“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
Did your mom ever say that growing up? I’ve heard it so many times I’ve lost count. But it still rings true, even if it is an overused saying. But, have you ever asked yourself why it’s so important?
Research indicates that breakfast is so important because it keeps your glucose (or sugar) levels stable. I’ve also heard many people say they need to lose weight, and follow that up with “I should skip a meal or two.” NOOO! Maintaining a healthy weight means eating small meals/snacks throughout the day that consist of quality protein. By keeping your glucose at consistent, healthy levels versus dipping and soaring, weight can be managed easier. Also, if you’re like me, I will eat more than needed when I’m starving. So don’t starve yourself because it will come back to haunt you! But, I’m no doctor, so make sure you speak with your physician.
Now, for the good part — food! If you are like me, mornings are hectic. As in, I’m too tired to care, just get me going, hectic! So having some good options that are easy to prepare can help aid with your breakfast goals.
Anyone who has chickens probably has an abundance of eggs. Eggs are a classic breakfast staple, but when combined with other non-typical foods they become unique and yummy! Here’s a recipe for you to try:
Egg Muffins
Start by whisking 12 eggs together, add 1.5 cups shredded cheese (or more to support our dairies!). Based on your taste preferences, add some ingredients from the following categories:
Meat: chicken, ham, bacon, sausage
Veggies: broccoli, peppers, onions, tomatoes, kale/spinach, potato
Spices: chili powder, garlic powder, chives, parsley, oregano, salt/pepper
Once you have a good mixture of ingredients, spray a muffin tin and fill it up with your egg mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until your eggs are set. Make these the night before and refrigerate or freeze them for several morning meals.
Now you are all set for the protein part of your quick breakfast.Let’s move on to the carb part.
From what I have experienced, there are two types of carbs. We’ve all heard that carbs are bad, but there are different kinds of carbs that are needed for a balanced meal — the slow and the fast. Much like a speeding race car, a fast carb is a doughnut. The slow carb, a bowl of oatmeal, is a turtle making his ever-slow way across the road. But in this case, slow wins the race. You want to consume slowly-digested carbs because it will take your body longer to process these foods, which means you don’t get as hungry so quickly.
Here are some good examples of slow carbs: legumes, apples, grapes, grains such as whole-grain oat cereal & oat bran, yogurt (sugar free), milk (skim), broccoli, tomatoes, green beans, and the list goes on. And again, make sure you speak with your physician before making lifestyle changes.
So pair those egg muffins with a bowl of oatmeal (watch that brown sugar) and be prepared to have a productive day in the field, at the house, or chasing the kids down.
Happy Breakfasting!
