Move My Life Forward

How many times have you said or heard, “I don’t have time to eat breakfast”? As a former elementary teacher, I’d always remind my students that not eating breakfast is like running a car with no gas.

If you want to keep your immune system working well or want to lose weight, eating breakfast every morning is a great habit to get into.

The next question is what should we eat for breakfast? To simplify your choices let’s look at what we NEED at the beginning of our day. I have mentioned before that we need to start our day with a full glass of water with lemon to get our body systems moving. We want to get the toxins out. Next we want to get our metabolism in motion. Protein will do that for us. For more information about protein go to: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/benefits-protein Some different/new types of protein foods suggested by Joy Baur, Today Show Health Expert are:

8 Trendy Proteins You Should Be Eating

                                     Joy Bauer Food Cures – joybauer.com

Sick and tired of the usual protein suspects — egg whites, chicken, fish? These up-and-coming protein foods will help liven up your menus and surprise your taste buds.

 Arctic Char
Like the more mainstream salmon, arctic char supplies protein to rev your metabolism, along with a plentiful dose of omega-3 fats, which benefit your body from head to toe. These all-powerful fats help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve blood flow, fight inflammation, nourish your skin, and may even boost memory and mood. Arctic char is low in contaminants, and farmed varieties are raised in a sustainable manner, making this fish a terrific alternative to farmed salmon. Plus, arctic char has a milder, more delicate flavor that some palates may prefer to stronger-tasting salmon.

• Try it on the grill or baked in the oven, finished with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon — and keep an eye out for it on restaurant menus too.

 Black Lentils
In the world of nutrition, black is the new brown. Black quinoa, black rice, and black lentils are all über-trendy these days, and their unusual color offers more than just intrigue. These grains get their deep, dark hue from high concentrations of anthocyanins, the very same antioxidants found in blue-purple fruits like blueberries, plums, and cherries. Anthocyanins are potent compounds that are currently being investigated for their memory-boosting and cancer-fighting properties. Black beluga lentils, which earned their name because the small, shiny beads resemble caviar, are rich in protein and fiber — like all varieties of lentils. Just a half cup of cooked black lentils packs in about 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, a powerful nutrient combo that helps keep you full and energized. And, unlike starchy beans, dried lentils don’t require pre-soaking and cook up quickly in just 15 to 25 minutes!

 Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are edible seeds that are especially rich in plant omega-3 fats, like the more popular flaxseeds. And ounce for ounce, chia seeds contain more fiber and calcium than flax. You can pick up a bag in health-food stores or order them online. They’re also starting to make their way into packaged foods like chips, crackers, and cereals.

• Use chia seeds just as you would other seeds or chopped nuts;

• try them sprinkled on oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, or cottage cheese, or

• mixed into dips or salad dressings.

• Unlike with flax, you don’t need to grind them first because they’re completely digestible in whole form.

• Consider adding chia seeds to pancakes, muffins, and other baked goods too.

Kefir
Kefir is a cultured milk drink that’s thick and tangy (sort of like a drinkable yogurt) — and like other dairy products, it crams a lot of good nutrition into a small package. One cup of plain, nonfat kefir (90 calories) provides 11 grams of high-quality protein, along with 30 percent of the daily value for calcium and a blast of tummy-friendly probiotics. Plus, it’s low in lactose, which means it’s generally a safe dairy option for people with lactose intolerance. Flavored varieties like strawberry, blueberry, and peach are delicious but contain added sugar, so just make sure you account for the extra calories.

• You can enjoy a glass of kefir straight-up,

• add it to fruit smoothies,

• or use as a substitute for buttermilk in recipes.

• Companies have even started making frozen kefir — a yummy, ice-cream-like treat.

 Protein Powders
While it’s easier than you might think to get all the protein you need from food, if you’re looking for a fast, no-fuss way to inject more into your meals, consider one of the many protein powders on the market. Though brands vary significantly, most provide 20 to 25 grams of protein per scoop, which is equivalent to about three ounces of grilled chicken. Whey protein powder is the most popular variety, but you can also find egg-white powder and vegan varieties like pea, brown rice, soy, and hemp.

