Revive Your Breakfast for Spring! 🍳🌸

If I took a poll of our readers, friends, and family what percent of them do you think would call themselves “morning people?” It’s becoming a rarity these days to find those who wake up easily in the mornings, love to arise with the sun and get moving in preparation for the day ahead!  One word: BREAKFAST. Everyone may know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that, unfortunately, does not mean that everyone takes the time to sit down to a solid meal before jetting off to work or school. According to the NPD Group, approximately 31 MILLION Americans skip breakfast. The same survey also found that many males ages 18-34 as well as teenagers (as opposed to younger children) do not eat breakfast. Women ages 55 and older were the most likely to eat a morning meal. What were the common reasons for skipping? People weren’t hungry, they didn’t feel like eating, or they were too busy or running late. 

Despite whether you are hungry or not, busy or not, you NEED to make time for eating breakfast. Breakfast consumption can increase the feeling of fullness, and high-protein breakfasts can help regulate appetite throughout the day. Breakfast is also good for your overall mood, metabolism, and overall health.

Kick-start your day with some new Spring recipes below! These are simple to prepare the day of, or, if you still think you will be rushed in the morning, these can easily be prepared the night or weekend before! You are worth a few extra minutes to have breakfast! 

Don’t stop, however, at simply eating breakfast. The morning meal is the perfect opportunity to insert some family time and inspiration into your day. A wonderful tradition to start with your kids is to do a simple devotional or bible verse first thing in the morning. It not only gets your kids’ minds jump-started, but it also has them (and YOU) putting your mind and focus on important things first thing in the morning. You can even stick those bible verses or quotes into your little ones’ or loved one's lunchboxes!

Here are some of our favorite breakfast recipes you can add to your mornings! 

Spring Greens Shake 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Vanilla Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 serving Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 small frozen banana
• 1 tbsp Ground Flax Seed
• 5 fresh mint leaves
• 2 cups spinach 
• 1 cup crushed ice

Blend, serve, and top with fresh mint leaves and cacao nibs! Enjoy! 

Chia Coconut Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup steel cut oats of old-fashioned oats
• 1-ounce dry chia seeds
• 1 cups unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 4-5 drops stevia extract
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 tsp. 100% pure maple syrup (optional)

Soak oats and chia seeds in coconut milk overnight (I place in a large mason jar and shake a few times). Before eating warm oatmeal on stovetop or microwave until desired consistency. Stir in stevia and/or maple syrup and more coconut milk to reach desired consistency and top with coconut flakes. 

Mini Egg Frittata

Ingredients:

• 10 large eggs
• 1 cup chopped bell peppers
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup cooked crumbled chicken sausage or turkey bacon 
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a non-stick or silicone muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat olive oil into a a non-stick frying pan over medium high heat. Add the bell pepper and onion and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the meat and spinach and cook an additional 2 minutes. Place 1 heaping Tablespoon into each muffin cup.

Next whisk the eggs into a medium size bowl. Stir in the salt and pepper. Then pour over the meat mixture in the muffin tin, leaving 1/4″ from the top.

Cook for 23 to 30 minutes, or until the egg has puffed and comes clean with a toothpick.

Run a knife around the edges to pop the egg frittatas out. Enjoy while hot.

Store in the an air tight container in the refrigerator. Eat within 5 days.

Join us tonight for our Night of Hope! We will kick off the night at 6 PM! Join us for the FREE bodyweight workout, for women of all ages and abilities! There will be great food and fellowship! We would love to see you tonight! You can sign up on the app under SPECIAL EVENTS! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

We hope you enjoy these new, healthy breakfast recipes! Let us know what you think! You can find more recipes our website if you want more meal ideas!

If you would like to meet with one of our nutrition consultants or registered dietitian to jumpstart your Spring, you can email us at transfitathens@gmail.com or book an appointment on our app! Don't forget about our three March Recharge Nutrition packages! We want to help you live transformed in body, mind, and spirit. 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit 

Start Your Day Off Right!

Deep breaths... It's time for another crazy day! Can’t morning time be so hectic most days? Why not minimize the chaos with an organized morning routine! Here are some of my favorite morning rituals:

• Water. After fasting for 8-12 hours, your body needs hydration. Start your morning with a tall glass of water (preferably with lemon).
• Quiet time.  Give yourself time to sit down collect your thoughts, read, and pray. You will be prepared for whatever the world may throw at you that day. Two of my favorite verses to start your day:

 Psalm 118:24 -

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice & be glad in it.

