Freelance Fitness: Simple No-Cook Breakfasts for Freelance Writers

I hope everyone's having a great weekend! But it's time for our weekly freelance fitness tip with a new idea for staying healthier during the next work week, and beyond. Last week we talked about working at a standing desk. This week it's time for a food and nutrition tip. Let's talk about breakfast.

You've surely heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If there's one meal you shouldn't skip, breakfast is it. So what do you do if breakfast time happens to fall within your work day, or you only have a few minutes to eat because you have to rush a project for someone? It's easy to just sit down at your desk (or wherever you work) when you work at home. It's easy to forget about breakfast. And sooner or later during the day you might find your energy zapped if you do forget to eat.

To help make sure you never have to skip breakfast for lack of time, this week let's share some simple, quick, no-cook breakfast ideas. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Yogurt -- I have low-calorie ones for snacks, but for breakfast I'll go with a more substantial 200+ calorie organic variety -- also good for the probiotics. I like to put ground flax in my yogurt too, although not everyone likes it with the added texture.
  • Bagels -- Sure, you could toast it if you have the time, but if you get them fresh rather than frozen, you can just eat them as-is too -- with your favorite topping of course. I like Thomas' whole grain (or whole wheat?) ones personally.
  • Cereal -- I don't eat cereal often because I don't like milk. But it's another good option. When I do have it, I like to try different whole grain varieties -- none of that sugary kids' stuff. I didn't even like that as a kid. If I'm making breakfast a big meal I might do granola. Otherwise I'd choose a lower calorie variety. Quick tip: if you don't like flax, you can also add bran flakes to yogurt. It's delicious, and another way to work cereal in.
  • Fruit -- You could have a piece of fruit with the other breakfast ideas here, or you could have it alone. Make a quick fruit salad for example. When I'm really not in the mood for fresh fruit, sometimes I'll just have canned fruit instead (either in natural juice or a light syrup to cut down on some of the morning sugar -- no point in encouraging a sugar crash).
  • Cottage Cheese -- I know some people are grossed out by cottage cheese, but I love it. I find it to be a surprisingly filling breakfast. I usually buy the Live Active cottage cheese from Breakstone, in individual-sized containers. I eat it plain, but you could try it with fruit. You can also put it on a piece of whole grain bread if you want something more substantial.
  • Smoothies -- Technically this is a no-cook breakfast, but it might take a bit longer to make than the others. Take your favorite fruit, some ice, and some milk (or soft tofu if you prefer). Blend it up. Drink it up. Yummmm.
  • Granola Bars / Breakfast Bars -- If you need something super-quick, keep granola bars, cereal bars, or other breakfast bars right at your desk. Then you won't even have to go to the kitchen before starting work. Breakfast will be there waiting for you!

What are your favorite no-cook breakfast ideas for a busy work morning?

Profile image for Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern is a professional blogger, freelance business writer, consultant, and indie author. She runs numerous websites & blogs including All Freelance Writing, Freelance Writing Pros, NakedPR, and Kiss My Biz.

Jenn has 25 years' experience as a professional writer and editor and over 20 years' experience in marketing and PR (working heavily in digital PR, online marketing, social media, SEO, new media, and thought leadership publication). She also has 19 years' professional blogging and web publishing experience (including web development) and around 18 years of experience as an indie author / publisher.

Jenn also writes fiction under multiple pen names and is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association.

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8 thoughts on “Freelance Fitness: Simple No-Cook Breakfasts for Freelance Writers”

  1. I still eat tons of cereal, though these days I stick with raisin bran, mostly. Gotta have flavor, you know. Though I do enjoy plain bagels. For afternoon snacks, I often find myself relying on good ol’ peanut butter sandwiches, though I’d advise to go easy on the stuff to not weigh you down later.

    Reply
    • I can’t eat peanut butter much. Not sure why. It just never appealed to me. But I could see that on a piece of whole grain bread or some crackers being a not-too-bad-for-you breakfast.

      Reply
  2. I’m partial to black coffee and a cigarette.

    When I’m trying to pretend I don’t have a death wish, I’ll add a banana to the menu.

    Reply
  3. I love most of things you mentioned in this post. Never tried cottage cheese.

    I also like applesauce and trail mix for a quick breakfast. Yogurt and granola are my favorite breakfast. Or Special K vanilla almond cereal with almond milk. I never liked milk, but since I’ve been pregnant I’ve been consuming some pretty massive quantities.

    Reply
  4. Breakfast bars are almost pure sugar and just make me hungrier – I’m a recovering sugar addict and can’t help it.

    With my frantic mornings (running off to work after making two lunches and packing backpacks not sitting down at a home office), I slug a few big swallows of skim milk or grab a bottle of milk from the store when I get my daily caffeine. It’s enough to coat the tummy without making me sluggish and keeps me from starving before my 25-minute lunch. Ah the life of a teacher.

    Reply
    • There are some that aren’t too bad on the sugar front. Of course they’re less delicious, but that’s besides the point. 😉 That was my biggest issue with the FiberOne bars (usually love whatever they put out). The first group they released were all “candy-coated” with chocolate, pb, or caramel. Yuck. They have fruit ones now, but still much too sweet for my tastes. I don’t think Kashi’s are that bad, but I don’t have any on me to check the sugar content as a comparison at the moment.

      Reply
  5. Love cereal!!And yes, Smoothies too.. Love the idea of having granola bars for breakfast. Never thought of it.
    I also do a lot of sandwiches. Takes a little time but technically, no-cook.

    Reply
  6. Tasty! I never miss breakfast, but I don’t have it first thing. I get up around 7.30am and go for a half hour walk before I do anything else – it wakes me up beautifully. It’s also good to watch all the 9 to 5ers going to work while I have my freelancing to look forward to once I get back home.

    For me the ultimate breakfast has to be Sultana Bran. Bagels are good too on occasion, as is toast. But for me, you can’t beat Sultana Bran, OJ and a small probiotic drink to start the day. Oh, and the obligatory cup of tea of course…

    Reply

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