How to Build a Nourishing Breakfast
Breakfast, as we know is the most important meal of the day, and arguably the most delicious. When sitting down to nourish in the morning, it’s important to make the right choices that will give you a ton of energy for your active day ahead. That’s why you make the conscious effort to nourish your body in the AM. Ideally, aim to have a good mix of carbohydrates, protein and good fats.
But how do you find the time?
Well, you be proactive and make the time by getting up 15 minutes earlier, packing something to eat for on the road or to make when you first get to work. Prepare it the night before if necessary. We even recommend preparing the night before, and still waking up 15 minutes earlier to make sure you are allowing time to nourish yourself with a nice cup of tea before you head off to work - it is important not to cheat on “you” time!
Some ideas to build the most important meal of your day:
Oats
Oats are a wonder food. They are a brilliant source of energy and a great way to start your day. Oats are a great metabolism regulator and help keep your blood sugar levels stable. They are full of fibre and help keep your tummy fuller for longer, which is good news as it keep those sugar cravings at bay. 1/3 - 1/2 cup of oats is a great option for your morning meal. We love adding power foods to the mix, like chia seeds, LSA, goji berries and cinnamon – yum.
Eggs
Eggs any which way are the perfect breakfast option. Poach them, boil them or even scrambled. Eggs are one of the most complete sources of protein, meaning eggs contain all the essential amino acids which we must get from a healthy diet. Make an omelette the night prior, add in a heap of vegies or simply boil up a few eggs to keep in the fridge.
Protein Smoothie
If you find it hard to get enough protein…smoothies are great way to start. Try a smoothie in the morning with a scoop of protein powder; add a few frozen berries, almond milk and flaxseed oil and you have got yourself a meal-on-the-go. Smoothies make for the perfect breaky option, especially in the summertime, and the beauty of it is… you will never get bored as there are so many smoothie combos you can conjure up. This particular one we just LOVE!
Berries & Yogurt
Yogurt is a yummy and nutritious breakfast option. It contains probiotics (‘good’ bacteria) which provide a broad range of health benefits, including improving digestion. Try it with antioxidant filled berries or some nuts and seeds. Make sure you get either natural or low-fat yogurt (not non-fat, as it often has too much sugar).
Tea / Water & Lemon
Although not technically a breakfast meal but the drinks we decide to guzzle down in the morning are super important. Drinking warm water with lemon in the morning aids our metabolism and helps keep our body alkalised. Herbal tea is a great option too, it contains enough caffeine to wake us up, but not send our hormones crazy like coffee. Tea is a great way to wake up calmly, and make for a great company while flicking through the paper or checking through your daily emails.
So, what are your nourishing breakfast combinations?
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Sometimes I forget how small my stomach is compared to the average person. This looks like 2-3 meals for me. Give or take. Sometimes I can gulp down fruit like crazy. Either way, the whole smorgasbord looks delicious.
I’m currently sitting here listening to Oldies eating oatmeal with walnuts and blueberries, a spinach smoothie with mango and banana and of course my fuel, coffee.
So I weighed myself for the first time in almost a month, I’m down to 131.8 and that’s after a HUGE breakfast. It’s taken me 4 months to drop 4 pounds but I’ve gained so much muscle, I have no complaints.
I’m trying a few new things, I found that I was getting really hungry, craving salt in the afternoons and getting really lethargic so I’m going to be eating bigger breakfasts, the only hitch is that my body can’t process eggs. If you have any suggestions for big breakfasts let me know! I’m open to anything, but I don’t really eat meat, I’m not opposed to turkey, chicken or fish though. I’m looking at 500 calorie breakfasts right now.
I also got a Suunto M5 HRM, so I’m going to see just how many calories I burn while I work a shift at the restaurant and doing other day things. This is much more accurate than trusting MFP or a cardio machine to do it for me.
Any suggestions for breakfast ideas??
