I’m psyched to share what I’ve been eating first thing in the AM these days (after my apple cider vinegar, of course!) because this meal has me feeling warm, nourished, and energized in a jiffy, and I’m continuously amazed by how it’s been putting a pep in my step every morning!!
Here are the ingredients for my favorite morning noms--Get your day started right!!
STEEL CUT OATS
Are the least processed of any of the oats out there, meaning they are slower to digest, keeping you fuller for longer and causing less of a spike in blood sugar! They are full of fiber, and having steel cut oats for breakfast every morning can even help lower cholesterol! Not to mention, they make a great base for all these other groovy ingredients …
MCT OIL
Made from coconuts.You may have heard of this because people add it to their bullet proof coffee. YES, there’s a good amount of fat in MCT oil but it provides a SERIOUS burst of energy!! It also helps the oats to digest even more slowly, keeping you full for longer. If you don’t eat meat, this can be especially helpful for you in the winter when the body naturally craves more fat and oils. Specifically, MCT stands for medium chain triglycerides. These fatty acids are super digestible and are able to be used by the body for fuel right away - they don’t get stored in fat deposits like hamburgers and French fries do! To learn more about MCT (fascinating stuff) check out this article by functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman, MD.
CHIA AND HEMP SEEDS
These bad boys are powerhouses of fiber, protein, and omega 3s. They are super foods, providing your morning meal with some serious extra nutrition!!
BEE POLLEN
This is one more awesome source of protein, and one of the most nutritious foods available to man. Amazingly, it has higher protein density than any animal source. Eating it has LOADS of health benefits –anyone into reducing their allergies??
CINNAMON
Warming, loaded with antioxidants, helps stabilize blood sugar, good for circulation, and DELICOUS!
RAW CACAO NIBS
Also loaded with antioxidants, and it’s got theobromine in it which is basically a “feel good and happy” chemical. Yes, please! Check out these other sweet benefits, this isn't my first time obsessing over raw cacao! ;)
HONEY
Don’t use too much, because your body (despite what it may tell you) doesn’t REALLY thrive on a sugary breakfast. That being said, local, raw honey has tons of antioxidants and vitamins and can also help with allergies. Make sure your honey is raw and not pasteurized to get the benefits!! Otherwise, you are just eating sugar….
The best past about Oats?? You can make em in advance so they are ready to go! I make a batch on Sunday night, sometimes I even use the slow-cooker overnight if I remember to make them at the last minute!
Here’s the Recipe, Try it yourself!
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Super Food Oats
Great to make ahead of time for breakfasts all week!
Servings: About 5
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup of Steel Cut Oats
5 cups of water
Suggested toppings per serving: (approximate… I dump them in straight from the bag)
~1 tsp Cinnamon
~1/2 tbsp chia seeds
~1/2 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp MCT oil
~2 tsp raw cacao nibs
1 tsp bee pollen
Drizzle of honey
Boil 5 cups of water. Once boiling, add the Steel Cut Oats to the pot and reduce heat to simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes or until soft. That’s it! OR, you can use the slowcooker/crock pot on LOW overnight.
Once cooked, you can separate the oats into 5 different containers, or put it all in one big tupperware and split them up later. (This is what I do since I don’t have enough Tupperware!) This recipe will make about 5 cups, so ~1 cup per serving. Keep them in the fridge, they will be good for 5-6 days.
**When you are ready to eat them, reheat the portion of oats with a splash of water to soften them up a bit and make them heat a little faster. Add more water depending on how you like the consistency of your oats to be. I recommend the stove top rather than the microwave!! It won’t take too long!
Put your heated oats in a bowl and add your toppings. The toppings I recommending are the key to making this a “SUPERFOOD” breakfast! The measurements on the toppings are approximate, add what you like.
Happy Eating!!
*Tip - want to make more or less? It’s 1/4 cup of oats to 1 cup of water.
