The Tools of Simple Breakfasts

To-go breakfast edibles
Options: non-cook, quick-cook, make-ahead
A well-stocked freezer
A specific breakfast time

Using the Tools

To-Go Breakfast Edibles
Every now and then, or perhaps more often than that, you're going to have a morning that just won't come together. It's best to be prepared and keep a supply of breakfast items that can be eaten en route. Granola bars, protein bars, bananas or apples, or any of the multitude of breakfast bars are all good options. Except for the fruit, all of those options are rather over-processed to be a healthy choice for every day. But when you're in a pinch and you know it, it is better to eat something processed than nothing at all. Combine a banana or apple with a protein bar and you won't be doubling over from hunger at mid-morning.

Options: Non-Cook, Quick-Cook, and Make-Ahead
Non-cook options include cereal and milk, yogurt and granola, fresh fruit of any kind, bagels, and smoothies.
Quick-cook options include oatmeal, cream of wheat type cereals, toast, and eggs.
Make-ahead options include breakfast casseroles and any baked goods you make yourself: muffins, scones, biscuits, etc.
The idea is not to have all of the options listed above and pick your way through them each morning. We're going for simple. Knowing your morning schedule and approximately how much time you have both to prepare, eat, and clean up breakfast, you need to choose the options that best fit. If you're looking at ten minutes, go for the non-cook options, preferably those with little or no cleaning needed, like fruit and bagels. Add a glass of milk to get some protein. If you have twenty to thirty minutes, you could opt for one of the quick-cook options. Twenty minutes is enough time to make toast, scramble an egg, eat, and put your dishes in the dishwasher. Thirty minutes is enough time to make oatmeal, cream of wheat, or an omelet, eat, and clean up.
The make-ahead options could work for shorter or longer time periods, if you have the time and desire to make breakfast the night before. You can put together a breakfast casserole while you're cleaning up dinner (or during your extended weekly prep time) and keep it in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply pop it in the oven while you shower and dress, then take fifteen minutes to sit and eat. Or if you enjoy baking, make up a batch of muffins or scones. You can go ahead and cook them so they're ready to grab on your way out the door, or you can get the batter from the refrigerator, cook them while you get ready, and enjoy them warm and fresh.
What you don't want to do is take on more than your morning can accomodate. Don't try to make an omelet if you have to leave in ten minutes. Save those labor-intensive, more elaborate breakfasts for the weekends. Waffles, pancakes, and the like are great as a Saturday morning brunch or a Sunday evening meal.

A Well-Stocked Freezer
Keeping your freezer supplied with breakfast goods that only have to be cooked or reheated can simplify not only your weekday mornings but also your weekends and the times you have overnight guests who might experience hunger pangs in the morning. If you enjoy baking and make muffins to enjoy for breakfast, make an extra batch for the freezer. All you have to do is reheat in the oven for fresh, warm muffins to serve your guests. Almost any baked goods will freeze and reheat well, and can provide something warm for breakfast on those weeks when you are too busy to bake.
If you really like the freezer idea, you can devote an afternoon or evening to stocking it up. Breakfast burritos freeze well, reheat in the microwave in just a couple of minutes, and provide carbohydrates and protein for your first meal. It is easy to prepare a large batch of them in a couple of hours: one afternoon of work and you can have a hot, filling breakfast for the next couple of weeks.
If you prepare waffles or pancakes on the weekend, you can freeze any leftovers. Put sheets of waxed paper or foil in between each one, then seal in a freezer bag. Pull out what you need for breakfast and broil in the oven or use the toaster.

A Specific Breakfast Time
Setting a specific time for breakfast every day is both healthy and smart. If you train yourself to eat in the morning, you will begin to have an appetite for breakfast, which will get your metabolism into gear and provide you with energy for the first part of the day. If you know when you need to be sitting down and eating in order to clean up and leave the house on time, you can set your alarm accordingly. You'll also know when you are running late and you don't have time, so you won't attempt to make oatmeal and then realize halfway through that you only have ten minutes to shower, eat, and take out the trash.

We all know breakfast is an important meal, but many of us still fail to plan adequately. We either leave no time and end up gulping down coffee and a stale pastry or we have no options and can't endure the thought of one more bowl of cereal. The ultimate simplicity is to eat the same breakfast every day, but few of us can handle that monotony. Just a few meal options provide the variety we need, and when those options are tailored to the reality of your schedule you can find yourself enjoying breakfast and getting to work on time.