Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

Start the morning off right with these 9 Mediterranean diet breakfasts

Kim Renta
By

One of the healthiest — and tastiest — diets in the world comes from the Mediterranean. With a focus on whole grains, fresh fruits, lean proteins, and veggies, this eating style is easy to follow for every meal throughout the day, starting with breakfast. If you’ve thought about adding some Mediterranean flair into your morning routine, we’re here to help. Easy, healthy, and mouthwateringly delicious, you’ll want to eat these Mediterranean diet breakfasts for every meal of the day.

How to build a healthy Mediterranean breakfast

Think of Mediterranean breakfasts as a game of mix ’n match, making sure you consume a healthy combination of protein, fiber, and carbs with every meal. As an example of a textbook Mediterranean meal, think of a breakfast sandwich consisting of whole-grain bread, scrambled eggs, spinach, tomatoes, and a slice of avocado on top. Whole grains, protein, and healthy fats? Done, done, and done.

Related Videos

When you choose the right combination of protein, fiber, and carbs, you’ll not only achieve a healthy and tasty meal, but you’ll feel full and satisfied well into the morning. This way, you won’t be tempted to snack too much before lunch. As a plus, this diet doesn’t require you to count calories or follow complex macronutrient formulas. All you need are healthy ingredients, limited processed foods, and a little bit of common sense. If you like eggs and veggies and are a sucker for olive oil and cheese (who isn’t?), you can live like Mediterraneans for the rest of your life.

Related

9 out-of-this-world Mediterranean breakfast recipes

Mediterranean breakfast sandwich

Skip the fat and calorie-laden breakfast sandwiches from your bagel shop. This breakfast sandwich is packed with veggies, plus a healthy dose of protein, on low-carb sandwich bread. At just 242 calories, it’s a healthy choice for breakfast on the go.

Yogurt with berries & honey

The simplicity of this Mediterranean breakfast staple will make it a favorite in your household. All you need is protein-rich Greek yogurt, seasonal berries, and a touch of sweetness in the form of a drizzle of golden honey. The balance of protein and fiber will keep you energized, and the honey will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Easy, fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes

A new way to do pancakes, these ricotta pancakes, with a hint of lemon flavor, are made with whipped egg whites so they turn out super light and fluffy.

Tip: These pancakes can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or frozen, in an airtight container, for up to two months.

Easy muesli

This make-ahead Mediterranean breakfast classic is packed with whole grains and fiber, and is only 188 calories. Make a big batch on the weekend to last you all week long. Muesli is delicious when served hot or cold, making it the perfect on-the-go snack. This toasty, nutty, chewy goodness will fill you up and keep you satisfied until lunchtime.

Fig & ricotta toast

Avocado toast has nothing on this Mediterranean-inspired dish that combines ricotta cheese, figs, honey, almonds, and flaky sea salt to create a quick ’n easy breakfast for any day of the week. At just 252 calories, it’s filling and diet-friendly.

Breakfast parfaits with fig compote

This breakfast delight is so decadent, you may be tempted to serve it as a dessert. Protein-rich Greek yogurt forms the base, and the fig compote, sweetened with honey and cinnamon, takes it to a whole new level.

Mediterranean breakfast pitas

Start your day off right with a powerful punch of protein in this tasty combination of eggs and hummus. A great take ’n go breakfast option, this pita pocket is much healthier than those drive-through breakfast offerings.

Muffin-tin spanakopita omelets

Inspired by Greek spanakopita, these little omelets consisting of spinach, onion, and feta cheese nest inside mini phyllo dough crusts. A serving of two muffins comes in at just 266 calories.

Make-it-easier tip: Use pre-made phyllo dough cups, available in your grocery store’s freezer section.

Hearty breakfast fruit salad

This hearty fruit salad features healthy whole grains, fresh herbs, and a sweet-tart dressing, giving a new dimension to the classic fruit salad. Feel free to switch up the ingredients based on seasonality or what you currently have on hand.

Stop the breakfast shakes, skipped meals, and egg white-only omelets. Eating healthier can be easier and more delicious than you ever thought possible. Knowing which ingredients meet the criteria is half the battle, then it’s a matter of mixing and matching to create the Mediterranean breakfast recipes that will fill you up without weighing you down. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
6 amazing homemade Christmas gift ideas that cost less than $50 to make
DIY Christmas gifts that are heartfelt and won't break the bank
Christmas gift wrapped in brown paper with cranberries

Though holidays aren’t all about gifts, your long shopping lists may imply otherwise. Americans will spend over $900 on gifts this year, even amid the pandemic and its associated economic and health concerns.
However, breaking the bank isn't a prerequisite to having a fun holiday. Whether you have a lower budget or are hoping to give a loved one something truly unique, homemade Christmas gifts are a great option. They offer the perfect way to give something personalized, and maybe even delicious, at a fraction of the cost.
It may seem intimidating, but some gifts are a cinch to make, whether you consider yourself crafty or a skilled home chef. These six homemade holiday gifts will wow your friends and family who have everything.

Social media recipe “book”
Total price: Free
The holidays are often full of traditional dishes best enjoyed once per year, like dad’s favorite green bean casserole or mom’s delicious Christmas cookies. A virtual recipe book can be a great way to store them, so your loved ones don’t have to dig through their drawers to find them every year. Get the free book started using a Pinterest or Instagram account and add all of your family’s favorite holiday recipes. Ultimately, this gift can keep on giving. Give your loved ones the password so they can add their favorite recipes throughout the year, resulting in a gift you all can cherish every year.

Read more
These Christmas table decorations are the perfect backdrop for your holiday meal
Take your Christmas table decorating up a notch with these fun ideas
Festive Christmas table setting

'Tis the season to send our tastebuds on an adventure. From turkeys and hams to unique side dishes and desserts made from recipes passed down throughout the generations, food certainly takes center stage this time of year. However, who says your tastebuds have to have all the fun on Dec. 25?
Christmas table decorations can provide a feast for the eyes (and make your family and Instagram followers swoon). While some may think of it as another item on their to-do list, you may love getting your creative juices flowing by curating a gorgeously arranged tablescape. Allow these ideas to serve as inspiration.

Centerpieces
Tell your turkey or roast to move over. Making room on your table for a centerpiece will draw attention to the table (rather than smartphones). You have plenty of options, from subtly beautiful assortments to statement pieces. Consider these ideas:

Read more
Tired of sugar cookies? Try these ridiculously creative Christmas cookie ideas
Christmas cookie recipes perfect for the holidays - and not sugar cookies
Christmas cookie cutter cookies

The holidays are certainly a busy time of year. With all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, and cooking, it seems like December is a blur of holiday parties, food, and spending far too much money. But, one of the sweetest of all holiday traditions is baking. Particularly baking cookies. From gingerbread houses to Grandma’s sugar cookie recipe, Christmas is a time for indulging your sweet tooth and eating more cookies than you would dream of any other time of the year.

But maybe you’ve had your fill of the typical holiday cookies. Do you want to branch out from your fallbacks of peanut butter, shortbread, and chocolate chip? If you want to shake things up at your cookie swap or holiday gathering, we’ve got you covered.

Read more