All of the ingredients of the chocolate chip mint smoothie in the cup before getting blended (left) and the smoothie blended together (right).

Breakfast can make or break your morning and even your day. Without the proper nutrients, you may find yourself feeling tired and lazy. So, it’s vital to eat a protein-packed, energizing breakfast to stay awake and motivated. Here are a few breakfast ideas to start your day off right:

Mint chocolate chip smoothie: 

I discovered this smoothie from Daily Harvest–which is a website that delivers smoothies, bowls, etc right to your door–but you can make it at home with this recipe. I love this smoothie because it tastes like dessert, but it actually has vegetables and protein hidden within.

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla cashew milk

1 splash of peppermint extract

1/2  tsp chlorella powder

1/2 cup frozen bananas, sliced

1/2 cup frozen spinach

1 sprinkle cacoa nibs

1 serving size (usually one or two scoops) protein powder of your choice

Directions:

1. Blend ingredients.
2. Enjoy!

Egg muffins:

These egg muffins are so yummy, and they’re great because you can reheat them throughout the week. You can add whatever you want to your egg muffins, but my personal favorite add-ins are spinach, feta, and a colorful array of vegetables. Also, these egg muffins are all about ratios and personal preference, so I won’t list specific measurements for the add-ins.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

4 egg whites (adds protein)

Vegetables (my personal favorites are spinach, red and green bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes)

Herbs and spices (my favorites are dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper)

Cheese (I use feta, but you can experiment with other cheeses too)

Toppings (Optional. Try avocado, salsa, hot sauce, or anything else that you would like)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Coat a muffin tin with nonstick spray, and divide your add-ins between the cups (fill about ⅔ of the way).
3. Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, and spices. Fill each cup ¾ of the way with the mixture. Then, crumble feta (or the cheese of your choice) on top.
4. Bake for about 24 to 28 minutes. 
5. Let muffins cool, then enjoy!

Protein pancakes: 

I love these pancakes because they’re light and packed with protein. They’re also super tasty! These pancakes are probably my favorite breakfast, so I would definitely recommend giving these a try. This recipe is from my mom’s workout studio, Fitspace.

Ingredients:

2 eggs (beaten)

¼ cup almond milk

¼ cup almond flour

1 heaping tbsp of coconut flour

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (pea/rice blend or whey)

½ medium banana

½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

Optional: ½ tsp almond extract

Butter for frying

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, mash the banana.
2. Add in the beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and almond milk and whisk.
3. Add in the almond flour, coconut four, baking powder, cinnamon, and protein powder.
4. Add 1-2 tsp of butter to a frying pan or skillet on medium-high heat.
5. Pour in the batter and cook 3-4 minutes on 1 side, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
6. Top with any sort of nut butter and berries (optional)–aim for no syrup!