breakfast.

Hi friends!

I hope you all are having the best Tuesday you've ever had. :)

Today I have decided that it is my duty to share with all of you some of my favorite breakfast foods.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (durr.) and it really does set the tone for the rest of your day.

I used to skip breakfast on a regular basis. Such a bad idea. Breakfast jump starts your metabolism, improves your focus, keeps you from eating a huge lunch or dinner, and if you start off your day with a healthy breakfast you are less likely to eat an unhealthy lunch or dinner. 

My point? Don't. Skip. Breakfast.

+Steel-Cut Oats with Berries: Steel-cut oats are an AMAZING source of complex carbs. This gives your brain the boost it needs in the morning and keeps you focused and sharp. They are also a great source of fiber and protein! Top them off with your favorite berries for added antioxidants and a little cinnamon for flavor. 
+Whole Wheat Bagels: These delicious circles of joy are my go-to breakfast. I love them. The key to this breakfast is making sure your bagels are whole wheat and passing on the cream cheese. I simply spread a little Earth Balance Butter (vegan butter) on each slice and throw in some fruit on the side. Eating a bagel that is lathered with cream cheese would fall into the "not so great" breakfast category. If you are the type that just can't fathom the idea of eating a bagel without cream cheese, keep it to a minimum and try Tofutti vegan cream cheese. It's delish!
+Soy Yogurt with Granola: A great breakfast for when you're on the run. Most of the time I just throw the granola right into the individual yogurt container and hit the road!
+Juice: Juice. Juice Juice. If you haven't jumped on the juicing bandwagon yet, do it. I try and juice once a day. It's an easy and delicious way to get nutrients. The only downside to juicing is you don't get any of the fiber from the fruits/vegetables you juice, so you need to make sure you are getting your 25-35 grams of fiber (daily) elsewhere. 
+Vegan Waffles with Strawberries: Waffles are my weakness. I love them. However, most of them are made with eggs and milk - but not Van's! While not all of Van's waffles are vegan, most of them are. I usually make homemade waffles on the weekend but these frozen beauties are great during the week. Top with your favorite fruits and you are good to go.
+Cereal, Almond Milk, Banana: Finding a delicious vegan cereal is not hard to do. Pour in some soy/coconut/almond milk, slice up and add a banana, enjoy!
+Avocado and Chickpea Toast: This is my favorite breakfast when I am craving something a little more savory than sweet in the morning. It's loaded with complex carbs, good fats, nutrients, fiber, and protein. Just mash up some chickpeas with a fresh avocado, add some lemon or lime juice, a little cilantro, salt and pepper, spread over a couple of tomato slices ... BAM! So good.
+Bowl O' Berries: Perfect for a sunny, warm morning. It's also a really easy way to make sure you are consuming your antioxidants for the day! 
+Salad: Say what?! Did I really put salad on this list? Yes, yes I did. Salads are amazing all the time and just because it's 7:00 am doesn't change that. Eating a salad in the morning will set you up for a fantastic day! If eating a salad loaded with veggies in the morning doesn't sound good to you, try making a sweeter salad. Throw some spinach, apples, pears, and walnuts together, mix well, and top with a little of your favorite sweet vinaigrette. Easy peasy! 

Breakfast doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious.

If you are someone who usually skips breakfast but after reading this post you are inspired to start fueling your body properly again, start off small. Have a soy yogurt or even something as simple as a banana for the first few days. This will help you avoid an upset stomach.