How-To Make Quick Vegan Breakfast Food

I am a non-traditionalist when it comes to breakfast... if I eat it at all. But I have 4 kids. I know how important breakfast can be for many people. If you don't prefer leftover cold pizza or curry for breakfast like me, there are plenty of quick "normal" options you can create at home with minimal effort. Older kids can make these themselves, freeing you up for coffee, commuting, worrying about work, whining under the blankets, etc...

• Cereal - Good old cold cereal can be reasonably healthy if you choose a variety with little or no sugar. Top with fruit, chopped dates, nuts, and your favorite non-dairy milk.
• Granola - Personally, I eat granola for dessert at night. But it's tasty and filling in the morning too. Add unsweetened shredded coconut. Or mix it with vegan yogurt. 
• Quick Oats - If you like oatmeal, quick oats only take 1 minute in the microwave, and they're super cheap, even when buying organic. Add water or non-dairy milk, any add-ins you enjoy, and nuke for 1 minute. Chia seeds, cinnamon, and a blob of jam (stirred in after cooking) are favorites with my kids.
• Fruit - Easy peasy. A bowl of melon, fresh berries, a banana or apple. Need extra protein and/or fat to fill you up? Nut butters and shredded coconut work well.
• Toast or Bagel - Add nut butter, avocado, Earth Balance, nutritional yeast... use whole grain bread and you've got a hearty meal.
• Breakfast Sandwich - Sandwiches are my favorite, for any meal. It's also an easy way to add vegetables and extra protein to the beginning of the day. Mix and match whatever fillings you've got handy.
• Breakfast Quesadilla - Two tortillas and some filling in a pan, flip, done. 
• Tofu Scramble - This needn't be complicated. Break up firm tofu, saute with or without oil in a nonstick pan with a splash of vinegar and herbs and/or greens. In a hurry? Place in a wrap with avocado or greens and take it with you.
• Muffins - If you plan ahead, you can grab a muffin from the freezer and let it thaw overnight, or mix up the batter before bed, then pop it in the oven in the morning. Grab and go.
• Smoothie - Liquid calories have been proven less filling, but whatever floats your breakfast boat. Smoothies are a portable sweet high-calorie breakfast option. Easily customizable, you can disguise almost anything in one. Get yourself a good blender and keep chopped fruit ready to go in the freezer. 

Think outside the box for breakfast, or as I remind my kids (from the 1990 film Pump Up The Volume): "Eat your cereal with a fork, and do your homework in the dark."