.

We put this list of quick, healthy breakfast 🥞 ideas together with pet business owners in mind, but it can really be for anyone who wants to start their day in a healthier way without spending too much time in the kitchen to make it happen. We have personally tried and regularly enjoy all of the quick breakfast ideas we listed below. Many include a full serving of fruit and they are all packed with protein and nutrients to keep you full and moving through your morning appointments much happier. You can even customize the flavors and additions in these recipes to create a breakfast you love that’s never boring!  

 

 

These quick & healthy breakfast ideas will help you:

  • Save time & money
  • Start your day off in a healthy way
  • Have a more organized work week
  • Reduce stress since breakfast is ready to go in the fridge

Table of contents

Click the quick breakfast idea that sounds the most delicious to jump straight to the recipe! ✨

 

Quick, No-Cook Breakfast Ideas for Busy Mornings ⚡

Fresh Fruit & Yogurt Cups

It might be tempting to grab a bunch of those small yogurt cups at the grocery store, but they’re often loaded with added sugars and not nearly satisfying enough to get you through a busy morning. Instead, mix up your own yogurt with fresh fruit at home! This quick breakfast idea can be thrown together in under five minutes or prepped the night before for a protein & fruit packed grab-and-go breakfast. The best part is there’s no cooking, zero prep, and all you need is a spoon to eat it now or later!

How To Make Yogurt Cups At Home

Mix a serving of greek yogurt and honey or maple syrup together to taste. Then top with fresh or canned fruit (drained well) & granola. If you want a smooth fruit topping to mix into your yogurt, pulse the fruit in a blender for a few seconds before adding it to the yogurt. If you’re using a soft fruit like raspberries or canned peaches, you can skip the blender and mash them gently into the yogurt & honey mixture with a spoon until well combined. Drizzle with a little extra honey if you like and enjoy!

Yogurt Cup Meal Prep

To prep this easy breakfast yogurt the night before, mix everything except the granola together in a sealed container. Place a single portion of granola in a small sealed bag or reusable container and add it to the top of your yogurt mixture when you’re ready to eat.

 

Dressed Up Peanut Butter Toast

Pop one or two slices of your favorite whole wheat or whole grain bread into the toaster, then spread a layer of peanut butter or any other type of nut-butter you prefer onto the toast. Now this is where you can get really creative! Top the toast and peanut butter with anything you like from healthy fruits to decadent chocolate chips. Try a few of our favorite peanut butter toast toppings below or create a unique flavor combo of your own.

Topping Ideas for Peanut Butter Toast:

🍌 Bananas and cinnamon
🍓 Thinly sliced strawberries or whole raspberries
🍯 Drizzle of honey
🍫 Mini chocolate chips (pairs well with bananas too!)
🌾 Sesame seeds

 

Healthy Energy Bar & Fresh Fruit Breakfast

For the healthiest on-the-go breakfast bar option, look for real food bars with natural ingredients you can pronounce and no added sugars if possible. We personally love Thunderbird Superfood Bars. They offer a variety of flavors and every bar is made with only a handful of natural ingredients and no added sugars! If you don’t already have a protein or snack bar you enjoy, try a few different options until you find one you like. After all, breakfast should be something delicious that you look forward to. 🙂

At night, place your breakfast bar and a banana, kiwi, apple, pear, or other fruit of choice that’s easy to eat on the go on the counter next to your keys. Then in the morning, you can grab your breakfast with your keys and head quickly out the door!

 

Fast Frozen Fruit Smoothies

Chances are you’re no stranger to a smoothie! If you have a few minutes to spare in the morning, blending up a quick smoothie can be a great way to start your day with a full serving of fruits, veggies, and protein. Many smoothie recipes call for ice, but we’ll let you in on our secret to delicious, never watered down smoothies: use frozen fruit instead!

Most smoothies start with a base of a liquid of choice, banana or avocado for creaminess, and other fruits & veggies. Some people like smoothies that are thicker and others prefer a more creamy consistency, so we recommend starting with 1 cup of liquid and then increasing the amount as you blend the ingredients together until you reach your preferred smoothie thickness. You may have to play with the ratios of the different ingredients you use to get a flavor and texture that you love. If this is your first time making smoothies, it’s best to start out with something simple and then build from there. Try our Mango Banana & Turmeric Smoothie recipe below for a quick & easy breakfast packed with nutrients!

Mango Banana Turmeric Smoothie

Ingredients

🥛 1 cup liquid of choice (milk, coconut water, etc)
❤️ Scoop of Protein Powder (optional)
🍌 1 Fresh Banana
½-1 cup frozen mango chunks
Sprinkle of turmeric
🍯 Honey or other sweetener to taste (optional)

How to Make Banana Mango Turmeric Smoothies

Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Add more liquid or fruit as needed to achieve desired smoothie consistency.

 

🤯 Tips, Tricks, & Add Ins!

