Healthy Magazine Healthy RGV Issue 117 | Page 41

FITNESS & BEAUTY · AUGUST 2018 Okay, so now that that's out of the way, let's get on to the breakfast ideas! Finally, depending on what I am feeling like at that time, I may add some extras like maca (for hormonal balance), cinnamon (for blood sugar control), pumpkin seeds (for an immune system boost), or cacao powder (for a little energy kick). Then, I top it off with a non-dairy milk like almond milk, cashew milk, or my favorite of late, Ripple, a plant-based milk—and you are good to go! HARD-BOILED EGGS SMOOTHIES Let's just start right off with my favorite, shall we? Now, let me preface this, in fact, let me preface this entire post, by saying that I used to be a junk food breakfast junkie, meaning I used to eat donuts, waffles, pancakes, bagels, fast food breakfast meals, or sugary dessert-breakfasts from Starbucks every day of my life. I did not drink smoothies. Smoothies, however, became my favorite go-to breakfast because, after finally giving my body time to de-tox and come up for air, that's what it started craving all the time. And now, I honestly don't feel right if I go a morning without a smoothie. Besides being super easy to make, they are incredibly delicious and packed full of lots of good stuff like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that your body needs after fasting for eight hours. They will stick with you a lot longer too, which means less mid-morning cravings, and they will help those of us non-morning people to wake up out of our walking slumbers. So to make it even easier for you, here is what I like to put in my smoothies: ACAI BOWL If you've ever been to a healthy smoothie chain and had an acai bowl, you already know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, well then you're welcome because this is about to become one of your favorite things. The basis of the acai bowl is, of course, acai berries, which are packed with antioxidants and amino acids that help boost your metabolism, immune system, and energy levels. You can use a pre-made smoothie pack or make your own by blending an acai powder with bananas, almond milk, and ice. It's game on from there! Pour the mixture into a bowl and top it with whatever you like—banana slices, berries, granola, coconut shavings, chia seeds, kiwi, cocoa nibs, peanut butter, honey, etc. It's like a trip to the fro-yo store but healthier. If you're not allergic to eggs or on a vegan diet, eggs are still a great breakfast option. The key is to make sure that you are buying eggs that are organic and free range (FYI: "cage free" doesn't always mean the hens are able to roam free) and come from chickens that were not given antibiotics or hormones. The very best way to do this is to buy your eggs from a local farmer at a farmers market or produce stand. But, you can usually find clean options in the grocery store. Hard boil some eggs ahead of time so they will be ready for a quick breakfast as well as a great go-to protein-packed afternoon snack. To "beef up" your breakfast, enjoy the eggs with a piece of gluten free toast, some greens, or an avocado. PANCAKES! (OR WAFFLES... OR DONUTS...) Yes! You can still have breakfast goodies like donuts, waffles, and pancakes, but you do have to make them yourself. Although there are some decent brands of gluten- free goodies on the market, most of them are still going to contain ingredients like canola oil, preservatives, and sugar. So the best way to ensure you are eating a clean and healthy breakfast is to make them yourself so you know exactly what's in there. I always start with an avocado or a banana. Back when I couldn't have bananas, I used avocados, which are good because they are a healthy fat and they give your smoothie a delicious creamy texture. I will switch them in and out with the occasional banana because my body isn't as sensitive to sugar (Bananas are a high glycemic fruit.) first thing in the morning anymore and they are good for potassium. AVOCADO TOAST Then, I add frozen berries for taste as well as to add a cold temperature without having to use ice. I usually use strawberries or blueberries (both low glycemic fruits). There a re tons of recipes on Pinterest for "clean" donuts, waffles, and pancakes. In fact, I have an entire section of donut recipes on my Healthy Recipes board, so have fun and try a bunch until you find which ones you like best! The key here So, for a super easy and delicious breakfast, will be to use gluten-free flour alternatives like grab your favorite gluten-free bread, toast it up, almond flour or coconut flour, sugar alternatives and then top it with sliced or mashed avocado. Experiment with the kind of toppings you like best. like stevia or coconut sugar, and in many of them, dairy alternatives like almond milk or coconut milk. Some personal favorite combinations include red You can also make them healthier by skipping the pepper flakes/sea salt/olive oil/lemon juice; garlic/ butter/sea salt/pepper, and hard-boiled eggs/green store-bought pancake syrup and topping them with peanut/almond butter, jam, honey, or pure onions/pepper. maple syrup instead. Just be mindful of the sugar. If I am not using a protein powder that also contains greens, I will add a handful of spinach or kale to get some fiber and plant-based protein. Then, I will add a scoop or two of a low sugar, high protein, plant-based protein powder. Some of my favorites are Nuzest, Vega One, and Orgain. Oh, avocado toast...how my mouth waters just at the thought of thee. Avocados are a bit of a superfood in their own right, even if they haven't officially earned the name, because they are loaded with vitamins and minerals, are high in monounsaturated fat (the good kind), are high in fiber, and are packed with antioxidants. Plus, they just taste good. There you have it—your breakfast problem solved! Enjoy! By Jenn Baxter 41 HEALTHY MAGAZINE