Let’s face it: mornings can be hectic. As you rush around getting yourself (and possibly your family members and fur babies) ready for the day, breakfast is often something to rush through more than something to savor. This is not a great strategy for what’s supposed to be the most important meal of the day.
Some people skip it entirely or cram something they can eat one-handed (a piece of toast or a breakfast pastry) into their mouth as they head out the door, gripping a travel mug. (And hope they don’t spill liquid or jam on their clothes.)
A sit-down breakfast might consist of a bowl of sugary cereal or a slice of buttered toast with a cup of coffee and a glass of OJ. Pulling into a restaurant often confronts you with a menu loaded with refined flour and sugar, along with factory-farmed meat, eggs, and dairy.
So what are the alternatives? How can you nourish your health with every morning meal? How can you break your fast in a way that fuels your body, supports your mood, and helps prevent chronic disease?
We figured we’d ask the experts — the health revolutionaries featured in this year’s Food Revolution Summit — and we weren’t disappointed. They shared some delicious, nutrient-packed breakfast recommendations that will help you keep your energy up throughout the day, feel great, and be your best.
8 Healthy Breakfasts From Plant-Powered Health Revolutionaries
We asked some of our 2025 Food Revolution Summit speakers what they eat for breakfast. There’s something for everyone: smoothies, toast, porridge, and scrambles. Whether you have a leisurely hour or just a couple of minutes, want something hot or cold, need a grab-and-go, or can start preparing the night before — you’ll find great ideas here:
- Dr. Kristi Funk’s Antioxidant Smoothie
- Dr. Neal Barnard’s Breakfast Tofu Scramble
- Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Kumquat Avocado Toast
- Dr. Robynne Chutkan’s Gutbliss Smoothie
- Dr. Ayesha Sherzai’s Oat Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce
- Dr. Brooke Goldner’s Green Smoothie
- John Robbins’ Veggie & Omegas Smoothie
- Ocean Robbins’ Blueberry Chia Porridge
You can try out these healthy breakfast recipes while listening to the Summit Expert Interviews or enjoy making them whenever you want to start your day off right.
The Cancer-Fighting Smoothie Dr. Kristi Funk Enjoys for Breakfast
Kristi Funk, MD, is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon and an expert in innovative, minimally invasive cancer treatments that work.
She co-founded the Pink Lotus Breast Center and authored the bestseller Breasts: The Owner’s Manual. Dr. Funk’s work and research have made her a powerful advocate for using a healthy diet to reduce cancer risk and thrive.
She says: “My go-to breakfast is my Antioxidant Smoothie. I am pretty sure it contains the most cancer-kicking compounds found in one single glass of goodness on Earth!
“This blended smoothie drink combines delicious mixed berries and bananas with leafy green vegetables. It also features plant-based superfoods like flaxseed, aloe vera, amla (Indian gooseberries), and cinnamon.
“You can almost hear cancer cells crying out, ‘Oh no, not more turmeric and blueberries!’”
Download the free Antioxidant Smoothie recipe at Dr. Funk’s website: breastmanual.com.
Dr. Neal Barnard’s Healthy Breakfast Options — for at Home or on the Go
Neal Barnard, MD, is a physician and leader in nutrition and research. He’s the founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Dr. Barnard has written more than 80 scientific publications and 20 books, including the New York Times bestseller Power Foods for the Brain and his latest, Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health.
How does he fuel all that productivity? He says:
“My favorite breakfast is grilled tofu topped with ginger, nutritional yeast, and soy sauce; steamed broccoli topped with Bragg Liquid Aminos (like soy sauce); and a papaya. Nutritionally, this breakfast packs a high-protein starter (tofu), a mineral-packed vegetable (broccoli), and a vitamin-rich fruit (papaya).”
That’s easy enough, especially if you prepare the tofu the previous day. But surely Dr. Barnard can’t approach this level of delicious healthiness when he’s on the road? What does he do when staying in a motel off the interstate and the only nearby breakfast places are 24-hour diners?
“If I’m traveling and the choices are Denny’s or IHOP, I ask the cook to put some mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and spinach or asparagus on the grill, along with some unbuttered rye toast. It’s like an omelet without the egg; I call it a Nomelet. It is a wonderful taste combination.”
Check out Dr. Barnard’s Breakfast Tofu Scramble recipe.
The Fruit-Packed Breakfast Dr. Joel Fuhrman Eats
Joel Fuhrman, MD, is a board-certified family physician, an internationally recognized nutrition and natural healing expert, a seven-time New York Times best-selling author, and the host of numerous wildly popular PBS specials. He serves as president of the Nutritional Research Foundation and is on Northern Arizona University’s Health Sciences division faculty.
His breakfasts are simple, with whole ingredients and minimal cooking. He says:
“[For breakfast], I eat berries, cherries, or citrus fruits, including Meiwa kumquats, which I grow myself. I eat avocado, steel-cut oats, chia, hemp, or flaxseeds, and I drink homemade plant milk, such as hemp-almond. I also may have an Ezekiel multigrain bread with berries and almond butter.
