January 26, 2014

Healthiness in 2014: Breakfast

Chances are that if you've written a blog post at anytime in the last 2 weeks, I read it yesterday.  I'm slowly climbing out of my Robitussin stupor, just in time for school tomorrow.  That's figures, right?  I'm recovering from 36 hours on the couch and now Scott is sick.  As soon as I feel a sore throat creeping in, I immediately think the worst: strep.  Because I've never felt pain like that before.  Then I thought: flu.  Because I was stubborn enough not to get a flu shot.  
Anyway, several hours of blog reading and 1 1/2 seasons of Damages later…
----------------------------------------------------


We've all read those healthy living blogs that make us believe everything we're doing is wrong, right?  You see, for me, it goes in a cycle: read blog about workouts/healthy food consumption, roll eyes and go eat marshmallows.  Next time, I read, roll my eyes and go eat ice cream.  Soon, I start to think that maybe those bloggers are onto something and soon I'm eating vegetables for dinner and only eating ice cream a couple of times a week.  Eventually, coupled with workouts I was already doing (because the gym has been a steady part of my routine for a few years now), I start to feel and look good.  Then, I get bored, get a job, get a life, etc, and I stop caring.  I start to feel bad.  Like I'm not doing all that I can for myself.  Then, the whole cycle starts all over again.  

However, I think a lot of us are truly doing the best we can with what we've been dealt.  For some, it may be squeezing in a 5am run before work/kids get up.  For others, weekend Zumba classes because the work week is too busy.  For me, it's the motivation to attend group fitness classes after work and eat real food for lunch and dinner when all I really want is to lay on the couch while eating quesadillas.  

So I'm going to address some of the things that I think are important when it comes to health.  Because, I admit, I DO feel better about myself when I know I'm eating well and exercising.  You know you do too…

So I'm going to show you what I truly believe has made a difference in the way I feel over the last few years. 

I'm going to start with an easy one for me:  Breakfast.  I'm notorious for starting the day really, really well and then pulling out the chips and hummus for lunch.  It's a flaw.  

I don't know what gets you out of bed in the morning but, for me, it's breakfast.  Or coffee.  …How about both? I was never a breakfast-eater until maybe 3 or so years ago.  It's depressing how many years I spent not enjoying what is now my favorite meal of the day.

I also am trying Lemon Water as soon as I get up in the morning.  This website talks about the benefits of you can get from this.  Have you ever tried it?

Green Smoothies.  I really put in as much green as my blender will allow.  I stick with spinach, but you can use whatever greens you prefer. Scott has recently gotten himself into smoothies too, and the amount of spinach and almond milk we go through each week is kind of obscene.  If I don't have one for breakfast, I often have one right after school.  It's not about the energy, it's about the greens.  It just makes me feel better, after I often snack my way through a school day.  Scott likes adding celery to his smoothies.  While this initially didn't appeal to me, celery gives it the best texture and makes it more of a meal replacement.  I'm a fan of it now.
Frozen Monkey Smoothie.  These are more like milkshakes for breakfast.  You won't regret it.
Oatmeal.  I have oatmeal 5 out of 7 days a week.  Sometimes it's in the form of oat bran or regular oatmeal, but my heart is with the steel cut oats.  I love them with a little bit of almond milk and a spoonful of apricot preserves.  Yum.
Yogurt.  We've been doing a lot of parfaits lately too.  Plain greek yogurt, drizzle of honey, diced apple,  and then some granola.

Fun fact: I only like my apples diced.  I don't like to eat them whole. (This is a smaller serving in a small bowl that I used yesterday because I wasn't feeling well…usually I use a cereal bowl.)

Baked oatmeal.  This stuff is way too easy to make.  Perfect for a weekend breakfast that you can easily portion out for the work week.  I like to put a little maple syrup on top of the pumpkin baked oatmeal.
Overnight Oats.  This was more of a summertime breakfast for me, but regardless, you can't go wrong!

Also, I'm a big fan of almond butter, any form of trail mix, or granola as I'm sipping my morning coffee.

What do you eat for breakfast?  I used to be a breakfast-skipper because I hated eating early in the day.  Now I plan what I'm going to have for breakfast before I go to bed.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Is there any topic you'd like to see me mention on this Healthiness series?  I was thinking lunch, quick dinners, workouts, skincare (something I'm really working on!), etc.  Any preference?

