Creative Ideas for Better Breakfast Month | September

September is Better Breakfast Month and every year I try to take this as an opportunity to reset my breakfast habits. Growing up, we ate a lot of those little pecan spinwheels or cereal, of which neither were the greatest options for keeping a kid full. Plus, they were high in sugar and just not too healthy.

I've heard my entire life how breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast helps me think more clearly and just puts me in a better mood.

According to WebMD, the basic formula for breakfast is carbs + protein. The carbs give your body energy to get started and your brain the fuel it needs to take on the day. Protein gives you staying power and helps you feel full until your next meal. So I'm trying to branch out a bit with my breakfasts. A girl can only eat so much fruit and oatmeal, am I right?

Here are a few options that might inspire you to eat a better breakfast during September and beyond!

Take Your Toast to the Next Level 

I promise this isn't another blog post featuring avocado toast. I, too, jumped on the avo-toast bandwagon for awhile, but there are so many other options to take your toast to the next level! 

I'm loving the new flavors of hummus from Lantana, including beet, edamame, and white bean. They are great on toast and packed with protein to help you feel full longer. I also recently tried pumpkin seed butter, which was pretty tasty and great on toast as well. Sprinkle on a bit of shredded coconut or flax seed for added flavor. 

Not a fan of toast? Try a whole grain toaster waffle with nut butter or another spread. I promise you, there's a combination that you'll like....you just might have to get creative to find it! 

Yogurt Parfait with Pizzazz 

Instead of your usual yogurt parfait, why not try a yogurt breakfast cone? I was inspired by Van's Foods for this one and it is delish! 

All you need is your favorite yogurt (I like the plain Greek kind from Fage) and some fruit and toppings. This is just about as easy as it gets y'all! And so easy to take on the go. But safety first....please don't try to eat it while driving! 

Egg Bread Boats 

My final Better Breakfast recipe is one that's apparently made the rounds in the blogosphere, but I haven't tried it until now. French toast has always been a favorite of mine, but this recipe gives it a new twist. Hollowed out french bread filled with egg, cheese and veggie goodness....what's not to love? 

(Image credit: The Kitchn Christine Han)

Fun & Healthy Ideas for Better Breakfast Month - September 2016

September is Better Breakfast Month and it's a great time to create new, healthier breakfast eating habits. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it helps get your metabolism going and provides the energy and nutrients you need to stay focused and do your best thinking. 

For me, breakfast has to be a seamless part of my morning routine. Otherwise, I get in a rush and end up skipping it...which is not good. 

Thank goodness breakfast has come a long way since the days of grapefruit halves and black coffee (a' la Mad Men) as well as the sugary cereals and nutritionally lacking pastries of my childhood in the 1980s. 


Here are three creative options for Better Breakfast Month. Apparently these were predicted to be the big trends in breakfast for 2016, but I don't think they've quite made the rounds yet in my neck of the woods. 

1) Get Creative with Healthy Smoothie Bowls

I know smoothie bowls aren't exactly brand new, but they still hold a certain level of mystery for many folks. I'm here to de-mystify this delicious and healthy breakfast option. 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...smoothie bowls are just smoothies, in bowls. They are a little thicker than your regular smoothie drink, but this can be achieved by using less liquid. Plus, they have the addition of toppings which not only makes it possible for you to create an unlimited number of combinations, but also helps you feel fuller because you're chewing it. 

I was inspired by Naturally Sassy to make this green smoothie bowl (recipe here). It combines lots of healthy foods such as spinach, kale, bananas, and blueberries in a delicious breakfast treat. 

Another tip is to use frozen bananas, which adds to the smoothie bowl's creamy consistency. 

2) Savory French Toast - French Toast Pizza 

I grew up eating French Toast, slathered in syrup and butter. It never occurred to me that French Toast could also be savory. 

Check out this awesome looking French Toast breakfast pizza, via EatWell 101. 

The best thing about this recipe is you can really just start with the same base and then add whatever toppings you prefer, depending on what mood you happen to be in. 

Not keen on onions for breakfast? Maybe try tomatoes and mozzarella with some fresh basil. The French Toast base means you're getting some extra protein from the eggs too. 