“Did you know that eating the skin of citrus fruits (such as kumquats — the Meiwa kumquat tastes the best and is easiest to grow) protects our skin from skin cancer almost better than anything else?
“Eating skins protects our skin — how cool! You can grow your own kumquat tree right in your living room in the winter if you do not live in a warm climate.”
Get fancy with your toast by making Golden Kumquat & Pistachio Avocado Toast.
Dr. Robynne Chutkan’s Gutbliss Green Smoothie
Robynne Chutkan, MD, is a gastroenterologist, microbiome expert, and the best-selling author of Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, The Bloat Cure, and The Anti-Viral Gut. She’s on the faculty at Georgetown MedStar Hospital, the founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness in Washington DC, and the host of The Gutbliss Podcast. Her expertise includes the microbiome, autoimmune diseases, and gut disorders in women.
Here’s what she says about her favorite breakfast:
“I start almost every day with a homemade green smoothie. I typically use 2–3 leafy greens — usually kale and collards or spinach and kale or sometimes all three (spinach, kale, and collards), a stalk or two of celery, ginger (which helps with gut motility), pineapple for important digestive enzymes like bromelain, a green apple for more fiber and some tartness, parsley and lemon for flavor, and unsweetened coconut water and ice to make it about the consistency of a pulpy orange juice. I drink 20–30 ounces of that every day — usually in the morning after working out, and sometimes a bit more later in the day.
“My favorite way to start the day is with a sweaty workout — a run outside in the woods or a strength training class at the gym — and then a smoothie in the bathtub. This is especially true in the winter when a cold smoothie is a lot more appealing than a hot bath! In the summertime, I’ll drink the smoothie outside in the sun.
“Not only is this a guarantee of stool nirvana in the bathroom the next morning, but I feel confident knowing that I’ve gotten in at least 3–4 servings of green veggies plus some fruit before starting my day. So even if the rest of the day’s meals aren’t perfect, I know I’ve fed my gut microbes well!”
Get the recipe for Dr. Chutkan’s Ultimate Green Smoothie at her website, Gutbliss, or download her favorite Green Smoothie ideas as a PDF.
Dr. Ayesha Sherzai’s Oat Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce
One of the instructors of FRN’s Healthy Brain course, Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, is a leading neurologist, brain science researcher, and co-author of the best-selling books The Alzheimer’s Solution and The 30-Day Alzheimer’s Solution.
Dr. Sherzai also co-created The NEURO Plan, a customizable program that leverages technology and research to enhance brain wellness.
She had this to say about her top breakfast picks:
“When it comes to breakfast, I like to keep things whole, plant-powered, and packed with nutrients to fuel my day. One of my go-to options is overnight oats loaded with chia seeds, flaxseeds, half a banana, and fresh berries — simple, delicious, and full of fiber and healthy fats. (Chia and flaxseeds are especially rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help support cognitive function and reduce inflammation in the brain, while antioxidant-packed berries protect our neurons from oxidative stress.)
“Smoothie bowls are another favorite, blending up leafy greens, any seasonal fruit, a couple tablespoons of chickpeas, and a scoop of nut butter for a creamy, satisfying start. (Leafy greens are loaded with folate and vitamins linked to lower rates of cognitive decline, and chickpeas contain B vitamins that help support mood and mental clarity.)
“And if I’m craving something warm, a tofu scramble with turmeric and other spices, sweet potatoes, and sautéed veggies always hits the spot. (Turmeric contains curcumin, known for its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, and sweet potatoes provide complex carbs and vitamin A.)
“Oat pancakes are another household favorite — I always keep some frozen, ready to be toasted and served with a homemade blueberry chia sauce. (Oats give you steady energy to support focus, and blueberries are famously high in antioxidants that can help protect the brain.)
“No matter what, I make sure my breakfasts are balanced, energizing, and full of real, whole foods that keep me feeling good all morning long.”
Get the recipes for Dr. Sherzai’s Oat Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce and Overnight Quinoa Power Breakfast.
The Hyper-Nourishing Green Smoothie Dr. Brooke Goldner Has for Breakfast
What does Goodbye Lupus and Goodbye Autoimmune Disease author and physician Brooke Goldner, MD, have for breakfast?
“My go-to breakfast every morning is my hyper-nourishing green smoothie.
“I am a medical doctor specializing in disease reversal using supermarket foods, so my approach to health and healing is focused on nourishment that optimizes cellular repair, the anti-inflammatory immune system, and metabolism. I call this high level of nutrition — hyper-nourishment.
“Every cell in your body is programmed to repair itself, but it needs the right ingredients to do so: dark leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids (found in chia and flaxseeds), and water. When you are malnourished and lacking these nutrients, you develop poor health, a slow metabolism, and will have a slower recovery from injuries and infections.
“While you can chew all of these ingredients through foods like salads and chia pudding, I find green smoothies to be the simplest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to hyper-nourish and enjoy great health.
