We’ve all heard for years how important a good breakfast is. Yet how often do we skimp or skip the most important meal of the day?

Courtesy 123RF/nito500

The best time to tune the instrument is before the concert. That’s why an energizing morning routine is so vital to get you mentally and emotionally prepared for the day. In the same way, a good breakfast provides the vital fuel to kickstart your day.

Breakfast means “break your fast”. You haven’t eaten for 10-12 hours or more. Your body has rested, recharged, and rebuilt during that time. Now it needs replenished with the macro- and micro-nutrients necessary to sustain your efforts for the day and maintain health and healing for your body.

Other benefits of a healthy breakfast include mental energy and focus, healthier cholesterol levels, less cravings, and a tendency toward better food choices the rest of the day.

Not all breakfasts are equal. Too often, our tendency is toward convenience and comfort foods. Donuts, Pop Tarts, breakfast bars, or heavy down-home favorites like biscuits with gravy and sausage are not going to give your body what it ultimately needs.

Think fuel—not tasty treats.

My Breakfast Essentials

Just as I try to get as many of my personal priorities into my morning routine, I try to get as much nutritional priority into my breakfast. Here are my essentials:

Green smoothie. My standard breakfast starts with my green smoothie. It’s loaded with nutrients and tastes amazing. A great blender like Vitamix is highly recommended. Be advised: my doctor asked for the recipe and got hooked—he said his mental energy improved immediately.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 cup almond milk
• Handful of spinach
• 1 banana
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

Optional yet recommended:

• 1 scoop plant protein powder
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 tablespoon raw cacao powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine ingredients in Vitamix (or other high powered blender) in order listed above (add optional items after spinach).
2. Process on high speed 45-60 seconds until smooth.
3. Serves approximately two 12-ounce servings.

Whole grains. I’ll also have about a half of a cup of a whole grain cereal with almond milk. Oatmeal is excellent particularly with raisins, cinnamon, and walnuts. For a cold cereal, I love a blend of whole grains. Rip’s Big Bowl is an excellent ready-made boxed cereal you can purchase. Or—as I do—you can make your own variation starting with this recipe. It’s what I eat most mornings.

I never tire of the above menu. It not only tastes great but it gives my mind and body the long-lasting energy I need for the morning.

Be good to yourself and keep taking steps toward a healthier, high-performance breakfast.