What can I eat for breakfast?

This question tops the list of questions people ask me. So many people I talk to or consult with simply don’t eat breakfast. The reasons I hear most often are because they don’t have time, aren’t hungry, or don’t know what to eat for a healthy breakfast.  Not eating breakfast can lead to many health issues down the road because balancing your blood sugar is the number one thing you can do to improve your overall health. If you are not eating breakfast or even worse eating doughnuts or sweetened cereal and coffee then your blood sugar regulation is sure to suffer. Think of breakfast as exactly what it says: break – fast as in break your fast. You haven’t eaten since dinner last night or maybe that late night snack you snuck from the fridge when everyone else was sleeping so it’s been close to twelve hours, it’s time to break the fast. Your body will thank you because you will be feeling much better throughout the day, it has been proven (many times) to improve concentration, problem solving ability, mental performance, memory, and mood. It also helps you lose weight! The benefits are numerous so eat your breakfast!

Here are some great ideas to get you started on what to eat and how to build a healthy breakfast:

First you want to have some protein in your breakfast and I’m not talking about hormone laden, preservative filled bacon or sausage or ham! There are plenty of healthy choices when it comes to protein. Try choosing a natural no chemicals added turkey bacon or make your own turkey sausage (see recipe below). These are delicious and an excellent source of protein.  Organic eggs  are another good thing to add to your breakfast meal. If you are on the run you can boil some eggs on the weekend and keep them in the fridge for a quick source of protein. I don’t recommend dairy unless it’s from an organic source and is not eaten regularly. You can also check your blood type to see where you stand with dairy. If you are an A or AB blood type cottage cheese is beneficial food for your blood type so you could do an organic Cottage Cheese. Vegetarians can use a protein powders, soy (fermented is better) and eggs if they eat dairy.

So now that you know what protein sources to eat you can add in some carbohydrate and some healthy fats. The carbohydrate would consist of vegetables and fruits. A healthier denser bread such as a sprouted hemp (French Meadow makes a wonderful Hemp Bread) which is delicious and is higher in protein than white or even whole wheat bread would work here too. The healhy fats to choose would be avocado, raw nuts (almonds are preferred), olive oil and organic cold-pressed coconut oil (I recommend Nutiva Brand).

Here are some examples of healthy, blood-sugar balancing, delicious breakfasts:

Fruit Smoothie

Protein Powder
Blueberries
Strawberries  (Or use whatever fruit you have on hand)
Ice
Mix in blender
Eat some nuts with it to give you the healthy fats and keep you satiated unti lunch.

An omelette  (use ratio of 2 whites to 1 yolk) made with lots of fresh veggies and olive oil.

Turkey Sausage and Hemp Toast w/Coconut oil and cinnamon

Turkey Sausage Recipe
1/4 pound ground turkey thigh 
1/4 pound ground turkey breast
1 egg white
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. fennel seed (optional)
1/8 tsp. sea salt

Products to add to your breakfast planning:

NutriBurn – Chocolate -Protein Powder (If you are short on time try this as a meal replacement.)
NutriBurn-Vanilla – Protein Powder (Add fruit for great flavor!)
Xylitol Bulk (1 lb Bag) (Sweeten your cinnamon toast with a healthy natural, low-calorie, low-carb substitute)

I hope these suggestions help you make healthier choices for your breakfast.  Please post your healthy breakfast ideas! Others will benefit as would I because I’m always looking for new ideas for myself and for my clients.

Paige Rennekamp, CNHP
www.naturalhealthanswers.com