What do vegans eat for breakfast?

What do vegans eat for breakfast?

Start your day off right with these vegan breakfast ideas! These are some of my favorite vegan breakfast recipes, with both sweet and savory options.

One of the most common questions I get from non-vegans or new vegans (after "Where do you get your protein?" and "How do you not die without cheese?") is, "What do vegans eat for breakfast?"

It makes sense that folks who are new to veganism or are veg-curious have trouble coming up with vegan breakfast ideas. Don't worry. I'm here to help!

Jump to:

• Almost-instant breakfasts
• Weekday morning breakfasts
• Easiest vegan brunches
• What should a vegan breakfast include?
• Bonus ideas

If you grew up eating the Standard American Diet, you are probably used to starting the day with eggs, bacon, sausage, dairy cheese, and other animal foods.

The good news is that you can replace these with plant-based alternatives or mix up your mornings with something totally new. Do what makes you most comfortable!

All of the vegan breakfasts listed here are easy to make, and I'm breaking things up into three categories, ranging from quick to leisurely:

• Almost-Instant - These are make-ahead breakfasts or things like smoothies that come together in minutes.
• Weekday Morning - Quick and easy breakfasts that you can pull together before work or school.
• Vegan Brunch - More leisurely options for a lazy weekend morning.

Almost-instant breakfasts

You overslept. Your kid has no idea where his second shoe has gone. You need something now, something you may have to finish eating in the car. Let's do this.

These are breakfasts that take only minutes to make or are make-ahead, so you can grab them and go.

Weekday morning breakfasts

These are easy vegan breakfasts that take just a few more minutes of prep. But they're still totally doable on a weekday morning, assuming you woke up relatively on time and that your child can confirm the location of both shoes.

Easiest vegan brunches

Is brunch the same as breakfast? I like to think so.

These recipes are perfect for a laid-back morning, when you you have a bit more time but still don't want to work hard. No shoes or alarm clock required!

What should a vegan breakfast include?

That's really up to you. I tend to not worry about protein and other nutrients at breakfast. If we're being honest, I've been vegan since 2006 and have rarely, if ever, thought about getting enough protein.

To me, a good vegan breakfast is one that's tasty and filling, so choose options that tick those boxes for you. Maybe that means just a smoothie, if you're not a big breakfast person.

Maybe you need a bit more food in the mornings, so you also have a muffin or some peanut butter toast.

Everyone's body is different, so I recommend experimenting with what you eat for breakfast until you land on the vegan options that work best for you.

Bonus ideas

Of course, you don't have to cook at all to make a good, vegan breakfast. Sometimes, simple is the best! Here are some vegan breakfasts that you probably already know how to make:

• toast with peanut butter or vegan butter
• oatmeal with maple syrup and nuts
• grits with vegan butter
• cold cereal with plant milk
• a smoothie

Just like any other food, what vegans eat for breakfast can range from the very simple to the very complicated. It can be healthy or not. And it can be satisfying and delicious, if you choose the right recipes.