Overnight Berry Oats (No Yogurt)

This is an easy recipe for breakfast.  You make the night before and put them in the fridge.  The next morning, you pull them out of the fridge and set them on the counter to allow it to allow it warm up a little.  That is unless you love the oats ice cold.

This a versatile recipe.  You can change it up depending on your imagination.  The recipe I'm going to share has blueberries and strawberries and is topped with pecans.

Overnight Berry Oats

Skinny Taste

 

Stars of the recipe:

• 1/4 c. quick oats
• 1/2 c. milk (skim, 2%, almond, soy, or coconut)
• 1/2 c. blueberries
• 1/4 c. cut strawberries
• 2 Tbsp. or less honey
• 1/2 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon (more or less depending on your preferences)
• 1 Tbsp. nuts (I used pecans.)

Steps:

1. Combine the oats, milk, blueberries, strawberries, honey, chia seeds, and cinnamon in a jar.
2. Place in the fridge overnight.
3. Take out of the fridge and allow to take the chill off.
4. Add nuts.
5. Enjoy!  (If you want, add some Greek yogurt.)

Happy eating, 
Traci

6 Easy Breakfast Foods

In January, I made a resolution to eat breakfast on a daily basis.  I've been faithful towards that resolution except for one time.  That one time was killer on my body.  My blood sugar was not stable so that made the likelihood of me making bad food choices increase.

As the school year starts, I decided to compile a list of good breakfast foods that are easy especially with a little prep.

1. Yogurt Parfaits

This is my favorite breakfast.  In fact, when we were at the beach, I ate this for breakfast several times.

In a bowl, I place Greek yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit.  (My favorite Greek yogurt is Greek Gods Nonfat Plain.) You can dress it up anyway you want - nuts, Chia Seeds, coconut, different types of Granola, and different fruits.

Here are some granola recipes:

White Chocolate granola

Pumpkin Granola

Apple Crisp Granola

2.  Oatmeal

All it takes is some quick oats and milk/almond milk/water.  Place in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.  You can add a nut butter, chia seeds, flax seeds, chopped up nuts, coconut, and/or fruit.  Place the fruit on the oatmeal before microwaving for a whole different flavor experience.

Here is an oatmeal recipe:

Instant Oatmeal Mix

3.  Breakfast Sandwich

This can be done in a million different ways.  Okay, maybe not that many different ways but you can change it up depending on your mood.

Here is the basic formula:

1. eggs or egg whites


2. some sort of protein (turkey bacon, bacon, sausage, Canadian bacon) cooked


3. cheese or no cheese (Switch the kinds of cheese - Colby, Cheddar, Swiss, Feta, etc . . .)


4. veggies - spinach, onions, etc. . .


5. bread product - whole wheat bread toasted, English muffin, tortilla, Bagel thin

Here's an easy way to cook the eggs or egg whites:  Spray a round glass bowl (1 cup size) or a coffee mug with cooking spray.  Place the egg scrambled or whole.  Place in microwave for about a 1 min and a half to 2 mins.  If it's not cooked to your liking, continue cooking it at 30 second intervals.  (If you want to, you can cook the veggies in with the eggs.)

After you cook the eggs, assemble your sandwich and then enjoy!

4.  Muffins

Depending on what flour and the ingredients in your muffins, they can be a semi-healthy choice for breakfast.  Whole wheat flour is the best flour to use when making muffins.  Lots of fats (oil) and sugar will make your muffin become unhealthy.  Replace your oil in your recipe with unsweetened applesauce (1 to 1 ratio) to make it healthier.

You can make the muffins ahead of time and then freeze them.  Pull a muffin out of the freezer and warm it in the microwave.

I usually pair them with a cheese stick and fruit for a more balanced meal.

Here are some muffin recipes:

Snickerdoodle muffins

Cranberry Pecan Muffins

All Star Muffin mix

Young's Dairy Pumpkin Muffins/Bread

French Toast Mini Muffins (My sons' favorite muffins)

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins- Has avocado in it

5.  Smoothies

This is another favorite of mine.

