Breakfast...

Thought I would post a little something about breakfast today. I grew up eating breakfast every single day - it was never a meal we skipped and in fact, it was one of my favorite meals of the day. A few years ago, for whatever reason, I decided that I wasn't all that fond of breakfast and though I knew it was important, I really didn't enjoy it all that much. I continued to eat it because my body knows when I don't eat breakfast and I get to feeling sick pretty early in the day if I skip. My world really got turned upside down when I became completely gluten-free AND vegan due to some health issues - let me tell you, breakfast becomes even harder when you add those parameters.

So, why does any of this matter? Well, according to leading experts and many research studies, breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. After a good nights rest, the body is in desperate need of fuel so it makes sense. However, if you're like me and you aren't all that crazy about breakfast foods, let me give you a few tips that have helped me:

1. Need something quick and easy? My husband loves drinking a smoothie for his breakfast - we use a powder made by Juice Plus that is full of fiber, whole grains, and veggies as the base and add almond milk and frozen fruit. It's filling, fast and crazy nutritious.

2. If nothing sounds good and you feel like you are wasting calories on something you don't even want, I remind myself that even if I don't feel hungry, my body needs it and it will improve the way I feel during the day. So, a big bowl of fruit can be a good way to get something into your system without adding unhealthy fats or calories to your day. You won't feel guilty...rather you can feel good about not only eating some breakfast but also pouring some fabulous antioxidant goodness into your body first thing in the morning.

3. Here's my favorite - think outside the breakfast box! I have discovered that I really don't like anything sweet for breakfast. I am a savory kind of girl - so muffins, cereals, and oatmeal don't really appeal to me - especially gluten-free versions. I do, however, like savory breakfasts such as a tofu scramble or breakfast potatoes. Here's the outside-of-the-box part - who says you have to eat traditional breakfast fare? I happen to love lunch and dinner...so why not eat those foods at breakfasts? If muffins and cereal don't sound good for breakfast, don't eat them! It's far better to fuel your body with healthfulnes than eat a particular menu of foods just because it's what other people do! I frequently eat a plate of veggies or a baked potato or some soup for breakfast. Clearly, this is not the norm for most people but it makes sense, right? Get that fuel in the body, start your day off right and eat the foods that sound and taste good in the process!

Perhaps a funny post this morning but since this is a health blog, I thought I would share the atypical way I start the day:-) It contributes to my physical and emotional health when I start the day off right. 

So, go forth and eat breakfast! Muffins, cereal, fruit, smoothies...or a big plate of veggies will also do:-)

One of this week's breakfast choices:-)