Special Diets Heart Health 25 Heart-Healthy Breakfasts That Aren't Oats By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 24, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Oats are always a nutritious option for breakfast, but there are many other foods like wheat berries, beans, nuts and seeds that you can eat to diversify your heart-healthy dishes. Whether you fancy something like an easy, nutrient-rich smoothie or a savory, satisfying grain bowl, this collection is packed with the flavorful dishes you’re looking for in a morning meal. Plus, each serving is low in sodium and saturated fats to align seamlessly with a heart-healthy eating pattern. Recipes like our high-fiber Strawberry-Peach Chia Seed Smoothie and cheesy Egg Sandwiches with Rosemary, Tomato & Feta are so delicious, you’ll want to make them again and again. 01 of 25 Strawberry-Peach Chia Seed Smoothie Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This fiber-rich chia smoothie is sweet and tangy, with a velvety texture thanks to nutritious chia seeds that expand as they combine with liquid. View Recipe 02 of 25 Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. View Recipe 03 of 25 Egg Sandwiches with Rosemary, Tomato & Feta Photographer /Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall These hearty breakfast sandwiches are packed with ingredients popular in the Mediterranean diet, including feta, tomato and spinach. View Recipe 04 of 25 Anti-Inflammatory Cherry, Beet & Kale Smoothie Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Kale, cherries and beets team up in this powerful anti-inflammatory smoothie. All three of these fruits and veggies contain unique anti-inflammatory compounds that may help stave off diseases associated with chronic inflammation, including cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Using packaged steamed beets is a great shortcut here. If you have cooked beets on hand, use those! The cherries help sweeten the smoothie and add a fruity flavor. If you opt for tart cherries, you can balance the tanginess with a small drizzle of honey or maple syrup. View Recipe 05 of 25 Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries Jen Causey This quick egg scramble with hearty bread is one of the best breakfasts for weight loss. It combines protein-packed eggs and superfood raspberries with filling whole-grain toast and nutrient-rich spinach. The protein and fiber help fill you up and keep you going through the morning. View Recipe 06 of 25 Peanut Butter & Berries Waffle Sandwich Sara Haas Whole-grain freezer waffles make the perfect base for a nourishing breakfast that tastes just like a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We use crunchy peanut butter to add texture, but you can swap in creamy, if you prefer. If fresh berries aren't available, you can use frozen ones; microwave them in a small bowl for about 30 seconds to thaw before adding to the sandwich. View Recipe 07 of 25 Almond Butter & Roasted Grape Toast Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh A slice of almond butter toast gets topped with roasted grapes for a sweet, nutty bite. This three-ingredient twist on a classic PB & J makes for a quick and tasty breakfast or snack. View Recipe 08 of 25 Anti-Inflammatory Lemon-Blueberry Smoothie Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist Jennifer Wendorf The kale, hemp seeds and green tea in this bright, lemony smoothie all contain antioxidants that can help fight inflammation. If you can’t find baby kale, baby spinach will work well in its place. Banana adds natural sweetness. If you want it a little sweeter, just a touch of honey will do the trick. View Recipe 09 of 25 Spinach & Fried Egg Grain Bowls Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Wheat berries, a nutty-tasting whole grain with a pleasantly chewy texture, are the base of this hearty breakfast bowl recipe. The fiber-rich grain freezes very well, so cook up a batch to stash away for salads, bowls and more. Topped with spinach, peanuts and an egg, these bowls make for a satisfying breakfast. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper for extra heat. View Recipe 10 of 25 Gluten-Free Almond-Flour Banana Pancakes Will Dickey These gluten-free almond-flour banana pancakes have a lovely nutty flavor that complements the sweet bananas. Vanilla and nutmeg tie everything together. View Recipe 11 of 25 Pistachio & Peach Toast This breakfast is great when you have leftover ricotta cheese--plus it comes together in just 5 minutes. View Recipe 12 of 25 High-Fiber Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl EatingWell Matcha powder and spinach give this healthy smoothie bowl a beautiful green hue. If you don't have spinach on hand, try swapping in another dark leafy green like kale. View Recipe 13 of 25 Egg Tartine Bruschetta meets avocado toast in this simple breakfast upgrade. View Recipe 14 of 25 Scrambled Egg with Tofu Ana Cadena Even when you are cooking for one, it's worth taking a few minutes to make a hot, protein-rich breakfast. By stretching an egg with a little tofu, you reduce the cholesterol and saturated fat. Try tucking it into a whole-wheat pita pocket for a simple and satisfying breakfast sandwich-and a healthful alternative to fast-food fare. View Recipe 15 of 25 Southwestern Breakfast Tostadas Mashed black beans, crumbled queso freso, fresh cilantro and chopped tomato give this easy breakast tostada a Soutwestern flair. View Recipe 16 of 25 Egg, Spinach & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Fill yourself up with this ultra-quick egg, spinach and Cheddar breakfast sandwich. It's not only fast, but there's a good chance you already have the ingredients on hand that you'll need to pull it together, so you can skip a trip to the store before your busy workweek. View Recipe 17 of 25 Cherry-Pineapple Smoothie Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Cherries contain vitamin E, vitamin C and polyphenols, nutrients that may help reduce inflammation in the body. The tart pomegranate-cherry juice pairs well with crushed pineapple and creamy yogurt. View Recipe 18 of 25 Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter Top multigrain rice cakes with creamy peanut butter for a nutritious snack with protein and fiber to keep you feeling full. View Recipe 19 of 25 Strawberry & Yogurt Parfait Alexandra Shytsman This strawberry parfait recipe combines fresh fruit, strained yogurt and crunchy granola for an easy breakfast. Pack the parfait in a Mason jar for a healthy breakfast on the go. View Recipe 20 of 25 Peanut Butter-Banana Cinnamon Toast This satisfying peanut butter-banana toast gets a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra flavor boost. View Recipe 21 of 25 Everything Bagel Avocado Toast Get all the flavor of an everything bagel married with the creaminess of avocado toast in one healthy breakfast. Just toast, top, sprinkle and go for this quick morning meal when you need to get out the door fast. Want to take it up a notch? Top with a poached or fried egg. View Recipe 22 of 25 Raspberry Yogurt Cereal Bowl For breakfast, snack or a healthy dessert, try using yogurt instead of milk for your cereal. If making this as a to-go snack, keep the cereal separate and top just before eating. View Recipe 23 of 25 Southwest Breakfast Quesadilla Pico de gallo and cheesy eggs make this quick breakfast flavorful and satisfying. View Recipe 24 of 25 Breakfast Beans with Microwave-Poached Egg In Costa Rica, this popular breakfast bean dish is called gallo pinto, which means spotted rooster, referring to the dark beans amid the pale rice. We call for cooked barley here, but you can use whatever leftover cooked grain you may have on hand. View Recipe 25 of 25 Baby Kale Breakfast Salad with Bacon & Egg Breakfast salad? Oh yes! Start your day off right with this healthy breakfast recipe. A bowl of good-for-you greens, such as baby kale, will knock out half of your daily veggie quota with the first meal of the day. View Recipe Was this page helpful? 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