There was a three-month stretch when Panera Bread really had me. They actually do have a great reward system where they’ll give away things like a free bagel everyday for a month, but a lot of times their rewards are given after a certain number of visits. So for months I lived off of tomato basil soup and their breakfast menu.

One of their breakfast items became a fast favorite: a Power Almond Quinoa Oatmeal bowl with cinnamon and almonds was delicious and so, so filling. And it got me thinking – why haven’t I added quinoa to my oatmeal before? It’s packed with nutrition, protein, and fiber, and wouldn’t take any time at all to incorporate. And that’s how this recipe came to be.

This toasted oatmeal and quinoa breakfast bowl can easily be doubled to meal prep for the week. Oatmeal and quinoa are lightly toasted in a teaspoon of olive oil or butter, and then brought to a simmer with water and almond milk (or your milk of choice). Top with your desired toppings (I used honey, fresh blueberries, and granola), and serve warm. To reheat, simply add a splash of milk and microwave before adding your toppings.