•  Combine a scoop with skim milk and fresh or frozen fruit in the blender to make a protein-packed smoothie, or

• stir some into your favorite whole-grain pancake batter for a energizing and filling breakfast.

Quinoa
Considered a whole grain, quinoa is actually a protein-rich seed with a rockin’ nutritional profile. A cup of quinoa provides 8 grams of protein, about twice the amount found in other starches like brown rice or oats, and the extra hit of protein helps balance out blood sugar. Loaded with fiber, magnesium, and iron, this South American grain definitely deserves its new celebrity status. The best news about quinoa:

• It’s as easy to make as rice and cooks up in just 15 short minutes (prepare with low-sodium broth instead of water to add more flavor).

• Use quinoa as a base for stir-fries,

• add veggies or chopped nuts to make a pilaf,

• or layer it with nonfat yogurt and chopped fruit for a chic parfait.

Part-Skim Ricotta
Ricotta cheese is just way too creamy and delicious to use only as lasagna filling, and I’m glad people are starting to capitalize on its versatility! A quarter cup of part-skim ricotta cheese is only 80 calories but delivers 7 grams of filling protein, along with a shot of calcium. (Be sure to pick up the part-skim variety, which has fewer calories and less saturated fat than the regular whole-milk version.)

• Mix a half cup of ricotta with a teaspoon of sugar, a splash of skim milk, and a dash of vanilla for a fantastic topping for whole-grain waffles along with fresh fruit.

• Or use it as a healthy spread replacement for cream cheese on toast or bagels (try adding sliced tomatoes too).

• For a delicious and nutrient-packed dessert, microwave frozen berries until just warm, then mix the berries and all of their juices with a scoop of ricotta.

Tempeh
Originating in Indonesia, tempeh is a fermented soy food made from cooked whole soybeans that have been treated with cultures and formed into a dense, chewy cake. Though traditional tempeh contains only soybeans, many brands on the market today also incorporate grains, vegetables, and seasonings. A four-ounce serving of tempeh provides about 18 grams of vegetarian protein, along with an impressive 8 to 10 grams of fiber from the soybeans. It has a firmer, meatier texture and stronger flavor than its more popular “soy sister,” tofu, and though it’s definitely not yet a familiar food in US households, I challenge you to pick up a package and give it a try.

• Create tasty meatless meals by substituting chopped tempeh for ground meat in tacos or chili recipes, or

• adding sliced tempeh to a vegetable stir-fry

Then we need Fresh Fruit so we can not only get the antioxidants to build our immune system but we need fiber. The skins of fresh fruit will give us that. Be sure to wash the fruit first to get any toxic sprays or coverings off the fruit. Contrary to what some diets promote, it is ok to eat fruit and a lot of it. Yes, fruit has sugar but it is natural sugar and it is combined with other nutrients. They work synergistically to give you healthy results.  See my past blog October 20, 2011 for more details on sugars.

Lastly, we need Whole Grains to give us vitamins, minerals, fiber and energy. Get more detailed information at:http://nutrition.about.com/od/nutritionquizzes/a/healthylesson5.htm

Unfortunately, some people can not handle the gluten in grains. There are grains and seeds that don’t have gluten. It really helps to know how your body reacts to specific foods and to have variety in your diet. Also, some people believe that grains are not good for us. The problems come in when we eat the pasta, breads and pastries that have all the preservatives, salt and other ingredients that are not good for us. Eating the least processed grains and seeds, in my opinion are nutritious. The site mentioned above can direct you to a wealth of information on whole grains.

Now that you know what types of foods you need to have for breakfast, you can plan your breakfast so it is quick, easy and nutritious.

Steel oatmeal is a good breakfast choice. To find a simple method of cooking steel oatmeal can be found at:http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/overnight_oatmeal.html. Be sure to read the comments. I’m sure you will find a method that will work with your crockpot and your schedule.

And if all else fails……prepare dinner so you have left overs. The next morning, just heat and eat! Let me know if you see a difference in your energy and/or weight after eating breakfast every morning.