I heart breakfast. I really do. I could eat breakfast for every meal. We all go through ruts of eating but lately I was inspired by Ksenia@BreakfastCriminals to make my breakfast more visually appealing. Presentation is half of the experience of eating. In just 5 simple steps, you can have something nice to look at and healthy to eat in the morning. It really is a nice way to start the day!
Welcome to Friday’s High Five: Yum Edition!
5 Steps to A Pretty Healthy Breakfast
1. Choose a special bowl – something you normally “save” for “company”.
This 7-Inch Ceramic Heart Shaped Fruit / Cereal Bowl, Red*
2. Add something crunchy to the bottom of the bowl.
We are not a cold cereal heavy household. I do like granola but find it’s more calorically dense than I’d like for the portion size. However, the few cereals I’m enjoying right now include Kashi Go Lean Crunch and Love Grown Foods Power O’s (made from beans and they come in flavors like Original, Honey and Chocolate).
3. Layer the bottom of the bowl with a creamy substance of your choice.
Lately, my go-to is Siggi’s Yogurt. Honey Chobani has been harder and harder to find in my neighborhood lately. You could anything as a bottom layer – oatmeal, quinoa, cottage cheese, fruit or vegetable puree, a milk of your choice, pancake, egg whites or even peanut butter. Whatever suits your fancy can work.
I’m dying to try Pitaya Plus Dragon Fruit Puree (I loooooove dragon fruit) but haven’t hauled myself over to the local Whole Foods to get some (online packs through the website start at $39.99 and honestly, that’s a bit pricey for me). Maybe once the yogurt route gets boring, I’ll branch out.
4. Bring on the fruit!
Living in California means delicious fresh fruit year round. I’m partial to mangoes, strawberries, bananas, blueberries and raspberries but any fruit you choose makes your breakfast your own.
5. Top your creation with something special.
Here’s where I add the flair. Sometimes I add chia seeds or cashews but for the past few weeks the toppings of choice have been Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Maca Powder, 4 Ounce*
I’ve trying out the Peruvian superfood Maca Powder due to it’s proposed benefits of being vitamin rich, increased energy and help with mood swings and female hormone balance. The almonds add some vitamins, minerals, a bit of fiber, healthy fat and hello, chocolate!
Voila! A Pretty Healthy Breakfast is served.
What’s your favorite breakfast right now?
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored but does include Amazon Affiliate links (noted by an asterisk). The brands name checked in this post are mentioned because I truly like them.
I do enjoy making some of my meals pretty, and breakfast is one of them. I make a similar “parfait” of sorts like this several days a week. Always Greek yogurt, a crunch and a fruit. Such a cute bowl, Melissa! I need more cute bowls!
nom! My goto breakfast has been my oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast cups that I adapted/customized from the Halfbaked Harvest blog.
What does maca powder taste like? It was listed in Julie Mirris’ Suoerfood Smoothies book but I never got around to buying a trial bag.
I love your bowl–breakfast flair indeed! I gave up GoLean Crunch a while ago (celiac diagnosis aside, too much hidden sugar in there plus there’s too much GMO ingredients and I just couldn’t do it.) Now I live Nature’s Path GF Cornflakes plus I make a lot of my own granola. Did you ever try the pourable Siggi yogurt? Awesome–I love it in cereal, especially with berries, plus you can use it in baking, too!
Love this & fun for kids to get involved too!!!! I am boring & like my same ole… toast with PB or AB… homemade protein bar. 🙂
Isn’t that bowl too cute? I’m normally not the person who would buy myself a bowl for $25 but I needed to have it!
I like reading about your meals, Ashley!
Oooh, those Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cups sound divine! Must check them out.
Maca powder has a reputation for not tasting great but I don’t mind the taste. It’s kind of buttery butterscotch (which is fine for me). It smells more than it tastes for me. I’d advise using it in something where the taste can be masked at first and then gradually highlight it.
Julie’s talk at the Murad event inspired me too.
You have a great point with the sugar and the non-GMO issues with Kashi but I just like it. I haven’t tried the pourable Siggi’s yet but now I need to look for it!
Good idea to get kids involved too! LOVE that!
So simple yet so filling, healthy and delicious. I’m seriously going to try this out for breakfast tomorrow. The best part is I already have all the ingredients! xo
Hope you enjoy! I will say that one of the best things about the breakfast is the cute dish. It makes me feel extra fancy (where I am most definitely not a fancy girl 99% of the time).
Great tips! I love how to layer things so that you get each of the things you want from your breakfast. I like your idea of using yogurt, don’t know why I never thought of that. I used to go with skim milk or almond milk but healthy non-fat yogurt should be a great breakfast addition.
Marge: Thanks for the comments. As an RD, the only things I’d say is to consider a low fat yogurt vs. a non-fat one (unless you have another healthy fat source like nuts). If you have just carbs, you will be hungry quickly because there will be no protein or fat to slow the burn of calories. LMK what you choose.