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! 

Anti-Recipes: How to Make Oatmeal Taste Better

For as long as I can remember I've loved oatmeal as a breakfast option. Although I gotta admit I've come a long way from the days of mixing the contents of a little paper packet with water and popping it in the microwave. If I'm going to eat oatmeal, I want the good stuff. I prefer steel cut oats made with almond milk and when I make them at home, I usually add raisins and cinnamon. 

Recently, I was staying in a hotel and ordered oatmeal for breakfast and y'all would laugh at how excited I got when it arrived. Also, I'm sure the waiter thought I was crazy when I started arranging the table to get the best possible photo.

I just couldn't not share this idea in the form of an adorable caddy holding the oatmeal add-ins. It included almonds, dried papaya, pistachios, brown sugar, banana chips and raisins in cute little jars. Wouldn't this make eating oatmeal at home even more fun? Plus, I've never thought to put pistachios or dried papaya in my oats...but it was amazing!

What's your favorite way to eat oatmeal? Are you a brown sugar & cinnamon person or do you prefer dried apples and maple syrup?

Oh and here's a similar jar caddy at World Market if you'd like to try this idea at home!

Happy Monday friend! I hope your week is off to a grand start!

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!

Celebrate #BetterBfastMonth

Starting tomorrow, I’m going to be celebrating Better Breakfast Month. My goal is to make more of an effort to eat a better breakfast each day.

There aren’t any rules about what constitutes ‘better.’ For you, it might mean simply eating breakfast, where you didn’t before. It might be adding fruit or just cutting out an extra cup of coffee. If you feel especially inspired or enjoy something truly delicious, I hope you’ll take a picture of it and share in the Flickr group I created. Maybe we can all inspire each other! I’ll also be using the hashtag #BetterBfastMonth on Twitter.