July 03 2012
photo courtesy of istockphoto / thinkstock
Think back on the last time you visited a breakfast buffet.
It probably consisted primarily of nutrient-dead foods like biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage and pastries. More than likely, a tiny sliver of that buffet was reserved for health-boosting items like fruits, berries, nuts, oats, salmon and even a vegetable or two.
If you paid close attention, it would have probably been obvious that the majority of folks eating from the healthier section were mostly trim, bright-eyed and energetic. You are what you eat, right?
So why is that section so small and irrelevant?
Breakfast is your most important meal and should contain as many living foods as possible. Most people try to accomplish this by eating fruits and berries and drinking juices, but vegetables are overlooked far too often.
Eating vegetables at breakfast may require a little creativity at first, but it’s very doable once you develop the habit and the rewards are endless.
Here are a few ways to incorporate more vegetables into your breakfast.
• Create salad smoothies. Fresh kale, spinach, apples and ice make a surprisingly delicious smoothie. Add organic frozen blue berries or strawberries instead of ice to make it even sweeter.
• Make your own vegetable juice. Freshly juiced carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and celery are extremely nutritious. Add a pear or Granny Smith apple for more sweetness. Remember to include the skin since you don’t miss any nutrients. Experiment according to your own taste.
• Become a veggie-omelet artist. For example, dandelion greens, chopped onions, garlic, turmeric, sea salt and black pepper sautéed in extra virgin olive oil—alongside free-range eggs—make a delicious, nutritious omelet.
• Sneak vegetable puree into muffins, pancakes and breads. Sweet potato pancakes, zucchini bread and pumpkin and squash cupcakes are favorites. Almost any vegetable can be pureed. Think baby food. Sneaking these into muffins or other breads pack nutrients into your favorite treats. Remember to always use whole-grain flour. Countless recipes are available on the web.
• Choose super-food breakfast bars. Your local health food store carries a variety of breakfast bars, many of which have vegetable ingredients like spinach, carrots, beets and even powerful sea vegetables like spirulina and chlorella. Try different kinds until you find the one you like best.
• Go raw. There’s no rule saying vegetables are for lunch and dinner only. Why not eat yesterday’s leftover vegetables first thing in the morning?
For more healthy breakfast recipes, visit our recipes section or read Maximized Living Nutrition Plans.
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