Sunday 13 November 2011

Drop that Spoon! 4 Days: 4 Healthy Breakfasts

If you are like most other Australians and start your day with a bowl of Kellogs cereal (or any other brand for that matter) listen closely. Almost all of these cereals contain between 25-45% sugar! Despite their clever marketing campaigns which make you believe they are ‘healthy’ – full of fibre, low GI, low fat, full of antioxidants it’s all a load of rubbish – they contain less nutrition than the boxes they come in.


Here’s a look at my breakfasts over the last 4 days:

Green Juice


Almost everyday I start my morning with a Green Juice.. My lovely neighbour Lindsey put me onto them and I’ve never looked back. Packed full of enzymes, oxygen, minerals and vitamins it is pure liquid nutrition that will fuel your body and kick start your day.

Ingredients
Knob of Ginger
4 Stalks celery
½ Lemon
¼ Cucumber
1 head of bok choy

Occasionally I will throw some carrots or beets in there. Feel free to add an apple if you need a bit of sweetness
Pan Fried Beans & Kale

 
Ingredients
1/2 bunch kale
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tin of cannellini beans
1/4 teaspoon salt (I use Himalayan)
1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Chilli diced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Finely chop the kale, wash it, and shake off as much water as you can. Set aside. Heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the beans in a single layer. Stir to coat the beans, then let them sit long enough to brown on one side, about 3 or 4 minutes, before turning to brown the other side, also about 3 or 4 minutes. The beans should be golden and a bit crunchy on the outside.
Add the kale and salt to the pan and cook for less than a minute, just long enough for the kale to lose a bit of its structure. Stir in the pine nuts and garlic. Wait ten seconds and stir in the lemon juice. Remove from heat and drizzle with some extra chilli and olive oil.    

Homemade baked beans


Ingredients
2 gloves of garlic
1 Chilli diced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tin of tomatoes
1 tin of cannellini beans
Handful of basil or oregano

Heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and fry for several minutes. Finally add the cannellini beans and herbs and season to taste. After 5 minutes remove from heat and drizzle with olive oil.

Quinoa Porridge

Ingredients 
¼ cup of uncooked quinoa (rinsed)
½ cup of coconut milk
¼ tsp cinnamon or ½ tsp of vanilla extract
1 tbs of sunflower seeds
1 tbs of pumpkin seeds
Handful of strawberries
Manuka honey for drizzling

In a small pot, bring quinoa, cinnamon/vanilla (if using) and coconut milk to a boil, then simmer on low heat until all liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender (about 10-15 minutes). Add a little more coconut milk or water if the liquid is absorbed to quickly and the quinoa note done yet. Transfer quinoa to a breakfast bowl. Add chopped strawberries and sprinkle with seeds. Finally drizzle some honey or maple syrup and serve immediately.

Bircher Museli


Ingredients
1 cups rolled oats
1/2 lemon juiced
1/2 cup Water
1 granny smith apples
1 cups Natural Yoghurt
1 tablespoons Manuka Honey
Fresh fruit and nuts to servce


Mix the oats, lemon juice and water together, cover and soak 1 hour or overnight.

Add the yoghurt to the oats, along with the honey and freshly grated apple.

Keep the mixture quite wet. Top with seasonal fruit and nuts. I like to use berries and brazil nuts.