I was at my local gym over the weekend for my favorite barre class and wow was it crowded.
The new year is a great time for a fresh start!
For me, a fresh start begins in the kitchen at 6:25 am. As you may know, I love starting my day with a green smoothie. But sometimes during the cold winter months my body craves something warmer and more substantial.
You too?
What I love most about breakfast is that it offers us the opportunity for a fresh start again and again, every day.
You already know that breakfast is important. Eating a healthy breakfast boosts your metabolism, stabilizes your blood sugar and ultimately helps you avoid overeating later on in the day. You are more likely to lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight, if you’re eating breakfast.
But did you also know that the right breakfast is really important for good digestive health? And paying attention to your digestive health is KEY regardless of whether your health issues are digestive in nature or not at all…they’re ALL impacted by the health of your gut.
Here are some of my favorite belly-friendly ways to break-the-fast:
- Start your day with a morning smoothie. Smoothies are a great way to pack in a lot of nutrients all at once in an easy-to digest form. Digestion takes energy (in fact 80% of our energy goes back into digesting food). So, taking a break from digestion will both give your digestive system a rest and leave more energy for you.
- Fit Fiber In. Fiber is nature’s broom – keeping your insides nice and clean! This is an important role – and most of us aren’t getting enough. Upgrade your breakfast smoothie with fibrous greens. And give your breakfast porridge or muffin a nutritional boost with added flax seeds, chia seeds, fruit and nuts.
~Try my high fiber Almond Breakfast Muffins
~Or if muffins aren’t your thing, here’s a Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding - Try Coconut Yogurt or Kefir. Both coconut yogurt and kefir are rich in probiotics, the good bacteria that support a healthy digestive system. Unfortunately most store-brand yogurts are low in probiotic content and high in added sugars – not the best way to start your day. Instead, make your own yogurt at home. It’s easy, I promise 🙂
~Check out my DIY Coconut Yogurt Recipe at Mind, Body, Green
In 2016, may each new day offer you a fresh start of nutritional possibilities…
