Breakfast of Champions
I’ve been talking with lots of clients lately about the importance of breakfast. Many of us don’t have time to sit down and eat or we don’t feel hungry in the morning. However, study after study shows that nourishing your body in the morning improves your metabolism for the whole day. That means better energy, fewer highs and lows, and an improved ability to lose weight if you are on a weight loss program.
So what to eat? Every morning I make myself a powerful smoothie:
½ cup frozen organic blueberries (Vons carries them now! Major anti-oxidant boost.)
1 piece of summer fruit (Amazing selection at the Farmer’s Markets – peaches and nectarines are really good right now.)
1 – 2 tbsp. flax oil or coconut butter (Good fats feed your liver, skin and brain. Don’t worry too much about the calories – when I have a diet strong in good fats I don’t crave the “bad” fats like ice cream or chips. It is a great trade-off.)
1 scoop Ruth’s Hemp Foods Certified Organic Hemp Protein Powder with Sprouted Flax and Maca (Protein in the morning is essential. This one is my current favorite because it has no sugar, high protein content and no soy or dairy to irritate sensitive tummies.)
Enough fresh almond milk or purified water to cover ¾ of the ingredients in the blender (Fresh almond milk is easy to make with The Amazing Nut Milk Bag. Just soak nuts overnight, rinse and blend with water. Strain through the bag and you are on your way. The flavor is rich and sweet and it contributes more protein and good fats to your smoothie.)
Blend it all up, pour it in a to-go cup and you are ready. You’ll be amazed how good you’ll feel.
Extra credit: Try adding spirulina, chlorella or VitaMineral Greens by Health Force Nutritionals for an extra punch of energy. Start with small quantities and build up. I hated the flavor at first but now find I crave it.
A few more tips for some of the new products you’ve just learned about. Flax oil can be a great base for salad dressings. Coconut butter or oil is perfect for roasting sweet potatoes, adding to oatmeal or spreading on toast. Almond milk is delicious warm with a touch of cinnamon and maple syrup. Ruth’s Hemp Foods also makes protein bars with wholesome, organic ingredients in a surprising variety of flavors. The chlorophyll in spirulina, chlorella and VitaMineral Greens can help heal an ulcer, improve anemia and will certainly improve your energy level. Try any of them in juice or, if you really hate the flavor, mix with a small amount of water and shoot it down like tequila with a piece of fruit as a chaser!
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Comments (2)
Heather, you can bring me breakfast any day you like. :)
Comment #1 Posted by: Tyler | August 14, 2006 11:18 AM
Nice to see a breakfast meal without the usual suspects: pasteurized/homogenized cow's milk, processed (nonfresh) orange juice, and toast made from enriched (nutritionless) bread. Way to go!
Comment #2 Posted by: Jock Doubleday | October 1, 2006 01:04 PM