We love breakfast...and chocolate. But how can you eat chocolate for breakfast while sticking to your health and wellness goals? Say hello to cacao nibs, nature’s chocolate chips!

These bits of crushed cacao beans offer a rich and chocolatey taste without the guilt trip of added sugar, gluten, or dairy. Cacao nibs are basically chocolate in its most raw and unprocessed form, so they aren’t overly sweet, but they do add a nice crunch, and deep complex flavor to a variety of recipes.

For all you choco-holics, start your mornings on a tasty note with these three breakfast recipes starring cacao nibs:

Bring some high energy to your morning with this anything-but-boring oatmeal recipe:

Ingredients:
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup of water
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp ground flaxseed
1 tbsp cacao nibs
1 tsp honey or stevia
pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:
Bring water and salt to a boil.
Add oats and reduce heat to simmer.
Once cooked, transfer to a bowl and add coconut oil, sweetener, and ground flaxseed.
Sprinkle with cacao nibs & serve.

Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit and chocolatey nibs takes only a moment to prepare, making it perfect for busy mornings.

Ingredients:
¾ cup Greek yogurt
2 tsp cacao nibs
½ banana, sliced
½ cup strawberries, sliced

Directions:
Grab a bowl (or a mason jar to-go), adding the yogurt and then bananas, strawberries and cacao nibs.
Dig in & enjoy!

To make this recipe vegan, swap the Greek yogurt for dairy-free coconut yogurt.

Ingredients:
½ frozen banana
1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
1 cup of almond milk
1 tbsp cacao nibs + extra for topping

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a blender and pour into a glass.
Top with a light sprinkle of cacao nibs & serve.

Cacao nibs are a common, dairy-free substitute for chocolate chips, so feel free to toss them into your baking as well. Have you tried cacao nibs before? Let us know how you use them in the comments below!