The 17 Healthiest Breakfast Options from a Diner Menu
Introduction
When I encourage my weight-loss clients to eat breakfast, they usually respond, “I don’t know what to eat.” This is a fair response, since we’ve been overwhelmed with advertising for donuts, sugary cereals, and bacon — all of which aren’t conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
Fret no more! I’ve handpicked 17 breakfast items from the local diners, Eggsperience, and Griddle 24 (with modifications). While I hope this list will guide your dining experience, you can certainly recreate these easy meals at home, too.
Please keep in mind that I always recommend a vegan meal as a first option. I’ll repeat this: You’re better off if all of the options below were a wonderful mix of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, and beans. If you have your daily animal consumption in check, you may be able to get away with eggs in the morning, though (be sure to leave the dairy, toast, and pancakes off the table). Good luck, be creative, and enjoy!
Granny's Berry Berry Oatmeal
Description: Blueberries, red raspberries, and strawberries stirred in, topped with all-natural granola and honey
Personal Trainer Modifications: Substitute the milk with almond milk. Add pecans instead of granola. Add a type of seeds (hemp, chia, etc.) too.
2. Mmm-Mushroom Spinach Skillet
Description: A great combination of flavors… fresh spinach, lots of mushrooms and onions (and potatoes)
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
3. Tiny Tim's Farm Stand Frittata
Description: Fresh spinach and mushrooms accented with diced bacon and topped with Jack and cheddar cheeses
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese. Replace the milk with broth if possible (otherwise move to the next menu item). Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
4. Buenos Diaz Breakfast Chilaquiles
Description: Homemade corn tortilla chips cooked with green salsa, topped with mozzarella cheese and two eggs any style. Garnished with refried beans, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or sour cream. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
5. Banana Oat Pancakes
Description: Fresh diced bananas in an oat batter, perfectly griddled and topped with more fresh bananas
Personal Trainer Modifications: If you must have your pancakes, a banana, oats, and almond milk batter will be your best bet, hands down. Top with pecans to add healthy fat and protein, and limit the syrup (1 teaspoon as a generous treat to a meal that already has a lot of sugar from the bananas).
6. Egg Scramblers
Description: Scrambled with three grade AA farm fresh eggs, served with hash browns and a choice of toast or pancakes. Pick your three favorites for a custom scrambler! Green Peppers, Mushrooms, Spinach, Tomato, Onions, Broccoli, or Scallions
Personal Trainer Modifications: I’ve left out the other meat-and-cheese options that will get you in trouble. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
7. Breakfast Tacos
Description: Eggs Scrambled with Chorizo, jalapenos, and onions stuffed in three corn tortillas accented with green salsa and cilantro. Garnished with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or sour cream. Substitute the chorizo with Green Peppers, Mushrooms, Spinach, Tomato, Onions, Broccoli, or Scallions. Add a side of seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.) and avocado or nuts.
8. Elena’s Egg White Scrambler
Description: Spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and low-fat Mozzarella. Served with fresh fruit instead of hash browns.
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
9. Eleni's Egg White Delight
Description: Talk about guilt-free indulgence! Feast on fresh spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and low-fat mozzarella. Served with fresh fruit instead of hash browns
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
10. The Mediterranean
Description: A sunny omelette of fresh spinach, tomatoes, kalamata olives, oregano, and imported feta cheese
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
11. The Bannockburn Green
Description: For the veggie lover! Fresh broccoli florets, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions mixed with Swiss and cheddar
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
12. Griddle 24 Egg White Omelette
Description: Baby spinach, avocado, tomato salsa, turkey bacon
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Add a side of vegetarian beans, seeds (hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.), and avocado or nuts.
13. Steel Cut Oats
Description: Steel-cut oatmeal with 2% milk served with a side of brown sugar
Personal Trainer Modifications: Substitute the milk with almond milk and add blueberries, strawberries, or bananas, as well as pecans and a type of seeds (hemp, chia, etc.).
14. Espanola (3 Egg Skillet)
Description: Jalapeno peppers, avocado, onions, mushrooms, jack cheese, potatoes, and tortillas
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk.
15. Veggie Garden Delight (3 Egg Skillet)
Description: Green peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Choose a side of fruit.
16. Acapulco Scrambler (3 Egg Scrambler)
Description: Diced chicken, jalapenos, tomatoes, avocado, and jack cheese
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Choose a side of fruit.
17. Veggies (3 Egg Scrambler)
Description: Green peppers, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, jalapenos, Kalamata olives
Personal Trainer Modifications: No cheese or milk. Choose a side of fruit.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
