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