Here’s the deal: I can’t eat eggs. It’s something I’ve struggled with all my life, but I’ve never been tested by an allergist. I don’t think I need to, though – stomach cramps, flushed cheeks, and whole body inflammation are pretty self-explanatory reactions, if you ask me.
Here’s the problem: I love eggs. Sometimes, I ignore my instincts and deal with the discomfort in order to have the smoked salmon + goat cheese omelet at my favorite cafe. Other times, I grudgingly abstain and go in search of lean, protein-packed breakfast alternatives. I’ve tried varying my egg-white-to-yolk ratio, diluting them in a quiche, leaving them raw, cooking them stiff… to no avail. Not much can temper my body’s distaste.
And not much can replace the incredible edible egg – or so I thought, until I did some highly motivated, frustration-induced search + discovery, the results of which I’m sharing with you. I’ve compiled a brainstorm list of some excellent ways to start the day, egg-free. Try them, and let me know what you think! And if you have any more suggestions, I’d love for you to leave them in the comments.
Egg-free breakfast ideas:
- leftover chicken apple sausage + chopped apple, sauteed, topped with cinnamon-maple yogurt (see picture above).
- smoked salmon with goat cheese and cucumber slices.
- cauliflower porridge (just like oatmeal!): steam and mash with cinnamon, coconut oil, nuts and seeds.
- baked yam topped with cinnamon-maple butter.
- cottage cheese, ricotta, or greek yogurt with fruit and nuts.
- bacon-wrapped avocado wedges: I’ve also done this with prosciutto for dinner. Divine.
- kale smoothies.
- chia pudding.
- lentils with yogurt + mango.
- sushi/sashimi!
- antipasto plate with dried fruit, nuts, hard cheeses, cured meats.
- homemade energy bars or frozen fruit cream cake.
- ground turkey, browned and mixed with tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese.
So as you can see, my breakfasts have taken a bit of a savory turn, but I am delighted with how my body feels after halting the eggs completely and still upping the ante on morning protein. As I play around with ingredients, the ideas just keep coming. I’m so excited about the endless possibilities!
Feel free to leave your own tips and tricks below.