The Breakfast Dilemma

The Breakfast Dilemma   

For years now, since I left home  and started living on my own really (and that’s 10 years now), my morning have started the same every day. With an indecision, a dilemma, a quandary...what should I have for breakfast?

I’m sure I’m not alone in my breakfast struggle. My appetite first thing in the morning isn’t large, but also I can’t hold off until lunchtime. I want something healthy, light, fairly quick and delicious of course. Bread leaves me bloated and I don’t want all the sugar that cereals contain.

In the last year however I have discovered some amazing breakfasts that suit my lifestyle, are super healthy, are easy to make and taste great.

So here are a few of my absolute fave’s…

Chia Pudding

A new favourite with a number of the healthy cook books this is so simple to make and you can alter the flavour  depending on what goodies you’ve got in your cupboard to go with it. I love mixing it up between coconut and cacao powder, summer berries or  warm spices (cinnamon, ginger etc). Simply soak 1 tbs of chia seeds in 3 tbs nut milk of your choice. Leave for 15/20 minutes to gelatinise then mix with fruit, nuts, seeds and super food powders to taste.

Breakfast Bars

There are great because you can make a batch to last you all week. Not restricted to being bar shaped, I tend to go for pattie style squashed balls ;)

The base ingredients for these are rolled oats, flax seeds and chia seeds. Blend 1 cup oats in the food processor to make a crumble/flour texture. Mix this in a big bowl with 2 cups oats, ½ cup flax seeds, 2 tsp cinnamon and 1 cup dried fruits. I love mixing figs, apricots, dates, goji berries and mulberries.

In a separate bowl make a chia gel (soak chia’s for 15 mins,  1 tbs chia to 3 tbs water). Once gelatinous add to the food processor with ½ cup apple sauce and ½ cup raw agave or pure maple  syrup.

Once blended add this to the big bowl and stir all ingredients together well. Mold in to equal balls and squish in to pattie shapes. Bake in the oven for 20 mins on 180 and store in a air tight container. Yummy!!

Berry Smoothie

The perfect choice for those with very little appetite in the mornings, a really easy drinkable brekkie that you can cram  full of nutrients and super food powders.

Best made fresh every morning this recipe is for a big vitamix style blender so adapt if using a 1 cup blender.

Add all ingredients to the blender and pulse until smooth…

1 handful strawberries

1 handful Raspberries

1 handful blueberries

1 banana

1 pint coconut milk (or almond/hemp milk)

2 tbs maca powder

1 tsp maqui/acai powder

1 tbs lucuma powder

3 medjool dates

½ lemon squeezed

Since discovering the variety of healthy breakfasts available, my mornings have been revolutionised. So why not start the day by giving your body what it needs, a blast of vitamins, minerals and fibre. there are tonnes of other amazing breakfasts you can try, from home made raw granola to fruit salad. More recipes to come, make sure you give us a thumbs up if you found this useful.

Enjoy!

By Sophia Harvey

Superfoods Good for your Brain

Chia means strength and Chia Seeds contains large amount of omega-3, calcium, antioxidants, iron, protein, fibre, and potassium which gives energy and stamina for the brain.

Acai is known to enhance brain health and improve cognitive abilities, packed with antioxidants with ORAC, omega-3, vitamins, and protein.

Goji Berries are said to improve the sharpness of your brain and help you retain information more efficiently and may help in reducing damaging inflammation of the brain as well as reducing the accumulation of toxins in the brain.

Spirulina also has many brain improving benefits, it is said to reduce the degeneration of the brain and prevents brain damage and studies have shown that it can reverse damage done to the brain from process of ageing.

Cacao has lots of minerals and nutrients that help boost the brains neurotransmitters and creates serotonin (the hormone that makes you happy) that keeps you calm. It has to raw to get the most nutritional benefit.

Maca is a fabulous superfood is known to improve the brains neurochemistry and helps fight against depression, stress, anxiety and acts as a mood enhancer.

Coconut is known as a great fuel to enhance healthy brain function with its rich source of medium chain triglycerides (MCT). 

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) go straight to your liver to be processed into ketones which are then sent to the brain to be used for fuel. Being a stable fuel supply, coconut is considered to be great fuel for your brain by supporting your brain’s learning capabilities and memory retention.

Curcumin which comes from Turmeric shows neuroprotective properties and is said to help neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.