  • You can use equal parts of greek yogurt in place of milk or half of each, but you may want to sweeten it a little with honey to cut the tartness of the yogurt.
  • For a thicker smoothie, use more banana
  • As with any spice, start with a very small amount of turmeric and increase the amount to taste. Turmeric can become quickly overpowering if you add too much!
  • Add a handful of spinach for an extra burst of nutrients!

Easy Meal-Prep Breakfast Ideas

Overnight Oats

Most overnight oats recipes use a combination of whole rolled oats, milk, and yogurt, plus other ingredients that add flavor and nutrition. After combining all the ingredients in an airtight container like a mason jar or meal prep bowl, you’ll leave the oats chilled in the fridge overnight so they have a chance to absorb the liquid. This creates a soft, chewy, and creamy texture that’s very satisfying. Overnight oats are meant to be eaten straight out of the bowl or mason jar with a spoon and can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can find a ton of great recipes and flavor combinations for overnight oats online, but to get you started we recommend the Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats Recipe Below!

 

Mango Banana Turmeric SmoothiePB&J Overnight Oats

Ingredients

🌾 ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
🥛 ½ cup milk of choice
🤤 ⅓ cup plain greek yogurt
🥜 2 tbsp peanut butter or nut-butter of choice
🍓 1 tbsp strawberry jam
🍯 Honey or maple syrup to taste
🌊 Pinch of sea salt
🍌 Banana slices or sliced strawberries (optional toppings)

How to Make Overnight Oats

Combine all the ingredients in an airtight container except your toppings of choice, if any. Taste the yogurt mixture to check for flavor balance & sweetness and add more ingredients as needed. Let sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours and up to 5 days. When ready to eat, top with fresh fruit if you like and enjoy! If the mixture is a little too thick after sitting in the fridge, add a little milk and stir.

 

2 Ingredient Banana & Egg Pancakes

Yep, you read that right. These delicious “pancakes” only require two ingredients to make! Banana & egg…that’s it, nothing else. We love these banana pancakes piping hot and fresh from the griddle, but they can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to a month. To reheat 2 ingredient banana pancakes, warm them up in the oven or toaster for a few minutes, or wrap them in a damp paper towel and pop them in the microwave for 20 second intervals until heated through.

Ingredients: Makes 6-8 small pancakes, recipe can be easily doubled

Ingredients

🍌 1 ripe banana
🥚 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
🤤 Vanilla extract (optional)
🤤 Butter or oil
🍫 Maple syrup, jam, nutella, or other toppings (optional)

 

How to Make Banana Pancakes

  1. Peel the banana and break it into several pieces. Use a dinner fork to mash the banana until no large lumps remain. You should end up with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of mashed bananas. Flavor with a dash of vanilla extract if desired.
  2. Pour the eggs over the banana and stir until completely combined. The batter will be very liquidy, this is normal!
  3. Heat a pan or griddle over medium heat and add a little butter or vegetable oil in the pan if desired.
  4. Drop about 2 tablespoons of batter into the pan. The pancakes should be fairly small. If the batter does not immediately sizzle, turn up the heat slightly. Leave a little space between the drops of batter so you have room to flip them easily.
  5. Let the batter sit undisturbed for about 1 minute. When you lift an edge, the bottoms should look browned and golden. The edges should also begin to look set, while the middle will still wobble some if the pan is jiggled.
  6. Unlike with regular pancakes, you’ll want to take your time slowly and gently flipping these with a thin spatula. Lift the pancake just slightly off the pan and then flip it. If any batter spills out, gently nudge it back under the pancake.
  7. Cook the second side for a minute and see how it looks. Once the second side is set you can easily flip the pancake to cook it until each side is evenly browned.
  8. Keep the pancakes warm in the oven if you’re cooking in batches and then top them with syrup or other toppings when you’re ready to eat!

Muffin Tin Frittatas

Cook these easy, low carb bacon, egg, & cheese frittatas in muffin tins ahead of time, then reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds for a quick breakfast to go! Play around with adding other flavorful ingredients like finely chopped mushrooms, tomatoes, chives, or anything else you might enjoy.

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Frittata Muffins

Ingredients: Fills 12 muffin cups

Ingredients

🥚 12 large eggs
🥄 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
🌶️ Salt and pepper, to taste
🥓 ½ cup cooked bacon or ham, chopped very small
🧀 ½ cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make Overnight Oats

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Lightly spray 12 muffin tins with non-stick spray.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and onion. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add egg mixture halfway up into each greased muffin cup.
  5. Distribute the bacon and cheese evenly between the muffin cups. You may want to gently stir each one to combine the ingredients.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until set.
  7. Let your breakfast frittata muffins cool for about 10 minutes before attempting to remove them. Run a plastic knife or spatula around the inside walls of the muffin holes to help loosen them if needed.
  8. Serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or wrap individual portions and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  9. To reheat, wrap muffins in a damp paper towel. Heat in the microwave in 20 second increments until warmed through.
  10. Enjoy these egg frittata muffins alone or with a side of fresh fruit!