Psalm 37:4 -

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

• Exercise. Getting your exercise in for the day in the morning is a great stress reliver and a perfect jump start to the day!
• Breakfast. A healthy breakfast refuels your body, jump-starts your day and may even benefit your overall health. The basics of a healthy breakfast are listed below.

The Basics of a Healthy Breakfast

Here's what forms the core of a healthy breakfast:

• Whole grains. Examples include whole-grain rolls, bagels, hot or cold whole-grain cereals, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or Melba toast.
• Low-fat protein. Examples include peanut butter, lean meat, poultry or fish, or hard-boiled eggs.
• Low-fat dairy. Examples include skim milk, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cheeses, such as cottage and natural cheeses.
• Fruits and vegetables. Examples include fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, 100 percent juice beverages without added sugar, or fruit and vegetable smoothies. Choose low-sodium versions of beverages, though.
• Remember to top off your bowl of cereal with some sliced fruit and low-fat or skim milk. Or if you're on the go, take along a piece of fruit, a container of milk or some yogurt.

Cereal

Cereal may frequently be your go-to item for breakfast, whether you grab a handful to eat dry while on the run, or you have time to sit down with a bowl with milk and fruit. But not all cereals are created equal. The key items to look for when choosing cereal are:

• Fiber. Choose cereals with at least 3 grams (g) of fiber per serving, but if possible, aim for 5 grams per serving or more.
• Sugar. Having sugar doesn't automatically make a cereal unhealthy. But the healthiest choices have 5 or less grams of sugar per serving. Check the Nutrition Facts label. This lists total grams of sugar per serving, which includes both naturally occurring sugar and added sugar. Some cereals contain dried fruit, which has natural sugar and adds to the total amount of sugar. But these cereals may still be healthy choices if eaten in moderation. Avoid cereals that list sugar at or near the top of the ingredient list, or that list multiple types of added sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup, honey, brown sugar and dextrose.
• Calories. If you're counting calories, choose cereals lower in calories, ideally less than 120 calories per serving. Some cereals have more calories per serving but can still be healthy choices.

Examples of good options for dry breakfast cereals
Cereal and serving size	Fiber in grams	Sugar in grams	Calories
General Mills Cheerios, 1 cup	3	1	103
General Mills Fiber One, 1/2 cup	14	0	60
Kashi Go Lean, 1 cup	10	6	148
Kellogg's All-Bran Bran Buds, 1/3 cup	13	8	75
Kellogg's All-Bran Original, 1/2 cup	9	5	81
Post Raisin Bran, 1 cup	7	17	187
Post Shredded Wheat Original Spoon Size, 1 cup	6	0.5	167
Quaker Life Cereal, plain, 3/4 cup	2	6	119

Quick and Flexible Breakfast Options

You have plenty of ways to get in a healthy breakfast each day, and it doesn't always have to be a traditional breakfast menu.

Here are some specific examples of healthy breakfast options:

• Cooked oatmeal topped with almonds or dried cranberries
• A whole-wheat pita stuffed with hard-boiled eggs
• A tortilla filled with vegetables, salsa and low-fat shredded cheese
• A smoothie blended with fruits, some low-fat yogurt and a spoonful of wheat germ or flax seed
• Whole-wheat crackers with low-fat cheese or peanut butter
• A microwaved sweet potato topped with cinnamon
• A whole-wheat sandwich with lean meat and low-fat cheese and as much lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and sweet peppers as you like
• Multigrain pancakes with fruit and yogurt
• A whole-grain waffle with peanut butter
• Egg omelet with vegetables (use more egg whites than yolk)
• Greek Yogurt with berries and granola

My Favorites

Easy Scrambled Eggs Muffins

These aren't your ordinary muffins--they're made with plenty of eggs, a little milk, cheese, spinach, tomato, basil, and only a little flour, spooned into muffin cups.

• Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 9 eggs
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/3 cup spelt flour or whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 cup 2% grated cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add the rest of your ingredients and mix it all together. Add spoonfuls of the mixture to a nonstick muffin tin or a tin sprayed with nonstick coating. I used a 1/4 C measuring cup to transfer the mixture. Pop them in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until done.

Yummy Greek Yogurt - MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!

• 1 cup Greek 0% yogurt
• 1 cup berries (I love frozen blueberries)
• ½ cup granola
• Sprinkle of ground flax seed

HAVE A WONDERFUL MORNING!