Broke Weekday Breakfasts

Cooking on the cheap shouldn't mean minute rice and buttered pasta every night. With a little creativity and a little planning, you can make the most of a tight budget -- without sacrificing flavor or variety.

Today: weekday breakfasts that won't break the bank -- or make you late for work. 

As someone who is perpetually late, I used to stop at the bodega near my office to pick up Greek yogurt, a banana, and coffee, then rush into work and scarf it down at my desk. Those were bleak times.

Not only was eating yogurt with a plastic spoon while staring at a computer screen depressing, but it was also getting very, very expensive. So I set out to only eat breakfast at home.

I soon found that aside from being infinitely more delicious, it's calming to have a few minutes just for myself in the morning. Here are some affordable breakfast recipes that work for even the busiest weekday mornings: 

Overnight Oatmeal  

At night, mix equal parts rolled oats and any kind of milk (I'm an almond milk junkie) with some nuts and dried fruit of your choice. Stick it in the fridge; go to bed. I like to add a scoop of raisins the night before, then the next morning I'll stir in a heaping spoonful of peanut butter, slice a banana on top, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat it up, or don't -- it's great either way. 

Five Minute, No-Bake Vegan Granola Bars 

If a recipe explicitly states that it will take five minutes, there's really no excuse to not whip up a batch. Grab a generous slice for breakfast with some fruit (it pairs especially well with apples) and never buy a pricey granola bar again. 

Homemade Granola

There's no reason to pay $8 for a bag of granola when it's so easy to make at home. Plan to make a generous batch and store it away, as it requires a bit more advanced preparation than overnight oatmeal. Go heavy on the cardamom or the dried fruit, or try this genius version with olive oil. Once you get the hang of it, you can try endless combinations of ingredients. Top with milk or mix into yogurt for a versatile and filling meal. 

Avocado Toast with an Egg 

Last week, Marian told you all about eating avocado toast for lunch. But there's no need to limit it to lunchtime when it's also the perfect breakfast. While your egg is boiling or frying, toast a slice of good bread and cut up your avocado. Smush the avocado on your toast, stick that egg on top, then generously sprinkle with coarse sea salt and black pepper. Out of avocados? Try hummus, egg, and sliced tomato; it's another no-fail option. 

Cold Brew Iced Coffee

If I had my way, I'd be consistently hooked up to an IV of iced coffee this time of year. Unfortunately, even one cup per day can be a quick route to an empty wallet. Instead of splurging, I mix coffee grounds and room temperature water the night before in my French press (I go for a 1:2 coffee to water ratio), stir it, and let it sit on the counter with the top on but not pressed down. The next morning, I press it and pour over ice. 

Tell us: what are your go-to weekday breakfasts?