17 comments:

  1. I am not a fan of breakfast so I have to force myself to eat it. Slowly getting better.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am not a breakfast person but I could handle that second smoothie. Thanks for posting! Hope Scott feels better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I still haven't tried green Smoothies. I do a fruit and yogurt smoothie quite often in the morning

    Lunches to bring to work! I go thru spurts of super healthy lunches and then I bring in frozen burritos for 2 weeks straight.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I still haven't tried green Smoothies. I do a fruit and yogurt smoothie quite often in the morning

    Lunches to bring to work! I go thru spurts of super healthy lunches and then I bring in frozen burritos for 2 weeks straight.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I still haven't tried green Smoothies. I do a fruit and yogurt smoothie quite often in the morning

    Lunches to bring to work! I go thru spurts of super healthy lunches and then I bring in frozen burritos for 2 weeks straight.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I pretty much eat the same breakfast every day: Scrambled eggs with veggies and a side of fruit. Oh, though sometimes I just have a freshly made juice and call that good, when I'm feeling especially pudgy. It does me well. I am a stern believer in breakfast and I can't remember the last time I skipped it.

    I did lemon water and ACV tea before. I enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Welcome to the sickness club. Keith wasn't feeling hot last last Friday and Saturday, gave it to me Sunday and I fought the cold, the cough, the runny nose and the no voice and still am today. I think I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow with plenty of water, cough drops and DayQuil :/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just before my surgery I started having Greek yogurt with kashi go lean honey almond crunch cereal mixed in. It's SO good and very filling. I don't have it every day BC well...some days I just don't feel like it. I'm really a pancakes girl but shouldn't eat them every day. And I wish I liked oatmeal. I keep trying though!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm saving this post so I can remember it for later! I'll have to start doing the lemon water thing in the mornings. I've heard great benefits of doing it! Frozen monkey smoothies sound great! I'm not a big fan of green smoothies (or smoothies in general, it's a texture thing) but I know it's an easy way to get in all the good stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I used to eat two lil' egg "muffins" for breakfast and be so proud I got in less than 300 calories, but now I am doing the Whole 30 Challenge, and eat way more in the a.m. I make a sweet potato hash, and serve with eggs. It's a lot of food, but I stay fuller longer, so that is good. I'm going to have to look into the lemon water.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've always eaten breakfast, though my breakfast has never been (and probably won't ever be) healthy. When I was little I ate toast with butter and sugar. Then I started on the PopTarts. I know they're not good for me, but they're yummy, and they're quick.

    I've never done well with eating pancakes, eggs, or waffles for breakfast unless it's after 10 AM....

    I think I should try the baked oatmeal or overnight oats. I bet I would like it. I just don't have time to make anything for breakfast. I'm always running late as it is. (My PopTarts are ready by the time I grab my glass, plate, vitamins, and pour my milk.)

    Lastly, I desperately wish that I liked yogurt. I have tried. I just can't.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've always eaten breakfast, though my breakfast has never been (and probably won't ever be) healthy. When I was little I ate toast with butter and sugar. Then I started on the PopTarts. I know they're not good for me, but they're yummy, and they're quick.

    I've never done well with eating pancakes, eggs, or waffles for breakfast unless it's after 10 AM....

    I think I should try the baked oatmeal or overnight oats. I bet I would like it. I just don't have time to make anything for breakfast. I'm always running late as it is. (My PopTarts are ready by the time I grab my glass, plate, vitamins, and pour my milk.)

    Lastly, I desperately wish that I liked yogurt. I have tried. I just can't.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been a morning workout person for at least 2 years now and I've just worked out and eaten breakfast after. Recently, I decided that I needed a little energy to get the most out of my workouts. I've been snacking on a hard boiled egg. Its been good.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am soooooooooooooo not a breakfast person. Sometimes I bring a small apple and an orange to work to eat for breakfast but then I forget about them. Typical conversation at lunchtime goes like this:

    Isaiah: What'd you eat for breakfast?
    Me: ......coffee?

    Terrible, I know, I'm just never hungry in the morning and I hate eating when I'm not hungry. Plus, waking up early in order to make breakfast for myself is not going to happen.

    I do, however, drink lemon water or ACV water most mornings. So there's that I guess...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really need to try green smoothies! What a great series to write about!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I eat egg muffins or savory oatmeal. Or whole wheat toast with peanut butter.

    I try to get to 80 ounces of water by noon. Sometimes it has lemon, sometimes it doesn't, but I always choke down 20 ounces on the train on the way in to work.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like lemon in my ice water, so I'd be willing to try it in warm water. I like all the benefits of it.

    I do a lot of instant oatmeal for work. Not the best, I know. I need to start making that baked oatmeal and portioning it for the week. It's probably cheaper, healthier, and tastier. :)

    ReplyDelete

Comments make my day!