Back-to-School Series: Yummy, Healthy Breakfast

This school year, avoid falling into the go-to sugary breakfast for most- pop tarts, cereal and milk, and breakfast bars. Your body has been fasting for more than 6 hours, because you don't eat while you sleep. Breakfast is a time to fuel and rev up your engines for the rest of the day; or at least until lunch!

It is so easy to skip breakfast when you are in a rush, or simply because you don't think you are hungry at that hour. But in reality your body is starving, it may not feel like it but it is. Your body will not automatically begin to eat up all of the fat it has stored because it is concerned with conserving it for energy.

Kickstart your day with a cup of water and lemon. This will help get fluids running through your body, preparing it to take in what is needed and throw out what is not easily. With these easy and healthy breakfast options, you will be sure to start your day off just right.


1. Smoothies

These are probably the fastest way to get a ton of nutrients from fruits and vegetables at once. Juicing is another option but I believe there are lots of micronutrients in the skin and inside the entire fruit/vegetable. There are thousands of smoothie recipes and what you will love about these is that you can alter them to your taste. There is no wrong smoothie. I like to use 3 different fruits and 2 different vegetables and blend with water and ice. One example includes: a whole banana, 1 cup of blueberries, 4 strawberries, a handful of spinach, handful of broccoli and almond milk.

You should not have to sweeten it because all of the naturally sweet fruits are full of it. Start with just fruits in your smoothie until you are ready to incorporate veggies. The more vegetables you add, the more you can taste them. It may look extremely green, but this is a perfect way to get your body started for the day.


2. Jar Parfaits

Another easy and fast breakfast option are the breakfast jar parfaits. These are fast only if you remember to make them the night before. You will use overnight oats which are oats that have "cooked" overnight by soaking in water or [almond] milk. You can create these however you like: with stevia, cinnamon, honey, etc.
You begin by filling the bottom of your jar with yogurt then make your own creation! Add strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, granola, peanut butter and so much more. The key to a healthy parfait is to read your labels!! Be sure your yogurt and other add-ins are low in sugar! Let the fruits be your natural sweeteners to help keep this meal as clean as possible.


3. Homemade Breakfast Bars

Lastly these are a much healthier alternative to the pre-packaged, processed breakfast bars sitting in your pantry. Why? Because you know how to pronounce every single ingredient you are using. Granola bars are easy to make and perfect for your on-the-go, in-a-rush mornings.
What you need: rolled oats (steel cut is better), raw honey, variety of nuts, variety of dried fruit, flaxseeds, peanut butter and vanilla.
When I first tried these I did not melt my honey and peanut butter together. It would have made the mixing a lot easier. You want to add the oats, nuts,fruits and flaxseeds (optional) into one big bowl. I personally love walnuts, almonds, and cashews with raisins. Next melt a few tablespoons of the raw honey and the peanut butter. You can add some vanilla extract for a little more flavor. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix. The stickiness of the honey will help all the ingredients stick together. Flatten your oat mix in a cooking pan to whatever thickness you like. Set them in the fridge overnight or until the pb and honey become firm. Take them out, cut them into bars and enjoy!



The best thing about these recipes is that they are not only easy to make but they are tailored to your taste! You can customize and create so many possibilities that you will never have to be bored with your breakfast.