Curd Is the Best Breakfast Without Cooking
I like to start my day with cottage cheese and whey; they are hearty, neutral enough to pair delightfully with various parts of the plant, and (most importantly) fast. It takes the same amount of time to make a bowl of cottage cheese as it does for a bowl of cereal, but you will be satiated much longer. (Plus, if you add a vegetable to it, you will feel virtuous.)
I have never understood the hate for cottage cheese – I suspect it has to do with hate for mayonnaise – and I will not apologize for being an ardent fan. It’s insanely versatile. My new favorite breakfast follows a simple pattern: cottage cheese + fruits or vegetables + seasoning. It adapts to every whim and mood, even my worst mood, which always happens in the morning. Right now, I love cherry tomatoes + bagel seasoning, but I’ve been known to use nutritional yeast. It’s also a great recipe for your grilled vegetables last night or a smoothie you forgot to pack for your kid’s lunch. Some other possible quick cottage cheese breakfasts include:
- Leftover Roasted Carrots + Curry Powder
- Olives + Zaatar
- Canned Peaches + Cinnamon
- Pickled apples + fresh peppers
- Pico de Gallo + lime
- Pineapple + nutmeg
- Strawberry jam + lemon zest
- Pistachios + honey
- Radish for breakfast + flaky sea salt
As you can see, spoonable dairy products are endlessly edible and go very well with both sweet and savory. My only caveat: don’t eat foods that are low or zero fat, as they can taste powdery, dry and less satisfying. After all, the goal is to start your day feeling satisfied.