This morning I thought I’d take a few pics of my daughter’s breakfast. She started her day at 4:30 am, because she’s a competitive swimmer and that’s what they do. 😯
Ella enjoys a big hearty breakfast almost every day. It’s important that she gets all the nutrients she needs as her output in the pool each week is massive!
It’s often said that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, but what the heck are people actually eating for breakfast – Bagels and cream cheese, muffins, processed cereals…. ? Did you know that it’s really important to start your day with good fats and protein? This not only gives you the energy you need to start your day, but it will also help to balance blood sugar, so that you won’t have a crash later in the morning resulting in the inability to focus, poor mood and/or cravings!
So what was on the menu this morning?
Click on the titles below for the recipes.
- Gluten Free Pancakes with Maple Ghee* (See Ghee Info below)
- Spirulina Berry Smoothie
*Make extra batter and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Why Add Spirulina?
A blue green algae (yes, you read that correctly) – it’s algae, so it kinda tastes and smells like… algae 😉 Which is okay, because you really should start with just a very small amount daily, about 1/4 teaspoon and slowly build from there.
Once you get used to it – you too will be hooked on its many health benefits:
- Helps to detox heavy metals
- Promotes the growth of healthy bacterial flora in the intestines.
- A potent antioxidant which helps to keep the body free of free radicals
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces cholesterol
- Boosts metabolism which gives us energy
It’s critical to make sure that you purchase only the highest quality of spirulina.
Purchase it from a reputable health food store and be prepared to spend a chunk of cash –
about $40 for 150 grams.
What’s a Ghee?
Ghee is clarified butter and has been used as a staple in traditional Indian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It has numerous health benefits:
- It does not contain casein making it acceptable to most people with dairy sensitivities.
- Ghee contains butyric acid which is a source of fuel for the lumen (part of the digestive tract).
- It’s packed with Vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as fatty acids CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) known to help protect against carcinogens, artery plaque and diabetes.
- Grass-fed ghee is a great source of vitamin K2 which plays a crucial role in bone and dental health
REFERENCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136577/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20336506
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15478198
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24552870
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23684441
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20354344
http://nourishinghope.com/2011/10/ghee-rich-in-nutrients-and-casein-free/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23923985
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215354/
http://www.westonaprice.org/fat-soluble-activators/x-factor-is-vitamin-k2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubm