How to Really Make Your Breakfast Cereal Wow!
If you’re like me, breakfast needs to be quick and easy to prepare, but equally as delicious and beautiful as any other meal. This is where breakfast cereal really shines. Cereal is the perfect canvas to create with by adding fruits, garnishes and spices! There’s an endless variety to pick from and you can even make your own.
I also love a cereal brekkie because it’s sustaining but light and packs a punch of fibre. In fact without a high fibre breakfast cereal, it’s tricky to eat enough fibre to stay regular, when you’re also eating to balance your weight.
A Basic Plan
A good guide if you’re using the Food Lovers Meal Planner to prep meals is to pick 40g (1 larger carb) of cereal, muesli or oats and pair it with 1/2 a dairy serve and garnish with 1/2-1 serve of fruit. Finish it with a dollop of yogurt, flaked almonds, fresh mint or even edible flowers and maybe a sprinkle or spice like cinnamon. Yum!
My 6 Favourite Tips to get Creative with Breakfast Cereal
- If you’re organised the night before, you might like to try the Bircher Muesli.
- And if you’ve got time in the morning, soak your porridge oats while you get ready.
- Feeling fancy? Then try a Brekkie Parfait in a pretty glass. Make it in a jar and it’s ready to take to work.
- A Yogurt Brekkie Bowl works well too. It’s like an upside down cereal bowl using yogurt as the base and the cereal and fruit as the topping.
- If you’re more of a toast person there’s a lovely cereal idea for you too. Top your favourite fruit or grain toast with a dollop of Greek yogurt, smooth ricotta or my favourite, Cheesecake Cream
- But if you’re short on time you might just want the quickest option which is straight from the pack, topped with fruit and dairy.
1. Bircher Muesli
For one person I love to use 1/3 untoasted muesli with added fruit and nuts but plain rolled oats works well too. This version loads the muesli or oats with boiling water overnight to get it nicely sticky and then add the no added sugar, low fat yogurt in the morning. I have topped it with all sorts of fruits but my favourite is half a red-wine poached pear with flaked almonds and fresh mint.
Check out my favourite Bircher Muesli recipe and download it to keep.
Bircher Muesli is also great made into a Brekkie Trifle for a crowd. You can even make this ahead of the gathering!
2. Porridge
If I’ve run out of time to soak my Bircher Muesli, I’ll soak my 1/3 cup porridge oats with 1/3 cup boiling water the next morning instead while I jump in the shower! After 30 mins I add 1/2 cup low fat milk and microwave the porridge in short bursts to stop it overflowing in the bowl. To get a softer porridge I’ll sometimes add extra boiling water and cook it for longer.
When it’s nicely cooked I top the porridge with a dollop of yogurt, 1/2 serve fruit and maybe a pinch of flaked almonds and some fresh mint. A sprinkle of cinnamon works well too.
3. Brekkie Parfait
A breakfast trifle, parfait or cup is a pretty way to layer muesli or a high fibre cereal with alternating layers of yogurt and fruit. I use 3/4 cup cereal (sometimes two different types), 1/2 cup of no-added sugar low fat yogurt and 1/2 cup of fruit. The fruit is great for the top. Fresh mint and flaked almonds makes great garnishes. If you make this is a jar you can take it with you.
4. Yogurt and Cereal Bowl
Instead of topping the porridge, bircher muesli or cereal with fruit, milk or yogurt, you can turn it upside down or display them side by side. Try 1/2 cup yogurt as a base in either a bowl or a plate and use it as a canvas to create with 3/4 cup cereal and 1/2-1 cup of fruit.
Side by side works well too.
5. Toasted Muesli Topper
Toasted muesli or granola is great to top off a thin slice of grain or fruit toast. I first layer some Cheesecake Cream, smooth ricotta or Greek yogurt, then top this with fruits. Last I add a small sprinkle of toasted muesli. Fantastic!
6. Cereal Straight
Sometimes, you just want breakfast to be as quick as possible. Straight from the pack is great topped with a dollop of yogurt and 1/2 cup of fruit. Pour 1/2 cup of low fat milk on two wheatflake bix/brits or 3/4 cup flakes, add fruit and yogurt and garnish it if you have time. I also like to mix up my cereals and use a sprinkle of toasted muesli on the top and 1/2 cup flakey/bran cereal or 1 bix/brit on the bottom.
So there you have it! With these six different ways to enjoy your breakfast cereal you’ll never run out of fresh ideas.
What’s your favourite way?
For more inspiration check out Food Lovers Dietitian Instagram.
These look lovely. In winter I am fond of porridge – so economical yet so filling. I feel really good after eating porridge. In summer I tend to put muesli and yogurt into a jar and take to work, where I eat it with some fruit.