I love recipes with few ingredients. And chances are, you have all of these ingredients lying around, making this an easy and lazy breakfast or snack.
Sometimes, the simplest recipes offer up the most nutrition. They’re quick to whip up, comforting to eat, and surprisingly satisfying—proof that you don’t need a long ingredient list to enjoy something wholesome.
Plus, there are a few things in this recipe that can also support your mental well-being. So, when you’re not in the mood for cooking up a storm, but still want to give your body and mind something nourishing, this easy pancake mix might be just what you need!
Lazy mornings aren’t something to feel guilty about—they’re actually a form of self-care. Taking time to rest and reset helps lower stress hormones, improves mood, and gives your brain space to recharge.
When you allow yourself to slow down, you support both mental and physical recovery, making it easier to approach the day with clarity and calm. Pairing that pause with a simple, nourishing breakfast like these pancakes is a further gentle reminder that well-being often begins with the small, intentional choices we make.
So, keep reading to find the recipe for this one, along with plenty of details on how it can promote better mental health.
Read Next: 6 Different Types of Self-Care and How You Can Practice Them
While pancakes might feel like comfort food, this recipe brings more than comfort and flavor.
The ingredients in this recipe offer a lot to support your mental health. While ultimately, good mental well-being comes down to the things you do daily—such as journaling, practicing gratitude, regular exercise, good sleep, social connection, and more—this recipe can be part of that.
So, how do these ingredients contribute to a healthy mind and mood?
Oats are a complex carbohydrate, meaning they digest slowly and release glucose into your bloodstream at a gradual pace. This steady stream of fuel helps prevent the blood sugar spikes and crashes that can leave you feeling irritable, anxious, or foggy.
In other words, balanced blood sugar generally supports more stable moods throughout the day.
Beyond energy, oats are rich in soluble fiber, particularly beta-glucan. This fiber supports gut health by encouraging the production of short-chain fatty acids, which nourish your intestinal lining and help regulate inflammation.
These short-chain fatty acids also signal to the brain through the gut-brain axis, influencing your neurotransmitter production and stress response. Since a balanced microbiome is tied to better emotional regulation, the fiber in oats can actively support a calmer, more stable mood.
Oats also provide B vitamins, such as thiamine and folate, which are involved in neurotransmitter function. When your brain has the nutrients it needs to produce serotonin and dopamine—often called your “feel-good” chemicals—you’re more likely to feel calm, focused, and content.
No meal or snack is complete without a bit of protein!
In this recipe, protein helps balance the carbohydrates from oats and bananas.
Generally, protein stabilizes blood sugar, but it also provides amino acids—the building blocks of neurotransmitters. For instance, eggs contain tryptophan, which your body uses to make serotonin. And higher serotonin levels are linked with improved mood, better sleep, and reduced anxiety.
Additionally, eggs are one of the best natural sources of choline, a nutrient essential for brain health. Choline supports the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance. Thus, having enough choline in your diet can make it easier to concentrate and feel mentally sharp.
Eggs also deliver vitamin D, which has been tied to reduced risk of depression. While sun exposure is your main source of vitamin D, food sources like eggs can help fill the gap. (Although, as the days get darker, many doctors recommend vitamin D supplements since with less sun, it’s possible you could still not be getting enough!)
Bananas give these pancakes their sweetness without the need for refined sugar. Since refined sugar is often associated with inflammation, this is a good thing for both your physical and mental well-being.
Bananas also contain vitamin B6, a nutrient your body uses to create serotonin and dopamine. Low levels of B6 have been linked to irritability and fatigue, so including foods that provide this vitamin may help keep your mood steady.
Another benefit of bananas is their potassium content. Potassium supports healthy nerve and muscle function, and it also helps regulate fluid balance in the body. Because stress can deplete potassium levels, replenishing them with a banana can contribute to a calmer, more balanced state!
Related Article: Banana Bliss: A Fro-Yo Recipe for a Happier, Healthier Mind | Mental Health Recipes
A sprinkle of cinnamon isn’t just about adding a bit more flavor to these simple pancakes. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress in the body and brain; oxidative stress is linked to various diseases, as well as depression and anxiety!
And let’s not forget the psychological side; the smell of cinnamon is comforting for many people. Aromas tied to warmth and home can spark positive emotions, reinforcing the sense of relaxation that a lazy-morning breakfast should bring.
These take very little effort or time to make, as well as dirty few dishes! So, that next lazy morning when you still want to nourish your body and mind, try this recipe out. It might just surprise you!
Read Next: How This Healthy Banana Oat Bread Can Brighten Your Day | Mental Health Recipes
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October 5, 2025
October 5, 2025
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