Do you eat breakfast? Of course you do, it’s the most important meal of the day. Right? Ummmm….maybe not? I mean, I know I eat breakfast, every single day, but I’ll tell you right now it’s not within the first hour of waking up in the morning. I typically do my workout first thing in the morning, then I eat breakfast. But I’m lucky, because I have the time to workout in the morning and then make a nice breakfast (but just so you know, I wake up at the crack of dawn so I do have the time to do those things in the morning!).
Does your breakfast include several different ingredients?
It doesn’t have to. I once had a client tell me that he “didn’t have time for breakfast”, and that all he ever eats in the morning before work is a piece of toast with peanut butter. Um, hello, that’s breakfast! It doesn’t have to be a gourmet meal, or even a meal at all, as long as it’s something that will “break the fast”. A piece of toast and peanut butter is just fine. But, if you have the extra time, why not get creative with your breakfast?!
I’ve tried many different oatmeal combinations in my time. I love oatmeal, but lately I’ve been doing my Greek yogurt, granola, and blueberry combination, and leaving the oatmeal creations for Nick. Here are some of my new and old favorite oatmeal creations (both for Nick and myself)….
Oatmeal, unsweetened almond milk, dark chocolate peanut butter, bananas, dry-roasted almonds
Oatmeal, pumpkin butter, and apples (I was very jealous as Nick ate this…..it’s loaded with FODMAPs!)
One of my old favorite combinations (as in, I was addicted to this for two years…..); oatmeal, pumpkin puree, and peanut butter
Another addiction I used to have; Oatmeal, flavored Greek yogurt, almond butter, and cooked sweet potato. Yes, it’s true, I used to eat this all the time. It is fantastic. I swear.
Anyway, after my addiction to oatmeal was over (I’m sure it will be back one day) and I handed it over to Nick, I thought I needed to come up with some new ideas so Nick could see that I haven’t lost my talent for taking oatmeal to “the next level”. As I perused my latest issue of Clean Eating Magazine I was happy to find this recipe for Banana Split Oatmeal.
Banana Split Oatmeal
Slightly modified from a Clean Eating Magazine recipe
Serves 1
Ingredients
1/2 cup Old-Fashioned rolled oats
1-cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/8 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup canned diced pineapple, in light syrup, rinsed
1/4 cup sliced strawberries, organic if possible
1/4 banana, diced
1/2 ounce dark chocolate, finely chopped
1 Tbsp raw walnut pieces
OPTIONAL: Vanilla protein powder
Directions
Follow the directions on the oat container to make the oatmeal (typically says to mix the liquid and the oats and microwave for ~3 minutes. Or use the stove-top). Once cooked, mix in the vanilla extract and the vanilla protein powder, if using. Top with the pineapple, strawberries, banana, chocolate, and walnuts. Serve warm.
** This is a low FODMAPs recipe. Use gluten free oats if you want this to be 100% gluten free
This was heavenly (I tried a few bites of Nick’s. He’s so kind)
I even thought it would be even more heavenly with some unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Nick agreed.
