Young Life Marine Wife: May 2012

You've heard it before- breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I would have to agree!

So why is it so important?

Breakfast is essential for energy. Your brain needs glucose from food to work well... hence why studies have shown that students that eat breakfast tend to do better academically than those who skip it.

Research has also shown that breakfast eaters have fewer weight problems that non-breakfast eaters. Yep, that's right... EAT to maintain a healthy weight. When you eat breakfast- you get your metabolism running and tend to eat fewer calories throughout the remainder of the day.

I try to eat a healthy breakfast everyday... But with school keeping me so busy, it seemed as if I was just grabbing anything as I walked out the door.

So lately I have been trying to make a better effort in the breakfast arena.

Here are a few pretty fast, super easy- HEALTHY recipes I have tried.

Spinach/ Red Pepper Egg White Scramble w/ 1/2 Grapefruit

2 Egg whites, hand full of fresh baby spinach, handful of sliced red bell pepper.

I mixed the egg whites with spinach and red pepper, tossed it into a nonstick skillet and toasted a piece of whole wheat bread. Throw in 1/2 of a grapefruit and you have a well balanced breakfast that will keep you full well beyond 11 a.m. :)

(The scramble can be done as a omelet... I suck at making omelets so I just go for the scramble- same thing, just not as pretty!)

Almond Pecan Oatmeal

Steel cut oats, a little vanilla soy milk, pecans, almonds, raisins/ craisins, and 5 minutes. Delicious! (Follow directions on back of oat meal package, add a dash of milk, and toss in all others)

Banana Pecan Wheat Pancakes

This recipe is for 2. (About 6 pancakes)

Mix 1cup Hodgson Mills Insta-Bake Whole Grain, 1/2 squishy banana, 1/2tbsp. brown sugar, 1 egg, 2/3 cup of vanilla soy milk (or reg. milk). Cook as you would with any pancake mixture, add a handful of pecan pieces, the rest of that banana, and syrup- I use 100% pure maple... a little goes a long way.

Protein Packed Banana PB Yogurt

0% Vanilla Greek Yogurt, sliced banana, PB, and drizzle honey. Yummm.

Quick Breakfast Smoothie

Photo: Pinterest.com

I've made this smoothie a lot in the past. As with most smoothies- its SOOO easy! I do a scoop of PB, a whole banana, hand full of ice, about a cup of vanilla soy milk, hand full of almonds. I have tried it with the oats and its ehhh ok- I prefer it without the oats.

And here are some HEALTHY breakfast recipes I plan to try this coming week.....

Caramelized Onion, Red Pepper and Zucchini Frittata

photo: skinnytaste.com

Find this recipe here.

Avocado Egg Rings

Photo & Recipe: apronstringsblog.com

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium low heat. Lightly spray with oil. Slice an avocado with the skin ON lengthwise, forming one thick slice in the middle. (You will have some leftover avocado pieces) Remove the seed and use a small cookie cutter to make a hole in the center of your thick slice. Place the avocado slice in the pan. Crack a medium sized egg into the center of the hole. Cover and cook for a minute or two, until the egg is as you like it. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Quick PB and Jelly Banana Roll ups