Easy Lent breakfast ideas the whole family can eat while observing the rules of Lenten fasting. Grab one of these easy breakfasts to eat in the car or enjoy them at home.
It can be so tricky to follow the rules of proper Lenten observance for breakfast when you're operating on auto-pilot before you've had your coffee.
If only I had a dollar for every time I got a desperate text from my husband admitting he accidentally ate a sausage breakfast sandwich in the car on the way to work before remembering it was a Friday in Lent at lunchtime.
If it is important to you to observe the rules of Lent, plan ahead and have one of these easy Lent breakfast ideas ready to go, preferably right next to your coffee mug so you don't forget in the morning! Ha!
If you're looking for clarification on what you're allowed to eat for breakfast during Lent and want some fresh inspiration for Lent-friendly breakfast recipes, I've gathered together everything you need.
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Lent Rules for Breakfast
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, fasting rules allow Catholics to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals which, combined, would not equal a single normal meal.
In practice, this generally looks like a normal evening dinner with your family but then breakfast and lunch should be very light and give you just enough fuel to get through your day.
The fasting requirements apply to those ages 18 - 59 so your teens and kids do not need to follow the observance of those smaller meals.
However, as a family we've decided that there's nothing wrong with our kids participating in abstaining from meat on Fridays right from the get go.
There are so many fantastic dinner ideas for Lent your kid can still enjoy even without meat.
Fast or Eat a Very Simple Breakfast
Often, I just drink my morning iced coffee with a heavy pour of 2% milk instead of creamer. The milk can keep me going until an early lunch later.
If you need more fuel than that, consider grabbing a hard boiled egg from the fridge or preparing a simple protein smoothie made from fruit and yogurt.
A small bowl of cereal or oatmeal would be an easy choice as well.
Grab & Go Breakfasts
If breakfast happens in a hurry and you usually eat in the car on the way to work or pack something to eat at your desk, try my protein-heavy homemade peanut butter granola bars.
You could also prepare a Lent-friendly batch of my freezer breakfast burritos by simply omitting the ground sausage from the recipe. The eggs, cheese, and tater tots will be a great choice, especially if you're planning a lighter lunch later in the day.
A breakfast pastry like my one-bowl blueberry scones or a slice of quick bread like my easy zucchini bread recipe are also easy to grab as you run out the door.
Filling Breakfasts with Protein
When your meals need to be small for the Lenten fast, choosing options with plenty of protein will help you stay full until your next small meal.
Choose a cup of apple slices with my creamy peanut butter apple dip or add a sprinkle of hearty oats homemade granola over a small cup of yogurt.
A single serving of eggs in a basket would be an excellent choice, too.
Toaster-Friendly Breakfast Ideas
My freezer-friendly buttermilk waffles reheat in the toaster perfectly. Spread them with some almond butter or peanut butter for a bit more protein.
This Irish soda bread with raisins is very comforting when toasted with a pat of butter.
A simple slice of challah bread spread with butter and jam is easy, but toasted it could also make a simple egg sandwich with a fried egg.
The almond poppy seed bread is a delicious quick bread on it's own but actually tastes amazing when gently toasted for a minute.
Egg Breakfast Ideas
We definitely eat a lot of eggs during Lent in general, but they absolutely make amazing Lent breakfasts.
You could always just scramble, poach, or fry an egg, but my easy eggs benedict could be tweaked to be completely meat-free. Just add extra tomato slices.
Or scoop a small serving of egg salad. I enjoy having a few cherry tomatoes on the side.
Make a simple veggie-heavy easy quiche and you could eat slices for a couple days by simply reheating it.
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