brunch

Nothing beats a Sunday brunch — except sometimes the calories! The drinks alone can add up fast, turning a simple meal into a feast. While this is OK on occasion, we're always trying to find ways to make classic favorites healthier. Because most spirits average around 120 calories in a typical pour, adding fruit and veggie juice to the mix can quickly add up. Although we can't make these drinks calorie-free (we wish!), here are ways to shake things up with a healthy twist.

Mimosas

Source: Flickr user sbolignesi

A brunch favorite, a classic mimosa consists of orange juice and champagne. Compared to most cocktails, mimosas are a rather healthy option at 75 calories. To make sure the drink stays under 100 calories, make your own and opt for fresh-squeezed juice with no sugar added. You can also try switching up your juice options, too. Since grapefruit juice is lower in calories, this grapefruit mimosa is a healthy option. Lastly, when it comes to mimosas, remember a champagne flute is not a bottomless pint glass.

Bloody Marys

Source: Flickr user WhitneyAnderson

Blood Marys can easily become the highest-calorie-count cocktail of the bunch; some renditions run over 400 calories. If you're not willing to give them up, then a few healthy swaps — like using soju instead of vodka — can help your cause. First and foremost, make your own tomato juice, or look for one in the store with no added sugar and a low sodium content. You can also pile on the veggies and add a protein for garnish — instant salad!

Learn how to make a healthier bellini after the break!

Whether you prefer your scrambled eggs just-barely set, dry, or somewhere in between — a topic we could discuss ad nauseam — let's agree that the breakfast staple can often benefit from a bit of jazzing up via toppings and mix-ins. Sometimes that can be as simple as a hefty handful of parmesan cheese or a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs like chives, parsley, or tarragon (or a combination of the two), but on days when more feels better, try one of these enticing ideas:

• Pesto, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan: Either drizzle the pesto on top of cooked eggs, or swirl it into the eggs as they cook. Add a chiffonade of basil, sliced sun-dried tomatoes (or slow-roasted tomatoes), and grated parmesan.
• Brie, chives, and mushrooms: Slice up a handful of mushrooms and cook them till browned and tender in butter, add eggs, cook until set, and then top with chopped brie and minced chives.
• Bacon, cheddar, and leek: Cook bacon however you prefer — we're partial to the hands-off approach of oven roasting — meanwhile, sauté sliced leeks in butter until translucent and beginning to brown, then add the eggs, cook until set, and top with crumbled cooked bacon and grated cheddar cheese.
• Bell peppers, caramelized onions, and Italian sausage: Remove a sweet or spicy Italian sausage from its casing, break it up into crumbly pieces, and cook it through. Remove to a plate, add chopped roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions and eggs seasoned with a pinch of paprika, cook until just set, fold in the sausage, and serve.
• Mushrooms, fontina, and truffle salt: Cook the mushrooms and eggs as in the brie, chives, and mushrooms iteration. Once cooked, top with grated fontina and a pinch of truffle salt.

Did we leave your favorite scrambled egg combination off the list? Enlighten us in the comments — we're always looking for new ideas!

Ruth Reichl has described matzo brei as "one of life's perfect foods," and I couldn't agree more. After all, what's more comforting than a meal composed of reassuring ingredients like butter, eggs, and crackers? Still better is this nontraditional version of the Ashkenazi dish that's inspired by yet another Passover favorite: lox, eggs, and onions. Even if you don't observe the holiday, consider this scramble of sorts for your next breakfast. It's ideal with sweet (try drizzling it with a bit of honey) and savory (topped with a dollop of sour cream) — and it takes 10 minutes to make. Want the recipe? Then read on.