There’s nothing like starting the day off right with an energizing breakfast!
I love to have a bowl of yoghurt, a piece of fruit, and a bit of cereal. It’s a nicely filling meal, but it’s not too high in calories either. Come midmorning, a brace of eggs and a few slices of toast keep me going until I hit the gym around noon.
But, when I started on the Paleo diet, my traditional breakfast was no longer acceptable. Milk, yoghurt, cereal, and bread were no longer allowed on my Paleo Diet breakfast menu, so I had to get a bit creative to make my own tasty Paleo breakfast.
What’s a Good Paleo Diet Breakfast?
When you think a typical breakfast, what do you usually picture?
- Oatmeal – Unfortunately for you, new Paleo dieting friend, oats are one of the grains that aren’t permitted on the Paleo Diet.
- Eggs and Toast — No toast for you, as toast comes from wheat–another Paleo diet no-no.
- Hash Browns — Say goodbye to potatoes, a tuber that isn’t usually allowed by the strict Paleo diet menu.
- Waffles/Pancakes — Darn it, my two favorite breakfast foods are made with wheat, so they’re not allowed while on the Paleo diet either!
- Milk/Yoghurt – Dairy products, despite being incredibly tasty, are now off my menu since starting the Paleo diet.
Basically, everything that you thought you knew about breakfast has to go out the window now that you’re on the Paleo Diet!
So now we get to the big question: What can I eat?
Here’s a list of some of the foods you CAN and SHOULD have in your Paleo Diet breakfast:
Protein
Most people think protein is pretty heavy to start the day, and I’d have to say I’d agree in most cases. Who wants to start out their day with a heavy steak or a tuna salad? Not me!
However, there are a few proteins that are definitely PERFECT for starting off your morning with a Paleo breakfast:
- Eggs – Eggs can be scrambled, fried, poached, boiled, or baked, and there’s pretty much no end of options when it comes to this delicious protein. It doesn’t have to be a heavy protein either, as you can make delicious, fluffy eggs if you’re not into a greasy breakfast.
- Bacon — Who doesn’t love bacon? This protein is one of the primary reasons people try the Paleo diet, to add a lot of bacon to their meals. You can start the day off with a few rashers, and you’ll be in for a porky treat!
- Ham — Eggs and ham are a classic breakfast, and you’ll find that both pork and turkey ham are wonderful when sliced, fried, and mixed in with scrambled eggs.
- Fish — Think smoked salmon or sardines in tomato sauce, and you get the idea of a fresh breakfast. It’s certainly an odd choice, but you’ll get used to it.
- Steak Tips — A traditional Mexican breakfast includes steak tips served with scrambled eggs. If you want to go a bit exotic, it’s worth a try!
Veggies
The classic Paleo breakfast does need some veggies to serve as the carbs for the day, and you’ll find that whipping up a few simple vegetables with your protein makes for a wonderful start to your day:
- Tomatoes — Nothing like raw tomatoes served with a fried egg, or you can dice the tomatoes and add them into the egg scramble for a treat.
- Onions — You can’t make proper eggs without some onions in the mix.
- Dark, Leafy Greens — Certainly not kale, but why not try a bit of spinach, chard, or collard greens in your morning fry-up?
- Zucchini – In the right preparation, you’ll find that zucchini makes for an absolutely delicious addition to your breakfast!
- Cactus Leaf — Think Mexican eggs served with bacon on top of a grilled cactus leaf? It’s a wonderful meal you can’t help but love!
Fruit
Who doesn’t love something sweet to start off the day? Fruit is a very important part of the Paleo Diet, as it provides you with carbs to give you energy. The Paleo Diet isn’t the same as the Atkins Diet, so there’s no need to worry about keeping your carbs low.
Add any of the fruits below to your breakfast–on the side, of course–for a healthy sweet treat:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries/Raspberries/Cranberries
- Apples
- Oranges
- Grapefruits
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapples
- Mangoes
- and on and on the list goes….
You can whip up a fruit smoothie as the perfect addition to your breakfast!
Tasty Paleo Breakfast Recipes
Here are a few of my own Paleo recipes you can try if you want something delicious to start off the day:
Grilled Onion Scramble
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- Bacon
- ½ onion
- ½ raw jalapeno
- Soy sauce (the Paleo kind, made sans wheat, coloring, etc.)
- To begin, dice the onions into nice little cubes, and put them on a pan to grill. Put a bit of olive oil into the pan, and let those onions cook.
- As the onions are frying, dice the bacon into small bits and add them into the frying pan. Cook the onions and bacon until the bacon begins to release its grease, and pour a splash of Paleo soy sauce into the pan.
- Stir the bacon and onions into the soy sauce, and keep cooking until they begin to dry out. Dice your jalapeno, add it into the mixture, and cook until you smell the chili oil in the air.
- Crack the three eggs into a cup, scramble with a fork, and add into the pan. Stir in the pan until you have deliciously fluffy eggs, complete with bacon, grilled onions, and chili peppers!
Mexican Eggs and Steak
Ingredients:
- 2 tomatoes
- ½ onion
- 1 jalapeno
- 3 eggs
- ¼ pound of steak tips
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Place the tomatoes, the half-onion, and the jalapeno in a pan, and drizzle a bit of oil over the top. Cover the pan with a lid, and let it begin to cook.
- Peel the garlic, and place the whole cloves into the pan once you see a bit of blackening on the tomatoes. Turn the ingredients over to lightly char on all sides. Once the tomato is soft, pour into a blender and puree. Set aside for later use.
- Throw the steak tips into a pan with a bit of olive oil, and cook until tender. Scramble the eggs up in a separate pan, and mix the steak tips in once the eggs are done. Serve steak and eggs on a plate, and pour your freshly made salsa over the top.
Breakfast Salad
Ingredients:
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- 2 eggs
- Bacon
- Slice the tomato and cucumber into thin strips, and shred the lettuce and spinach. Mix the veggies in a bowl and set aside.
- Dice the bacon into small cubes, and cook in a pan until brown and crispy. Throw the bacon bits into the salad and stir.
- Fry the eggs on low heat, and turn over to ensure that there is no egg white remaining on the top. Serve the egg over the top of the salad.
Super simple, super easy, super tasty recipes all! A Paleo breakfast is one of the best meals of my day!
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