Wellness Wednesdays: Healthier Breakfast Alternatives

All of you have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but if you are like many it is the easiest one to skip over.  I used to eat cereal for breakfast or nothing at all.  The thought of eggs in the morning disgusted me!  Breakfast meals were reserved for weekends as a special treat since I wasn't rushing to get ready for work.  Now I get up a half-hour earlier to whip up something quick and easy, plus I get some extra time with my hubby first thing in the morning.

I would like to challenge you to try working breakfast into your mornings. When eating breakfast within 2 hours of waking up, you will give your body the energy it needs to get your mind and your metabolism on the right foot.  Here's some healthy breakfast recipes that have helped me make breakfast one of my favorite meals.

Banana Almond Butter Pancakes (Paleo Pancakes)

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp almond butter
• 1 mashed banana
• 1 egg
• Coconut oil
• Applesauce

Combine ingredients until smooth.  Heat skillet on low heat, add coconut oil (or other preferred oil).  Add batter and cook pancakes until bubbly, then flip.  These will burn easily, so keep your eye on them!  Serve with butter and applesauce.  

Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal 

This recipe is modified from "Eat What You Love" by Marlene Koch.  I whip this up for a quick warm breakfast, or if I don't have time to eat it I put it all in a tupperware and warm it up at work.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oatmeal
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 packet of Stevia
• dash of salt (optional)
• Raisins or chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and heat in microwave for 2 - 3 minutes.  

Quinoa Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Quinoa
• 1/4 Tbsp Butter
• 1/2 Apple, chopped
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/8 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1/16th cup of Milk

Directions:

1. Soak the Quinoa for 5 minutes
2. Melt 1/2 the butter in a pan, add the apples and cook for about 5 - 10 minutes
3. Rinse Quinoa.  Cook with water on medium-high heat, boil for 1 minute. Reduce to low, cover an dsimmer for 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and fluff with fork.
4. Add cinnamon, remaining butter, sugar (or stevia) and milk.

Wholesome Blueberry Pancakes

This recipe is also from "Eat What You Love" by Marlene Koch.  My husband LOVES this recipe and prefers it over regular pancakes.  I like using applesauce in place of syrup to reduce the amount of sugar in the morning.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup white whole wheat flor
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 5 packets stevia
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs, well beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup blueberries

Directions:

1. In medium bowl mix together dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl mix together the wet ingredients.  Mix together dry and wet ingredients together.  Fold in the blueberries.
2. Heat griddle on medium heat, allow batter to rest while heating.  
3. Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake, 3 - 4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.
4. Top with peanut butter, apple sauce or syrup.  

Steel Cut Oatmeal in Jars

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law.  This makes a week's worth of oatmeal that easy to pull out of the fridge, heat up in the microwave and go!  Here's a link to the recipe.  Feel free to add your favorite oatmeal goodies to it.

Greek Protein Yogurt

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 to 1 scoop protein powder (adjust amount used to your preference, powders that dissolve better work the best)
• Granola or Chia Seeds, cinnamon, berries, or whatever else you like in your yogurt.
• Local honey (about 1 tsp, optional)

Mix ingredients together and adjust ingredient amounts to your taste preference. 

Written by: Crystal Warren, Representative for Power Up for PCOS which provides support to women with PCOS through educational Power Up Groups, building connections with other PCOS women, calendar of upcoming PCOS events, professional referrals and reviews, PCOS store, and other specialized events to raise money for PCOS research.  To find our more, visit http://www.powerupforpcos.com, email info@powerupforpcos.com or by calling 810-545-PCOS (7267)

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*Please note that I am not a medical professional. I am not qualified to give out any medical advice. I am a woman with PCOS who is sharing my personal experiences in this blog and I advise you to consult a professional.*