Love Your Breakfast
We have all heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s not always easy to put our needs first and get a nutritious meal during what tends to be the most chaotic time of the day.
To make getting a good breakfast fast and easy, we have put together some suggestions. These options are packed with protein and complex carbohydrates, which provide a boost for the day. They are also delicious!
The Overnight Oats
If you crave something comforting and filling first thing in the morning, overnight oats is the way to go! Place ½ a cup of rolled oats in a mason jar or other closeable container. Add between .5 and .75 cups of your milk of choice depending on the consistency you prefer. Add toppings--like berries, mango, nuts, seeds. If you like breakfast to be on the sweeter side, add a splash of sweetener. Give it a stir, close the container and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. When you wake up, the milk will have softened the oats, the flavors of the toppings will have melded together, and all you will have to do is grab a spoon to eat your porridge! If you prefer your oats warm, you can also heat them up lightly in a saucepan.
One of our favorite overnight oats recipes is Minimalist Baker’s Peanut Butter Overnight Oats.
The Power Smoothie
Smoothies are delicious and a super easy way to get tons of nutrients in one glass. Ella Woodward of Deliciously Ella tells us the basics of a smoothie are: 1) liquid, which can be milk of choice, coconut water, or juice; 2) base, usually a banana or half an avocado; 3) fruits or veggies, like berries or spinach to add more flavor and nutrition; 4) protein, such as soaked raw nuts or nut butters; 5) and supplements, for an extra kick of nutrition. Among the supplements you can add are spirulina, baobab, acai powder, chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds.
Throw these in a blender and take your breakfast to go.
While it is believed that making a smoothie hours in advance of drinking it might lessen the nutritional value, smoothies can be made the night before and stored in an airtight mason jar. Just make sure the jar is filled to the very brim so there is little room for oxidation to take place.
This is one of my favorite smoothie recipes:
Mint Chocolate Smoothie
1 cup of coconut milk (or your milk of choice)
1 banana, preferably frozen
½ a ripe avocado
3 tablespoons of raw cacao powder (can be adjusted according to taste)
1 drop of therapeutic-grade peppermint essential oil or a small bunch of fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon of hemp seeds
Greek Yogurt Bowls
Greek yogurt is packed with probiotics, has more protein and less carbohydrates than regular yogurt, is a good source of vitamin B-12 and is high in potassium. Place some chopped fruit or berries in a bowl the night before, add some seeds or nuts and garnishes, like chopped mint leaves. The next day, pour a container of Greek yogurt over the bowl, stir, and enjoy!
For extra protein, you can also add quinoa and peanut butter to the bowl as Slim Sanity suggests.
Happy eating!
What are your favorite recipes for quick and easy breakfasts?