Breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day, probably because there is almost nothing better than a fresh-baked muffin, a light and fluffy donut, a steaming stack of flapjacks, or a gooey cheesy omelet. Sadly (for my taste buds, not my waistline), I, along with almost everyone else, don’t have time for such lavish breakfasts during the week. But that doesn’t mean breakfast needs to be boring. Enter the breakfast parfait. They are easy to put together, they travel well and the combination options are endless. Just this morning I made one with greek yogurt, orange stewed rhubarb, and ground nuts & flax seeds. While it’s no cinnamon roll, it sure beats eating a plain piece of toasted cardboard, errr, I mean bread.

To assemble your parfait- start with a creamy base. I like to use Greek yogurt, but plain yogurt, ricotta cheese or cottage cheese are all great options that offer a variety of textures and tastes. For the best and healthiest base, make sure to use one that is low in fat and unflavored.

Next layer on your fruit. Dried fruit, tropical fruit, citrus fruit, stewed fruit, fresh fruit, even a nice fruity jam, all work well for this layer. I love apples (paired with cinnamon, maple syrup, granola), mixed berries (paired with honey and some dark chocolate), and tropical fruit (paired with chopped nuts and coconut).

Add in a bit of crunch. Again, your options are somewhat endless. You could use a variety of cereals (I love homemade granola), chopped dark chocolate (for something sweet), coconut, plain oats, or, my new favorite, nuts and flax seeds chopped together (you can do this in a coffee grinder or cuisinart).

Top it off with something yummy. To add just a touch of sweetness and to bring all the flavors together, top your parfait off with some maple syrup, agave nectar, honey, or you could also use a fruit jam or fruit syrup.

What do you guys enjoy for a quick weekday breakfast? Do you like parfaits and if so, what are your favorite toppings and mix-ins?