What's In Your Breakfast Bowl?

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Rip's Big Bowl

I have never been a breakfast person. Frankly, I could have taken it or left it. I think breakfast was like most meals for me, an excuse to socialize. To me, there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting around a table with family or friends sharing a good meal. This has been part of my problem with managing my weight. I associated food with 'fun'. There's nothing wrong with food being fun but if it is your sole motivation, you'll forget the primary reason for eating: building blocks and providing fuel.

As part of my journey to peel back layers in my life and discover my motivations for doing things the way I did, food was an inevitable area of discovery. It's been fascinating for me to learn about why we eat, how we eat, where our food comes from and what various foods do to our bodies.

While food is still very fun for me and I often enjoy socializing around the table, I eat much differently now. I look at each meal as an opportunity to provide the best nutrition, fuel and repair as possible. Once you've been very sick or battled with specific ailments, you question everything. I was surprised to learn how critical food is in the healing process. Hippocrates said, "let food be thy medicine, and medicine thy food". My how things have changed.

It was through this process that I've learned to LOVE breakfast. Rip Esselstyn, author of the Engine 2 Diet, says, "Most people forgo breakfast because they're in a hurry, don't have an appetite, or are trying to lose weight. But if you skip breakfast, your body will enter conservation mode and slow down your metabolism in an attempt to conserve energy-a bad move if you're trying to lose weight." Given that we've caused our bodies to fast for 6-8 hours during sleep, that first meal of the day is critical.

Larry and I love Rip's Big Bowl, featured in the photograph above. Two bowls are never the same because you are basically filling your bowl with whatever good grains and fruit you have on hand. This morning we made another leap and added in some nuts and dried fruit. We typically start with some (about 1/4 c. each) of shredded wheat, toasted oats, whole bran, non-dairy milk (we like almond or soy) and rolled oats. Then it's up to whatever the imagination will allow. We also throw in some chia seeds for extra nutrition. Chia seeds are packed with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. The link will take you to a full description and nutritional analysis.

Rip's Big Bowl
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup Grape-Nuts or Ezekiel brand equivalent
1/4 cup bite-size shredded wheat
1/4 cup Uncle Sam Cereal
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons raisins
1/2 handful of walnuts
1 banana, sliced
1 kiwi, sliced
1 grapefruit
3/4 cup milk substitute of choice

Toss all ingredients except the grapefruit and milk substitute into bowl. After cutting the grapefruit in half, use a small, shape knife to remove the segments. Add segments to the top of the bowl and squeeze in the juice. Top the bowl with milk substitute.

So, what about you? Are you a breakfast fan? What do you typically eat for your first meal of the day? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Jan