Photographed By Tommy Kearns.
Like many busy people, I've always had a complicated relationship with breakfast. For years, more often than not, breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee on the go. Sometimes, if I had a little extra time, I'd quickly microwave an instant oatmeal, have a bowl of cereal, or grab a croissant at a coffee shop on my way to work.
None of these options worked well for me. If I skipped on food, I'd end up feeling jittery from the coffee. And, if I ate bread or cereal in the morning, I would end up feeling sluggish, tired, and have trouble paying attention. So, I first became interested in the Paleo diet because so many practitioners talked about having energy to spare. For those not familiar, the Paleo diet is a nutritional philosophy that holds that people usually feel better when we eat as our Paleolithic ancestors did. Though there are many variants of the Paleo diet, very generally, it means avoiding grains, sugar, dairy, and processed foods in favor of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, eggs, and meat.
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If I wanted to try eating this way; it looked like my days of oatmeal with brown sugar on top were numbered. But, since I didn't particularly have the time or energy to cook steak and eggs every morning, I needed some quick and easy (and practical) solutions for breakfast.
Whether you're interested in the diet as a whole or just looking for some great, energy-dense foods to help start your day, these three breakfast recipes are great options for anyone.
Strawberry, Spinach, Almond Butter Smoothie
Approximately 1 cup almond milk (or a mixture of almond and coconut milk)
1/4-1/2 cup frozen, chopped spinach
3-4 large strawberries (frozen or fresh)
1/2 banana (frozen or fresh)
2-3 heaping tablespoons raw almond butter
Put everything into a blender and blend until your preferred consistency.
I typically buy my fruits and vegetables frozen because I find it easier to just have them on hand — and this way I'm not dealing with stuff going bad before I'm able to use it. But, when buying frozen fruits, make sure that there is no added sugar. This will just lead to a sugar crash. I use Blue Diamond Almond Milk and Coconut Milk blend because I like the flavor of coconut milk, but regular almond milk is great, too.
The almond butter is a great source of protein and healthy saturated fat. This will both provide you with energy and help you to feel full later into the day.
Photographed By Tommy Kearns.
Apple Muffins
2 cups almond flour (almond meal)
3 eggs
2 tablespoons melted grass-fed butter
2 tablespoons - 1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-2 apples, cored and chopped in blender
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees, then core an apple. Blend apple(s) until finely chopped, but not pureed. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, then fill muffin cups until 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes around 10 muffins, depending on size.
I usually make these muffins on a Sunday, then have then on hand throughout the week. I use around two tablespoons of honey for mine, though this creates a semi-savory muffin. If you like your muffins on the sweet side, then use more honey.
I use the butter from grass-fed cows in mine, but if you'd like to avoid dairy entirely, then two to three tablespoons of melted coconut oil would be a fine substitute. Also, the amount of apples you use depends on the size and taste. I typically use one large apple. I also slightly undercook mine (a toothpick doesn't come out completely clean) because I find that they get a little dry if cooked through. If you prefer a drier muffin, then cook around 23 minutes.
I've adapted this recipe from one by "Cook Eat Paleo" on Feastie. Check out the rest of their recipes here.
Photographed By Tommy Kearns.
Avocado, Kale, Peach Smoothie
1/2-1 avocado
1/2 banana (frozen or fresh)
3-4 peach slices (frozen or fresh)
1/4-1/2 cup kale, frozen and chopped
Approximately 1 cup almond milk (or a mixture of almond and coconut milk)
Mix all ingredients in blender until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Again, if you're using frozen fruit, make sure you're not buying the kind with added sugar. I really like this smoothie, but if you prefer a sweeter smoothie, then you might want to add a little honey so you enjoy this one, as it does taste on the "vegetable-y" side. It almost tastes like a cucumber, despite there being no cucumber in the drink.
The healthy fats in the avocado will help you to feel full and energized until lunch. Avocado also creates a really light, fluffy smoothie that's fun to drink.
These are my go-to breakfast recipes for great morning energy. Have any of your own? Let us know in the comments!
