Breakfast ideas for a super start

In the years between senior high school and pregnancy, I never really ate breakfast. If I did, it was a few Weetbix or some other boxed cereal, or toast and vegemite with a cup of tea. For a while when hubby and I travelled overseas, backpacking around in our Hi-Ace camper van (those were the days!), I ate cornflakes with banana on top.

Hardly inspiring stuff! Or healthy, but you do what you do until you know better, then you do that.

For the past decade or so, breakfast was a bowl of porridge – it’s what the kids have always had too – but now I look forward to either a morning green smoothie, a bowl of quinoa porridge, or eggs with mushies and kale or bacon, a CADA mix or a chia pudding. Fabulous, nutrient-dense food with healthy fats that keep me full until lunch time.

Mornings for mums can be hectic, but reaching for those packet cereals, or toast and coffee won’t do anything to make the morning, or the day, go better. Commercial cereals are mostly high in sugar and lacking nutrients, and toast and coffee are devoid of the fuel you need to function effectively. Both options will leave you ravenous and reaching for a muffin or something sweet by mid-morning. This is a rollercoaster for your blood sugar levels, can cause weight gain or retention, and provides your body with none of the nutrition it needs to feel energised and your brain to be firing.

So, here are six super ideas for you to start the day off with a bang.

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Off to a smooth start[/typography]

Green smoothies are the absolute fastest breakfast a mum can turn to and know she has fuelled up for the day. Throw your ingredients into the blender, whiz and pour. Remember to chew your smoothie to help with the digestive process.

My stand-by recipe is:

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• 1 small or half a large banana
• 3-4 large kale leaves (stalks removed)
• coconut water (I use Natural Raw C)
• 1 tsp maca powder (I use Nutra Organics)
• handful of pepitas
• two finger pinches of shredded coconut

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Other additions you can include: A tablespoon of Exotic Vanilla Thriving Protein powder (Nutra Organics) adds an amazing flavour. Or base it on frozen organic blueberries, with a nice big handful of mint leaves thrown in.  You can also add cacao for a chocolate fix.

There are no rules and literally thousands of combinations.

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Da-da! It’s a CADA, of sorts[/typography]

CADA (coconut, apple, dates, almonds) is a muesli-like mix that is well known in Thermomix circles. I don’t have a TM, but I do have a food processor, and this is a super fast and tasty breakfast.

I use:

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• a handful of walnuts (or almonds)
• small handful of shredded coconut
• half a green apple, cored
• handful of pepitas (or sunflower seeds)

[/unordered_list] Process only for a few seconds, for a slightly chunky texture. Serve with chia, gojis, coconut or almond milk, a dollop of organic natural yoghurt and some organic frozen blueberries. Or mango or any other fresh topping you like.

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Crunchy granola sweet (not just a Neil Diamond tune but an awesome cereal alternative)[/typography]

Store-bought cereals are generally high in sugars, and making your own is super easy.

Jenine at Foodness for Goodness Sake has an easy recipe here for a home-made muesli to keep cereal lovers happy.

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Cheesecake for breakfast: why not???[/typography]

Amy at The Holistic Ingredient was a classmate of mine at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. I feel like I’m name dropping a little, as she’s a bit of a superstar in the healthy foodie world. She’s incredibly talented, super smart, and her recipes are amazing yet simple.

Here is her ever-popular avocado, coconut and lemon cheesecake .

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Bean there[/typography]

 

If you’re a baked beans fan and still reaching for a tinned variety, reach for this recipe by the gorgeous Bek Mugridge instead. The great thing about this recipe, is that it’s a handy lunch or dinner option as well. Cook once, eat at least twice!

 

[typography font=”Cardo” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”#35bdb2″]Keen on pancakes?[/typography]

Yes, there is a heaven, and it’s where you can eat pancakes for breakfast and know you’ve done something good for yourself. Refined flours and sugars are not body-friendly so check out this recipe by Lee Holmes over at Supercharged Food for a much better alternative.

 

I hope you’ve found some delicious inspiration here today. The ladies I’ve featured have a ton of other great ideas, so make sure you have a good look over their websites while you’re there.