How to Change Up Your Breakfast If You’re Trying to Eat Vegan

Congratulations, you’re making a great choice to cut down on your meat and dairy consumption. Not only will this choice benefit your own personal health, but embracing a plant-based diet is better for the environment, animals and the quality of life for us all. Now, your decision will play out in the choices you make several times per day – what you can eat. Let’s talk about breakfast, the first and most important meal of the day. Eggs, bacon, buttermilk pancakes, yogurt parfaits…the standard American fare is pretty reliant on animal products. But we’ve got plenty of options for you here on One Green Planet! Here are a few ways to make your breakfast vegan.

Eggs

Make vegan fried eggs in minutes with this Perfect Vegan Fried Egg…Sunny Side Up recipe, which calls for dehydrated potato flakes and nutritional yeast to make the yolk. For the “egg white,” use tofu and pepper. It’s not just potato flakes that make a good egg; see these 10 Easy Ways to Eliminate Eggs from Your Diet and this guide on How to Replace Eggs in All Your Favorite Dishes.

Bacon

Many people miss the taste and texture of bacon when they give up meat, but you can still have this taste on a plant-based diet. Coconut is a great ingredient to make bacon; try this Coconut Bacon recipe, which is made with liquid smoke to get that smoky, bacon flavor. Also try these Soy- Free Glamorgan ‘Sausages’ in Eggplant ‘Bacon’ Wraps.

Cereal

This one is easy — use the same amount of almond, cashew, hemp, rice or soy milk in place of cow’s milk. See, your journey of cutting back on dairy is off to an easy start! Plant-based milks are bountifully available now at grocery stores, and did you know how easy it is to make your own?

Yogurt

Now, you can buy both almond milk yogurt and coconut milk yogurt at the store in individual cups, right next to the cows milk yogurt. These non-dairy yogurts contain calcium, vitamin D, and probiotics. Also, coconut meat makes for a great homemade yogurt; try this Raw Coconut Yogurt.

Biscuits

To make a vegan buttermilk, you can use soy milk and vinegar; try it for these Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits. For gravy, use almond milk and whole wheat white flour, such as for these Vegan Biscuits and Sausage Gravy.

Waffles, Pancakes and Muffins

These treats are some of the most enjoyable breakfast items, all fluffy and sweet. You may be amazed at just how many of these items you can make without using milk, eggs or butter. Check out these Vegan Bananaberry Pancakes and see this piece on How to Make Vegan Pancakes Like Oscar-Winner Jared Leto. And see these 12 Mouthwatering Vegan Muffins and these waffle recipes.

You can also choose healthier options like smoothies, fresh fruit parfaits and even more savory ideas such as gluten-free bread with a tablespoon or two of hummus, as well as some cooked spinach and tomato or cucumber slices.

Lead image source: Gluten-Free Multigrain Pancakes