“Hyper-nourishment reversed my chronic health issues: lupus, blood clots and mini-strokes, and chronic kidney disease over 15 years ago. I was sick with these illnesses for 12 years of my life, since the age of 16. I battled pain and disease while working through high school, college, and medical school.
“Hyper-nourishment on a plant-based diet rapidly reversed all of my medical problems, and I have been completely healthy, pain-free, lupus-free with normal kidney function and normal laboratory tests, off all medications for over 15 years and counting! My amazing recovery drives my dedication to create the same results in my patients and wellness clients, and the incredible results fill me with joy and excitement every day.
“So, while I don’t need to reverse illnesses in my own body anymore, I don’t skip my daily dose of hyper-nourishment to continue my winning streak of extraordinary health and the high levels of energy that fuel my work reversing disease in my patients and wellness clients.”
Here are some of Dr. Goldner’s favorite smoothie recipes.
John Robbins’ Veggie & Omegas Smoothie
Here’s how 2-million-copy best-selling author and Food Revolution Network co-founder and president John Robbins likes to start the day:
“I don’t generally eat when I first get up. I’ll typically have a glass of water, or maybe freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and then wait an hour or so for my first real food of the day. And most days, particularly if I’m home, that’s a smoothie.
“We have a Vitamix, a very high-powered blender. To make the smoothie, I’ll typically add kale and arugula leaves, celery or broccoli, and plenty of frozen berries (always wild blueberries and often raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries). If apples are in season, I might add an apple, too, or a banana, and enough water so the concoction will blend easily.
“Then, after blending, I’ll add freshly ground flax and chia seeds (which I grind each day in a dedicated coffee grinder) and blend the whole thing a bit more, and then it’s ready to drink! You have to be careful, though, with the ground flax and chia seeds. Once they’ve been blended into the smoothie, it will thicken pretty quickly. So I blend them in at the end, just before drinking.
“The ingredients in my breakfast smoothies vary from season to season, but there are always greens, frozen wild blueberries, freshly ground flax and chia seeds — and some other fresh fruits and veggies that are in season, we have around, and I enjoy.”
Drink your fruits and veggies like John Robbins with this Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie.
Ocean Robbins’ Blueberry Chia Porridge
Best-selling 31-Day Food Revolution author and Food Revolution Network co-founder and CEO Ocean Robbins tells us:
“Some people need a filling meal by 7 am in order to have the clarity to meet their day. Others don’t start to get hungry until noon. Every one of us has a unique metabolism. And sometimes, what feels right on one day will feel very different on another day.
“If you engage in a lot of sports or physical activity, you’re more likely to need a good dose of calories in the morning. But if your body starts the day slowly or at a desk, then you might feel better if you eat lightly.
When I eat late at night, I don’t usually wake up hungry the next morning. My stomach seems to gravitate toward having at least 12 hours off, and the clock starts ticking whenever I close up the culinary shop at night.”
Ocean varies his breakfasts a lot, but one of his favorite ways to start the day is with a blueberry chia porridge.
This refreshing porridge is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, probiotics, and antioxidants. It’s portable. And it’s delicious!
Blueberry Chia Porridge Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes, plus 6 or more hours for porridge to set
Serves 2 to 4
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons whole chia seeds
3 cups cold non-dairy milk or yogurt
2 tablespoons maple syrup or other sweetener (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2–3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
Directions:
Place chia seeds in a large glass food storage container with a lid (mason jars work great), and pour in milk, syrup, and vanilla. Shake or stir well and let sit for 15 minutes.
Add blueberries and stir again.
Put the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
Remove porridge from the refrigerator, stir well, and spoon into serving containers.
Remember to chew the chia seeds well so your body absorbs their nutrients.
Eat Breakfast Like These Top Health Revolutionaries!
Starting your day with a healthy, plant-powered breakfast can set the tone for improved energy, focus, and long-term well-being. The inspiring breakfast choices shared by the Food Revolution Summit speakers highlight the power of whole, nutrient-dense foods to nourish the body and mind. Whether you prefer a smoothie packed with antioxidants, a hearty tofu scramble, or fiber-rich oat pancakes, there are plenty of delicious and satisfying ways to fuel your morning.
By making mindful choices at breakfast, you’re not just supporting your health — you’re also contributing to a food revolution that promotes sustainability, compassion, and disease prevention. So why not give one of these expert-approved meals a try? Your body (and taste buds) will thank you!
Tell us in the comments below:
- What are your favorite healthy breakfast ideas?
- Which of these speakers’ breakfasts sounds best to you?
- Will you try these breakfast ideas while you listen to the Food Revolution Summit?
Featured Image: iStock.com/Arx0nt
Want To Hear Game-Changing Health Insights From These Health Revolutionaries and More?
The 2025 Food Revolution Summit is happening from April 23–30.
This is an opportunity to hear from some of the most brilliant minds in food and health — all in one place. You’ll get credible, actionable information you can use to confidently take control of your health.
