11 Mediterranean Diet Breakfasts To Hold You Over Until Lunch

Whether you choose to follow the eating style for its delicious and vast range of whole foods, or for its known health benefits, there's no better meal to start with than breakfast. We rounded up 11 of our favorite breakfast recipes that you can enjoy while following a Mediterranean diet: 

When you think of breakfast patties, sausage most likely comes to mind, but these sweet potato breakfast patties are completely vegetarian. The sweet potatoes provide a healthy dose of beta-Carotene2, while the lentils contain gut-friendly fiber. The recipe recommends topping them with Greek yogurt and berries, but for a more savory option, consider avocado, salt, and pepper.

If you're looking for a quick but nourishing breakfast option, yogurt bowls are almost always a good idea. This Greek yogurt recipe requires only two ingredients to make at home. When it's had time to thicken and chill in the fridge, top it with Mediterranean-diet-approved fruits, like figs, pomegranate seeds, or berries, and a drizzle of honey. For extra protein and crunch, add walnuts.

While you can enjoy whole grain breads on the Mediterranean diet, try switching up your avocado toast with these sweet potato toasts. You'll get the same satisfaction from the smoked salmon and avocado toppings but with a more nutrient-dense sweet potato vessel.

This Spanish omelet, also called a Spanish tortilla or Tortilla española,, is made with high-fiber potatoes and nourishing vegetables like red bell peppers and sweet onions. Though it's technically a breakfast food, the Mediterranean staple is also great for lunch or dinner.

Though this keto breakfast pizza calls for pepperoni, simply substituting sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers (feel free to use canned peppers), or onions will make it both nutritious and Med-diet-approved.

Oatmeal with an egg is surprisingly not the same thing as savory oatmeal. While you can add pureed vegetables or savory spices, this meal can also be enjoyed more traditionally with berries, cinnamon, and honey. The eggs simply work to make the dish creamier and more filling.

Egg shakshuka is a common Middle Eastern dish that's both comforting and nutritious. Like most shakshuka, this one provides a good amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene from the red peppers and tomatoes. The less common addition of Brussels sprouts, spinach, and zucchini, however, also ensures you start your day with a good amount of green vegetables.

If you don't eat animal products, you can still enjoy a Mediterranean shakshuka dish...just with a twist. This vegan green shakshuka features plant-based yogurt instead of eggs. It's also packed with dark green leafy vegetables, herbs, and cannellini beans, which means it's bursting with vitamins A, B5, B6, C, E, and K; folate; potassium; manganese; and thiamine; along with protein and fiber.

Adding frozen cauliflower to this blueberry and cinnamon smoothie helps to create a creamy texture and also provides a good source of vitamins C, K, and folate. This recipe calls for blueberries, but any dark berries, like blackberries, will provide a healthy dose of antioxidants3.

Nuts are a primary staple in the Mediterranean diet. Making a homemade nut butter, like cardamom pistachio, will ensure that your creamy spread doesn't have any added sugars or other additives. Simply toast a piece of whole grain bread, lather on your nut butter, and you've got a protein-packed breakfast.

This superfood breakfast bowl is high in healthy carbohydrates, which provides both fiber and energy to hold you over until lunchtime. The combination of berries, vanilla, and cinnamon adds a sweet burst to the quinoa porridge.