Sunday, April 7, 2013

Bored with Your Breakfast?

Rise and Shine!
We've all heard that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" but getting stuck in a breakfast rut can deter us from getting all the nutrients possible to start our day. The common culprit: cereal. You find the one you like, you eat it for a while, then find a new one. Cereal has some beneficial vitamins and minerals but there are so many other ways to get more bang for your buck when it comes to breakfast health. 

Here are some ideas to help you break your morning habit and enjoy your breakfast again!

1) Instead of grabbing your coffee pot first thing in the morning, grab a glass of water.


I'm not a fan of plain water so instead I go for a cup of tea. I really enjoy homemade iced green tea when I need something cold in the morning. Just steep the green tea bags in a pot of boiling water and add a few tablespoons of agave nectar or honey to sweeten. Let cool then stick in the fridge until chilled.

2) Oatmeal is a great source of fiber which has been connected to lowering cholesterol levels,  but eating it every morning can be the most plain breakfast imaginable.


Try switching up your hot oats for some cool and refreshing overnight oats. I use the recipes from theyummylife.com. She has six original flavors and 8 new flavors so you are bound to find the one you love! You can make it the night before and it will be ready to go when your getting ready in the morning. You can always add these combinations to your hot oats if you prefer. I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead of regular milk in my oatmeal... something to try! 

3) Pancakes are a great breakfast treat for the mornings when you have a little extra time but have a low nutritional value. Try this take on french toast instead:


Orange French Toast gives that extra kick of Vitamin C and by using Almond milk and egg whites you can kick out some unwanted calories. You can always swap the white bread for whole grain bread, too! Find the recipe at the bottom of the page. It goes great with Chai tea or a 30 calorie iced chai tea latte, yum!

4) Greek yogurt is an easy way to get a little bit of protein on the go and I usually find myself grabbing a cup of "fruit" at the bottom Greek yogurt for a mid-morning snack. That is until I looked at the amount of sugar and random ingredients inside of it. 

Photo from Undressed Skeleton

As an alternative, I buy the larger tubs of plain Greek Yogurt (there's only one ingredient.. milk!) and add honey, cinnamon, and lots of fruit. You can add granola or cereal for an added crunch. It's such a great natural option opposed to the processed alternative and it is less expensive and has lasted longer than buying the individual cups.