We all know just how important it is to start the day off right and just how bad things can get when we don’t. Yet, so many of us are constantly getting in our own way when it comes to a successful morning routine. One of the biggest ways we do this is by skipping breakfast. Now don’t get me wrong, I was once like you and I hated to eat breakfast. It felt as if my body was just not ready to eat that early in the morning. I had to constantly force myself to at least drink a morning smoothie (which did help me adjust to eating in the am).
Here’s The Thing…
Breakfasts are the start of your day and should be the first dose of nutrition you get each day. A good breakfast fuels for the day. According to research,
“In general, people who take breakfast have more energy, perform better in their academics and workplaces, and eat healthier throughout the day. Without breakfast, people can get irritable, restless, and tired.”
This is exactly what I used to experience when I was young. I had symptoms of morning sickness and I would not eat my breakfast. Then came a time when I realized the importance of this meal and started having a proper breakfast regularly. I noticed that whenever I had breakfast properly, my appetite would be normal throughout the day.
When You Find Yourself Wanting
I would get hungry at the right times of the day and perform better at my workplace. A good breakfast sets you up to make healthy choices the rest of the day. According to Erica Giovinazzo, a nutritionist at Clay Health Club and Spa in New York,
“You want to aim for a breakfast that combines good carbs and fiber with some protein.”
Erica Giovinazzo
1. Oatmeal: Oats contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber that has been shown to help lower cholesterol when eaten regularly. Oats are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. Just avoid the flavored kind of oats, which can be loaded with sugar. If you must sweeten your oatmeal, top it with honey, fruit, or nuts.
2. Yogurt: Yogurt is a great base for your morning meal. It is rich in protein and calcium. If you are allergic to dairy, then opt for almond, rice, or cashew yogurt. If you need extra protein, add extra protein powder or hemp seed. You can top it with fruit or make a smoothie.
3. Eggs: An egg is a complete meal since the egg white contains proteins and the yolk contains the fats your body requires. It is a rich source of vitamin D. You can hard boil it, eat it plain, or wrap it up. I love using coconut wraps, brown rice wraps, collards or add the egg on top of a slice of Ezekial bread with avocado.
These suggestions are simple, inexpensive, and healthy. Try adding one or more of these suggestions to your morning routine, and feel the difference!
Still Not a Morning Person?
You may find that it is still difficult for you to eat in the morning. If this is the case a great way to adjust your body to get back into the swing of things is by starting your day off with a little movement. Nothing crazy, I suggest just starting off with a morning walk. Walking 30 minutes a day has been shown to be extremely beneficial to your overall health, digestion, and mindset. In fact, when asked the people who start their days off with a daily exercise and meditation routine were ten times more likely to be successful and productive in their day. You deserve to have everything you have ever wanted and a great way to give back to yourself while staying on track with your goals is to create a morning routine. Make sure when you are creating your morning routine it is something you can and will do consistently!
Lacking Morning Motivation?
No worries, we have all been there. I find the best way to help bounce you out of bed is to have as much preparation as possible. That means if you struggle to get in your daily workout get it done and out of the way first thing in the morning. Make sure you are laying out your clothes the night before and grab a buddy if you need an extra boost. After your morning exercise, why not take some time to get your mind right by meditating (try not to meditate too close to when you woke up or you end up falling back asleep). This will help clear your mind so you can focus on getting more done in less time. Then finish your morning routine off with breakfast!
Maximize Your Mornings!
Your mornings should be one of your most productive time frames throughout your day. The best way to ensure it stays that way is by setting yourself up for success. How do you do that? Easy, you get as much done ahead of time as possible. For example, you can set your clothes out the night before or make your breakfast ahead of time (overnight oats are a great idea). Another great way to increase your morning productivity is by writing out your daily goals the night before and starting with the ones that are the fastest and easiest to do. I am sure you have heard that you should start off with the hardest and then it is all downhill for the rest of the day. However, most people don’t finish the hardest task in one day. Therefore when you start with the quicker tasks you feel more accomplished and tend to complete more of the harder tasks than the other way around.
Not Sure Where To Start?
For some of us, this process can feel overwhelming at first. Don’t worry, for most of us it is difficult to make changes in the beginning. However, once we get into a routine we find that we are running on autopilot and can get even more done than before. A good rule of thumb is if you are feeling overwhelmed, start with just one thing at a time. For example, if you want to wake up earlier set your clock for 30 minutes earlier each day until you reach your desired time. It takes about three weeks for a habit to form so you will want to be consistent. If you find something in your morning or evening routine no longer works for you make whatever adjustments you need to get the most out of every moment!
Gingerbread Pancakes
Gluten-Free Vegan Makes 10 Pancakes
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- ¼ Cup Molasses
- 1 ½ Cups Coconut Flour
- ¼ tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon Ground
- ½ tsp Pure Vanilla
- ¼ Cup Cashew Yogurt
- 1 ½ Cups Coconut Milk
Directions:
Whisk flour, baking soda and powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a bowl. Next, in a separate mixing bowl combine vanilla, yogurt, and molasses until smooth. Whisk in milk until completely incorporated. Slowly stir in dry ingredients into the molasses mixture until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Heat a lightly oiled griddle or pan over medium heat. Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto the griddle until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip and finish cooking on the other side. Continue until all batter is gone. Serve with warm maple syrup or fruit with coconut whipped cream. If you are feeling festive you can always shape the pancakes into gingerbread men (use a metal cookie cutter as your mold and pour the batter into it). Enjoy!
Need A Hand?
A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. Our health is something that we all have to deal with daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day then you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as just acting as a sounding board. Do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!