Rise and Shine with These Superfood Breakfast Recipes

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

Instead of starting your day off with a cup of Joe, why not try matcha green tea? You’ll get your daily caffeine kick along with a powerful boost in antioxidants.

Green tea is packed with antioxidants called catechins. Catechins may help prevent damage to your body’s cells by reducing free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules known to play a role in aging and diseases. Knocking out free radicals with antioxidants can help prevent a slew of health problems, from high blood pressure to the flu and even cancer.

What’s so special about matcha green tea? Matcha comes in a powder, which makes it easy to brew instantly or add to smoothies. It also has a creamier flavor than regular loose-leaf green tea.

Get your day started with this recipe for a matcha green tea smoothie that’s dairy-free.

Berry Smoothie Bowl

This berry bowl is so divine, you’ll feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast. But in fact, you’ll be getting a heart-healthy start to your day.

The key to this superfood smoothie bowl lies in the berries. Studies show that including berries regularly in your diet may help improve cardiovascular health and potentially lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Berries also contain a high amount of antioxidants that fight free radicals.

Incorporate these small but mighty fruits into your breakfast with this quick and easy recipe for a berry smoothie bowl.

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Looking to up your protein intake? Give quinoa a try. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is a seed that is prepared like a grain. It has a flavor similar to brown rice and is thought to be an excellent, plant-based source of high-quality protein.

What makes the protein in quinoa more nutritious than in most other plant-based foods? All proteins are made of amino acids. Eight of those amino acids are considered essential to a healthy diet. The protein in quinoa exceeds the recommended amount of all eight amino acids, making it a very nutritious addition to a balanced breakfast.

Quinoa can be prepared as either a savory or sweet breakfast dish. If you’re feeling adventurous, try out both with a recipe for a quinoa and kale bowl and a recipe for a cinnamon quinoa breakfast bowl.

Mushroom and Kale Breakfast Skillet

This breakfast recipe combines two superfoods that pack a major punch: kale and mushrooms.

Kale is a leafy green that contains fiber, potassium and vitamins C and B6, all of which support heart health. Meanwhile, one study found that mushrooms may promote several health benefits, which could include protection from diabetes and obesity and potentially reduce inflammation. 

Whip up this mushroom and kale skillet for brunch with friends or family, or scale it down for a quiet morning in.

Avocado Toast

There’s a good reason millennials love this breakfast food. Avocados are not only delicious, they’re good for you too!

Avocados are packed with xanthophylls, which promote a variety of health benefits. One study has suggested that xanthophylls have antioxidant effects that may aid in the protection of your cells and your DNA from damage as you age. The fat-soluble nutrients in avocados also may help promote bone health by possibly reducing cartilage damage and deterioration of the joints.

Avocado toast is a quick and easy way to include this superfood in your breakfast routine. Plus, this dish can be as simple or creative as you want it to be! Simply slice an avocado and spread it over your toast with some salt and pepper for an easy meal. Or add all the fixings with a recipe like this one.

Do you have a favorite superfood recipe? Share it with us in the comments!