Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The most important meal of the day

In keeping with this week's theme of December wellness, this post is dedicated to that most important meal of the day: breakfast.  Studies have shown that eating breakfast is a critical component of maintaining a healthy weight.  I also feel like it sets the tone for your day nutritionally.  If you start your day with a coffee (and nothing else), your blood sugar will plummet later, leaving you ravenous and dangerous.  Beginning a day with a whole foods breakfast will keep your energy consistent, and probably lead you on the path to a healthy and balanced lunch and dinner ('cause why mess up that strong, healthy feeling with a dinner of cosmos and cheese -- not that that isn't a fabulous dinner sometimes -- but we're talking day-to-day here).  The key is not to get stuck in a breakfast rut, and to mix it up a bit each day to keep things interesting.  I've already discussed my love of steel-cut oats and oat bran, but there is a whole wide world of breakfast out there for the taking. For inspiration, I love a gorgeous website called Simply Breakfast by an amazing Brooklyn photographer, Jennifer Causey.  Everyday, she photographs her brekkie, and I think the result is simple, sweet and lovely.  Some of my faves:



So love the cameos by Sriracha and Nutella at the breakfast table!  I just love this artistic celebration of sitting down and starting your day off properly.  Other than my love affair with various elements of oatmeal, some of my other breakfast faves are:
Whole grain toast with almond butter, smooshed bananas, and honey
Scrambled eggs with Morningstar Farms Veggie Breakfast Sausage (seriously a household fave)
Breakfast burrito (one egg, cheddar and salsa, wrapped in a multi-grain tortilla)
Nutty Steph's Vermont Granola with soy milk and fresh berries
Banana and almond butter smoothies
*All served with organic double soy lattes, made in house with lots of love (how lucky am I?)
What is your favorite healthy way to start the day?

5 comments:

  1. simply breakfast + sweet mama jane = my breakfast heroes and inspiration! if only i didn't have to get to work so darn early. oh, to savor eggs and toasts and oats and coffee at my own kitchen table on my own dishes while the morning light streams across the room! maybe one day....or maybe i should just wake up earlier:)

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  2. With the new freedom of working from home, you have inspired me to start my mornings off better. Today I started by eating breakfast, which is new. But a bowl of cereal doesn't hold a candle to these ideas - so thanks for that!
    I will try to start each morning off with a healthy breakfast, cup of tea or coffee, and perhaps a little stretchy yoga. Then I will sit down at my desk and work (believe me, it's not as easy as you think to work from home).

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  3. almond butter and apple butter on toast plus rooibos tea with a dash of milk.

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  4. After this post I've decided to make a deal with you SMJ. My plan B is to move to where ever 3 are living & "will nanny for food".

    AD

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  5. AD - done. you're hired. when do you start :)?

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