Breakfast. Break. Fast. Yes please.

Raise your hand if breakfast is your favorite meal of the day (ME x 1000). I wake up every morning looking forward to what I am going to cook up to set my day off on the right foot. Most days I am a savory gal wanting some yummy sauteed veggies in my scrambled eggs with some buttered toast. Other days I can get down with some fluffy chocolate chip protein pancakes with all the syrup. The choices are endless and almost too overwhelming to decide...nah, just me?

If you haven't been living under a rock for your whole life, you have probably heard the old phrase "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". And this is in fact somewhat true! When you break down the word breakfast it literally spells "break" and "fast". The wonderful first meal of the day is helping you to break that overnight fast you just endured. This break sets your metabolism up for the rest of your day. When you fuel your body in the morning with a meal, it is basically telling itself there will be more calories to come throughout the day. The benefits of breakfast clearly outweigh the options of skipping. For example, several studies have found that those who break their fast with scrumptious and nutritious food have lower BMI's, consume less fat throughout the day, and have better performance both mentally and physically. 

Now what exactly should you be reaching for in the mornings? The dietitian in me wants to tell you to eat a balanced breakfast with nutritious packed foods such as some high fiber oatmeal with vitamin loaded fruit or protein packed eggs with whole grain toast. All amazing options (when done the right way)! But the soulful food loving person in me also wants to let you know that it is okay to make some scrumptious french toast topped with all the sugary goodness syrup or any of your favorite toppings. After all, overall health is defined as both physical AND mental clarity. Food should be nutritious and feed your body to meet its need, but it should also be an enjoyable experience to feed the soul as well. 

Check out some of my favorite breakfast recipes below that get me fueled up in the mornings for my busy days! 

Go-to Savory Oats - Recipe: Me :) 

1/2 cup dry steel cut oats 

3/4 cup oatmeal 

Dash of salt 

1 cup sauteed diced veggies (usually whatever I have on hand but my usual is bell peppers, red onion, or zucchini) 

1 fried egg 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon parsley 

1 teaspoon nutritional yeast 

1/2 teaspoon olive oil 

1. Heat olive oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and 1/2 tsp. parsley. Sautee up veggies approximately 5 minutes. 

2. While the veggies are cooking, combine water, oats, and a dash of salt. Heat in the microwave for 2 and 1/2 minutes. When done, let stand for 1 minute. Combine oats with sauteed veggies. Add the rest of the garlic powder and parsley. 

3. Spray pan with a non-stick spray and fry a whole egg, about 2-3 minutes each side (I like my yolk to be JUST cooked.) 

4. Add egg to oat mixture and cut. Top with nutritional yeast and mix it all together. Enjoy all the savory, yummy goodness! :-P

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Pizza - Recipe: the fabulous hummusapien.com

For the crust 

1/4 cup coconut flour 

1/2 cup almond flour 

2 teaspoon pure maple syrup 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

For the Toppings 

1-2 teaspoon creamy peanut butter 

1 ripe banana, sliced 

Toppings of choice (hemp seeds, cacao nibs, granola, etc.) 

Drizzle of pure maple syrup 

1. Heat a medium skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat. 

2. Whisk together the crust ingredients until smooth. 

3. Pour batter into hot pan and cook for 4-6 minutes, or until firm and easy to flip. 

4. Flip and cook for another few minutes, or until set. 

5. Top with peanut butter, banana, toppings, and pure maple syrup. 

AG 

References 

https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/why-you-should-eat-breakfast

https://www.hummusapien.com/peanut-butter-banana-breakfast-pizza/