Easy peasy is the name of the game when it comes to smoothies.  Throw in some fruit, greens, veggies, Chia seeds, flax seeds, ice, liquid (water, milk, juice, or almond milk), yogurt, and/or nut butter in a blender jar.  Blend it together, place in a cup, and enjoy!  (Don't worry I don't put all of those ingredients in at the same time.  Those are just some ingredients you can use in your smoothie.)

I pair this up with either a cheese stick or a hard boiled egg.

Here are some smoothie recipes:

Fruit Smoothie (the Imaginative One's favorite smoothie)

“Tropical Smoothie” Smoothie

Carrot Tropical Smoothie

Key Lime Smoothie

Apple Jack Smoothie

St. Patty’s Day Smoothie

Power Up Green Smoothie

6.  Pancakes/ Waffles



This one can be easy if you make the pancakes or waffles during the weekend and then freeze them.  Pop them in the microwave or toaster for a quick breakfast.  You can use the pancakes and waffles for your breakfast sandwich.  You can also top the pancakes or waffles with a nut butter.  Pair it with some fruit for a balanced breakfast.

Here are some pancake/waffle recipes:

Waffle House Waffles

Almond Butter Protein Pancakes

Homemade Baking Mix and Pancakes

What is your favorite easy breakfast?

Key Lime Smoothie

One of my favorite smoothies at Tropical Smoothie is the Blimey Limey. It has strawberries, limes, oranges, and pineapples. I love the tang of the limes in the drink. So when I found a recipe for a smoothie that used limes, I was had to try it out. Delicious!

After drinking it, I was super energized. In fact one of my students mentioned I was hyper. I don't know if it was from the smoothie or from the two cups of coffee I had that morning. (Didn't sleep well the night before.)

Key Lime Smoothie

Healthful Pursuit

Stars of the recipe:

• 2 tbsp. key lime juice (about 4 limes) - I microwave mine for about 10 secs. to maximize the amount of juice.


• 1 tsp. key lime zest


• 1 c. unsweetened non-dairy milk


• 1 ripe frozen banana


• 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract (I omitted this because I used vanilla almond coconut milk.)


• 1 tbsp. stevia


• 1 tbsp. sunflower butter


• 2 c. baby spinach


• 4 ice cubes


• crushed graham cracker pieces (optional)


• Cool Whip or something similar (optional)

Steps:

1. Place in your blender in the order of the ingredients listed, blend until smooth.


2. Top with crushed graham crackers and Cool Whip, if desired.


3. Enjoy!

This made 2 smoothies for me.



Someone asked me what you could use instead of bananas.  I found this link for other ingredients you can use instead of bananas.

 

Smoothies are quick and delicious. They can be healthy depending on the ingredients in the smoothie.

This smoothie reminds you of Apple Jack cereal without all the sugar.

Apple Jack Smoothie

Happy Herbivore

Stars of the recipe:

• 1 c. Unsweetened almond milk


• 1 c. Banana, frozen (Mine was not frozen. The smoothie was just more liquidity.)


• 1 c. Fresh spinach


• 1/2 Apple, diced


• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon


• 1 date (for sweetness - I left it out of mine and it was okay.)

Steps:

1. Place in blender.


2. Blend it until smooth.


3. Drink and enjoy!

St. Patty's Smoothie

Yum! And heathy are 2 words to describe this smoothie.  Since I was going to be making the boys homemade "Shamrock" shakes, I made myself one of these instead. 

This is another easy recipe to put together.  This recipe makes four servings.  I put the other three servings in the freezer so I can enjoy them later.  (They are already portioned out so all I have to do is pull it out of the freezer, thaw it out, pour it into a cup, and then enjoy.)

St. Patty's Smoothie

Stars of the recipe:

• 1.5 c. of unsweetened vanilla almond milk


• 2 bananas


• 1 cup spinach


• 1 tsp. peppermint extract


• 1 tsp. vanilla extract


• 1/4 c. chocolate chips

Steps:

1. Place all the ingredients except for the chocolate chips in the blender.


2. Blend until smoothie.


3. Add the chocolate chips.


4. Blend until the chips have been combined.


5. Pour a fourth of it in a cup.  Divide the rest into 3 quart sized bags that have been labeled.  Place those 3 bags in the freezer for later.


6. Enjoy the smoothie in the cup!