Written By Courtney McMahan, RD

For many people, getting enough produce each day is one of the hardest nutrition habits to form. Whether it is a dislike of the taste of certain vegetables or a difficulty with planning and preparation, many barriers can stop someone from meeting their daily fruit and veggie needs. 

Finding a way to get produce first thing in the morning is one of the most effective ways to combat this issue. Eating a serving or two of produce in the morning starts your day off on the right track nutritionally so that you aren’t playing catch-up with your target each day. Here are five creative ways to add produce to breakfast.

Smoothies

Smoothies are one of the quickest and most versatile ways to consume produce. Blending is the only preparation required. And additions like greek yogurt, peanut butter, cocoa powder, and protein powder can help you create delicious flavor combinations. This pineapple green smoothie is a great way to begin your day with a serving of both fruit and veggies. 

Omelets and frittatas

Eggs are a nutrient-dense morning staple, so adding in veggies like bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spinach will supercharge your breakfast. Try out one (or all) of the five variations of this easy veggie frittata.

Pancakes or waffles

While pancakes and waffles are typically regarded as unhealthy, sugary treats, there are ways to satisfy your sweet tooth in the morning in a healthy way. Many produce items can be mixed directly into pancake or waffle batter. Bananas, sweet potatoes, and canned pumpkin are all great options. Here is a simple, high protein recipe for sweet potato pancakes. 

Breakfast burritos

For busy weeks, meal prepping frozen breakfast burritos is a huge time-saver. You can mix in many different types of produce: onions, bell peppers, spinach, beans. These vegan breakfast burritos are a quick and easy recipe to add to your weekly meal prep rotation!

Healthy hash

When most people think of breakfast hash, they imagine greasy fried potatoes, but you can make a healthier hash by simply sauteing your potatoes in a small amount of oil and adding in non starchy vegetables like squash, zucchini, and kale to the mix.  You can also try swapping out regular potatoes for sweet potatoes to add more variety. This plant-based breakfast hash contains squash, zucchini, bell peppers, black beans, mushrooms, and spinach.