Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper…Well, I am not completely sure that we can all follow that logic, but what I can say for sure is if you skip breakfast or eat one that is packed with sugar and little other nutrients you are not preparing yourself for the best day ahead.
It makes perfectly good sense that you wouldn’t send your kids to school with homework unprepared, just as you wouldn’t want to send them out the door unprepared nutritionally. I watched “The Middle” the other night and laughed at the scene where everyone woke up late, and the mother (played by Patricia Heaton) was throwing her kids out the door half dressed (and half naked) with frozen brownies (straight from the freezer) as their breakfast. The house was bedlam, pretty much what a lot of houses look like in the morning. Here are a few healthy ideas to avoid the breakfast insanity at your house:
Make Your Own Granola (obviously don’t make it in the morning)
Preheat oven to 325°. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Whisk together 2/3 cup apple juice, ½ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar in medium saucepan. Add 1 Tb. cinnamon. Simmer and remove from heat. Mix together 5 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking), 1 cup wheat germ,
1 cup whole almonds (chopped), and ½ cup sunflower seeds. Add wet mixture (that has now been cooled) to dry mixture. Toss to coat. Bake for about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice while baking. Add 1 cup dried cranberries before serving. THIS IS AMAZING and has all the nutrients any human being could possibly want in a day.
Make Smoothies (can put all ingredients in blender the night before)
Thermos Ready Smoothie – 1 cup frozen berries, ½ banana, 2 oz. apple juice and 4 oz. yogurt.
Citrus Smoothie – 1 cup berries, 4 oz. plain yogurt, ½ cup orange juice,
1 Tb. wheat germ and 1 Tb. honey.
Banana Cocoa Smoothie – 1 banana, ½ cup silken tofu, ½ cup soy milk,
2 Tb. unsweetened cocoa (great for brain chemistry and makes you feel good), 1 Tb. honey.
Tips for Smoothies
I always add a banana for natural sweetness and for potassium. You can always add one Tb. of protein powder which keeps you fuller until lunch time. I also like to add crushed ice for consistency.
Other Great Breakfast Ideas that Take 5 Minutes or Less!
Breakfast tacos – Heat corn or whole wheat tortillas. Spoon in scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese. Can also add black beans for added fiber. Yogurt and granola parfaits. Egg whites salad on whole grain toast. Pizza eggs – add tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella and a pinch of oregano to scrambled eggs. Make couscous with milk and top with berries. Whole grain waffles with berry puree instead of syrup. Start your day with the right nutrients and you will power through your morning.
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