I didn't eat breakfast.
Part of my wellness journey has been changing and establishing habits and routines. One of the most difficult habits to change was convincing myself to eat breakfast. Most people would tell you that I'm not a morning person. And so the idea of eating in the morning wasn't particularly appealing to me. At all.
I simply wasn't interested in waking up, walking downstairs and cooking breakfast. If I was going to make eating breakfast a habit, I needed options that were low maintenance, tasty, and nutritional. Cereal and milk weren't an option. I love cereal — and I don't have an 'off' button with it. I would eat it all day if I could. I like eggs, but didn't want to cook every morning. So I began with a meal replacement shake called Shakeology by Beachbody. It took me a few months to figure out which flavor I liked and what ingredients to add. I landed on chocolate with frozen cherries, spinach, unsweetened almond milk. Often I would add turmeric, which is great for muscle pain and inflammation. Shakeology helped me establish a routine while offering me a nutritional and satisfying way to begin the day. And best of all, it was easy peasy.
About 18 months into my journey I decided it was time to explore other breakfast options and drank my last shake. I realized that I had established a routine and so I began to experiment with other breakfast options. One of my favorites is yogurt, which is a big deal. I've never liked yogurt before. I bought a bunch of little containers of plain yogurt and after tasting many, I landed on Siggi's 4% Plain Yogurt. What changed? Perhaps it was the trip to Greece where I was introduced to the most delightful yogurt I have ever tasted. I top my yogurt bowl with strawberries, blueberries, chia/hemp seeds, turmeric, and granola. I use a local small batch granola called Golden Girl Granola. I chose this granola after reading the labels of many other granolas. Why granolas are super yummy, they're not necessarily super healthy. To keep the strawberries fresh, I cut them up into fourths and refrigerate them. I find this yogurt bowl to be comforting and so very yummy.
I also found a healthy oat waffle recipe, which I love. While this recipe has to be made the night before, it lasts for several days. I do use a small amount of butter and maple syrup to top it with, as well as blueberries. You can always put the blueberries (or other fruit) right into the batter as well. Another yummy topping is yogurt. And if you wanted to treat sore muscles, add turmeric. There are lots of maple syrups on the market. Some are better then others. I've read a lot of labels. I use maple syrups and honey from Bushwick Kitchen. Maple syrup is having a resurgence right now, so explore what's out there.
Oat Waffles:
2 cups rolled old fashion oats
2.5 cups milk
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp basking powder
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
Spray for waffle iron
Combine oats and milk in blender. Cover and let soak, refrigerate for 8 hours. After soaking, add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Preheat an oiled waffle iron. Pour about 1/2 cup batter, and cook for 5 minutes. Top with fruit, butter, and maple syrup.
Cheers to finding foods that nourish and comfort.