Yogurt Bowls Are The Most Underrated Protein-Packed Breakfast

I like to think of breakfast as a skill. When first rolling out of bed and scrambling to start work on time, prepping something tasty can feel like mission impossible. Tbh, more often than not, I find myself settling for a toaster waffle (or two), which leaves me hungry an hour later.

But certain breakfasts allow you to have it all. The nutrients, the taste, and the convenience. I'm looking at you, yogurt bowls.

Yogurt bowls are a fun way to get in a tasty breakfast or snack and lots of good-for-you nutrients. "The yogurt itself provides plenty of calcium, magnesium, and protein, in addition to active, live cultures," says Marisa Moore, RDN, a culinary and integrative dietitian. "[Yogurt bowls] are a convenient way to get those probiotics that are linked to a number of potential health benefits including digestive and immune system.”

Plus, you can truly make them your own by adding your preferred toppings, anything from oats to fruit to nuts, like almonds. When it comes to personalizing her own specialty bowl, Moore says she loves almonds for crunch and texture and a boost of plant-based protein, fiber, and good fats, and adding fruit for color and sweetness to otherwise tart yogurt.

She also recommends choosing seasonal toppings when you can. For example, in the fall, try adding some pumpkin puree and maple syrup into your yogurt bowl. You won't regret it.

Ok, but how do you make a yogurt bowl anyways?

It's simple. It really comes down to layering and mixing your ingredients. One classic way to make it is to start with a base of plain yogurt (though you can try a flavored one if you like). Then, lay fruit and seeds on top of it and finish off with a drizzle of honey.

You can also try the reverse, especially if you are having your bowl as a snack or lunch later in the day. Placing your flavorful yogurt toppings at the bottom of your jar may help your tart yogurt better absorb the additional flavors, says Moore. “When taking the bowl on the go, I take advantage of frozen fruit. I add frozen fruit to the bottom of the bowl, then top with yogurt. As the fruit defrosts you get a juicy, fruit-on-the bottom effect,” she explains.

You can also try alternating layers, so yogurt, then fruit, then yogurt again, then nuts, and so forth. Layering the toppings this way will let you get a taste of everything in one scoop, Moore says. That way, finishing the top won’t mean you've got nothing good left. Talk about a general food life hack!

Need some inspo? These seven recipes will show you just how appealing a health-hearty yogurt bowl can be. The quickest meal prep you’ll ever see and the closest to dessert a meal could ever come, these yogurt bowl recipes are the real deal.

This way, please…