Many of us experience busy mornings, juggling personal preparations with the needs of our children and other responsibilities. But it’s important to make time for breakfast, to give your body something substantial to solidly start your day. By making blends ahead of time, you can quickly and easily nourish yourself with either a hearty oatmeal blend or a lighter chia blend, topped with nuts. You
can also mix and match my “power powder” herbal blends according to your seasonal needs and individual constitution. Have fun, create something delicious in bulk, and store it in a big jar to easily and quickly satisfy your daily breakfast needs!
How to Meal prep healthy breakfasts in Bulk
I usually make 2-4 quarts of Oatmeal Blend at a time, with 2 quarts of Chia Blend, and 2 quarts of a nut mix of choice. Half-gallon glass jars are perfect storage containers. I create a new blend for my family every 1-3 months, depending on consumption level. I label the baseline ingredients on each jar for convenient re-blending, when I simply check the label, pull listed ingredients off the shelf, consider what I’d like to add or subtract, then modify as I go along.
Frequency
Oatmeal Blend suits long active days where I’m working or playing hard. Having a pre-blended breakfast mix makes grab-and-go breakfasts for overnight backpacking excursions convenient, too. I enjoy Chia Blend on lower energy, quiet or sedentary days when I need less “oomph” to power me until lunch. I sometimes soak a nut mix with the Oatmeal Blend, or top the soaked Chia Blend with one.
Other Notes
While traveling, or when taking breakfast with me to work, I mix Oatmeal Blend directly into my thermos, and voila! Hot breakfast on the move. Alternatively, I pop Chia Blend into my thermos if I’m adding warm nut milk.
Just a few choice dried fruits brighten the flavor with natural sweetness. Fresh fruit also makes a nice topping during the spring and summer seasons, although washing and chopping fresh fruit adds a few minutes of prep time.
A teaspoon of raw local honey or maple syrup feels decadent and tastes dreamy. I indulge most days.
The dried ingredients below are roughly listed in parts. Modify, experiment, and enjoy!
Oatmeal Blend
Ingredients in Parts
- 15 parts organic rolled oats (quick or regular, depending on preference)
- 1 part organic chia seeds
- 1 part organic nuts and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, cashew, etc)
- 1 part flaked or shredded organic coconut
- 1/2 part organic goji (lycii) berries or other dried berries
- 2 1/2 parts organic herbal powders (see video below)
To Make 1/2 Gallon Oatmeal Blend
Directions
- Fill a half-gallon clean, dry glass jar 1/2 full of rolled oats.
- Add one layer at a time: oat tops, chia seeds, coconut, nuts and seeds, berries, and powders.
- Cap with an airtight lid and shake jar to combine ingredients.
- Top it off with more rolled oats, and shake again. (That will add up to about 3/4 of the jar of oatmeal, total.)
- Label with name, date, and ingredients.
- Store in airtight glass jar out of direct sunlight.
How to Make Oatmeal
- Pour 1/4-1/2 cup of oatmeal blend made with quick oats into breakfast bowl. If using regular oats, plan to make the night before (see pro tips).
- Add boiling water to cover oatmeal blend.
- Mix with 1 tsp. honey or maple syrup if desired.
- Let sit for 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Use quick or instant oatmeal for on-the-go mornings.
- If you enjoy preparing breakfast the night before, you can use rolled oats, soak them overnight, then lightly reheat in the morning.
- Optional: If soaking regular oats overnight, consider using equal parts oatmeal blend and a nut and seed mix.
Chia Pudding Blend
Ingredients in Parts
To Make 1/2 Gallon Chia Blend
Directions
- Fill a half-gallon clean, dry glass jar 1/2 full of chia seeds.
- Add one layer at a time: unsalted nuts, coconut, seeds, cacao nibs, dried fruit, and herbal powders
- Cap with an airtight lid and shake jar to combine ingredients.
- If there is more space in your jar, top it off with more rolled oats, and shake again.
- Label with name, date, and ingredients.
- Store in airtight glass jar out of direct sunlight.
How to Make Chia Pudding
- Pour 1/4 cup chia blend into breakfast bowl.
- Cover with warmed water and/or nut milk and mix. Optional: Stir in honey or maple syrup to taste.
- Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Optional: Top with 1/4 cup nut and seed mix of choice.
Superfood Herbal "Power Powder" Blends
My base powders include cacao for flavor and nourishment, protein for satiation and strength, and cinnamon and ginger (a pinch) for their delicious warming and moving properties. Here are some other ideas for modifying these recipes with herbal powders and spices.
- Peace Powder Blend for Happy Mind: Rose petal, ashwagandha, maca, ginger, and cinnamon powders.
- Golden Milk Powder for Happy Joints: Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg powders.
- Rose Cacao Chai for Happy Taste Buds: Rose petal, roasted cacao, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, licorice, cardamom, black pepper, and nutmeg powders.
- Simple Soothing Nervine Blend: Tulsi powder and rose petal powder.
- "Classical Chinese Medicine" Tonic: Black sesame powder, dried longan, and goji berries.
I hope these recipes and ideas spur a gentle revolution in your kitchen. May these three jars of breakfast goodies encourage regular nourishing breakfasts, encourage healthy morning bowel movements, and provide a stable foundation from which to start your day and thrive. Have fun getting creative in the kitchen with herbs and spices. May your blends come together in easy and elegant ways. Enjoy the journey.
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