Need more inspiration? Here's a round-up of other French Toast recipes that are definitely outside the box. 

3) Salad for Breakfast - Eggs Benedict Salad 

Finally, a breakfast option that really packs a healthy punch - salad! I know what you're thinking. "Who wants to eat a soggy cold salad in the morning?" Well, this tasty salad is anything but! 

It's basically eggs Benedict on leafy greens, with other healthy veggies tossed in for good measure. My recipe came from here, but you can alter your version to your taste.  

These are just three ways to enjoy better breakfasts during September. I hope you will be inspired to start each day with a better breakfast. I know I am! 

Quick & Easy Low Calorie Snack

I'm a foodie from way back. I was a foodie before the term even came to be. I've always loved food; talking about it, reading about it, making it, eating it. In college, my good friend Stephanie used to joke that two of her favorite things were eating and snacking, and I wholeheartedly agree with her.

I think snacking is great because sometimes I'm just not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. However, it can be challenging to come up with healthy snacks that aren't boring. During a recent trip to Trader Joe's, I stumbled on a product that I've decided is my new favorite snack. 

Trader Joe's British Style Crumpets, in the cinnamon variety. I always had a general idea of what a crumpet was, based on watching British movies or television. But I'm certain I've never had anything like this. 

The only product I can really compare it to is an English muffin, but crumpets are so much better! When toasted, crumpets are spongy and soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. 

At only 110 calories each, crumpets are delicious and filling. I've been enjoying them with Eden Organic Apple Butter, which adds about 40 calories for a perfect quick and easy 150 calorie snack option. 

All this talk of crumpets has me thinking about jolly England. I traveled there for the first time after graduating from high school and have been fortunate to visit a couple times since. Here is goofy, 18-year old me with one of the Buckingham Palace guards...like how we color coordinated our outfits? 

If you love snacking on apples, check out this post with a few great healthy apple products and recipes. Another healthy snack choice is oatmeal. I have a few suggestions for making oatmeal taste better, if you're so inclined. And if a sweet, not-so healthy snack is what you're craving, I insist you try my Ritz Cracker Candy...but trust me, you'll want to make a double batch. 

Do you have a favorite Trader Joe's product you'd like to share? I apologize to folks who don't have a Trader Joe's nearby...but maybe your local grocery store or bakery has a crumpet equivalent. If you have other ideas for how to enjoy these delicious items, please let me know! 

September 2013 - Better Breakfast Month

September has been designated as Better Breakfast Month and, for the past couple years, I've commemorated it by attempting to eat healthier breakfasts during the month.

 

In September of 2011, I was just starting a new healthy way of eating. Last September, I was nearly a year into trying a vegan diet, but still needing a little jump start in some areas. 

I'm glad September is almost here, because I think Better Breakfast Month is just what I need to get things going in the right direction again. 

I've always believed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I feel better when I eat a healthy breakfast. I get more accomplished in the morning and I have more energy throughout the day. Yet, so often I grab something in the junk food category first thing in the morning or eat nothing at all. 

I'm joining my friends at Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 to share a bit more about Better Breakfast Month, as well as some better breakfast options that might inspire you. I'll post the video as soon as it's live. Here's a link to a past breakfast post about how to make oatmeal taste better. 

During the month of September, I hope you'll join me in eating better breakfasts! Tweet or Instagram photos of your breakfast using the hashtag #BetterBfastMonth. You can also upload photos of your better breakfasts to Pinterest and tag them with the hashtag #BetterBfastMonth and I'll add them to my Pinterest board! If we all encourage each other, we can do this! 

Better Breakfast Month 2012

September is “Better Breakfast Month” and after making some new healthier breakfast-eating habits during September last year, I’ve decided to celebrate it again. Hopefully you’ll be encouraged to eat better breakfasts this month as well! As that famed southern belle Minnie Pearl once said “breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”

I’ve created a Better Breakfast Month board on Pinterest, using the hashtag #BetterBfastMonth. If you tag me in your breakfast pics, I’ll add them to the board. I’ll also be tweeting some breakfast pictures this month, using the same hashtag and I hope you’ll join me! I’d love to see what creative better breakfasts you challenge yourself to enjoy. Who knows…maybe you’ll make some healthy new habits too!