We NEED to think of food as fuel.
Let’s start judging what we consume by the level of nourishment it provides us…. not by calories or how many minutes on the treadmill will be needed to burn it off.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all have important places within our diet but today we will be discussing breakfast. Consuming anything less than a nourishing breakfast can lead to low energy, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, headaches and of course…hunger!
The goal for breakfast is to “break the fast” meaning our body needs us to provide it with fuel after a long period of time with no food intake. As we sleep, our body relies on energy reserves to recover; this is when growth and repair occurs and allows us to continue to reach our athletic goals. That’s why we wake up hungry…our body was working diligently all night! Consuming a high protein breakfast is especially important if you have specific athletic goals, in particular to build strength (ratio of protein, fats and carbs for those eating breakfast before a run may look different…reach out if you have any questions!). If you have a sensitive digestive system, eating even just a small meal and hydrating before a morning workout is still very important! It takes some trial and error for each person to find what works best for them…what works for one person might not work for the next! Be sure to put in the time and effort to find what works best for you…
Those who eat a nourishing breakfast are able to maintain a consistent and healthy weight for a few reasons:
Breakfast awakens your metabolism
Breakfast balances hormones
Breakfast powers your workouts
Breakfast leaves you less likely to overindulge later on in the day
Consuming a breakfast high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats will help you to feel fuller longer. There are SO many different types of breakfasts that fit into this category…but today I wanted to share one that I enjoyed this past weekend before a very active day.
BANANA PROTEIN PANCAKES:
Ingredients:
1.5 cups rolled oats
2 ripe bananas
4 large eggs
30 g vanilla protein powder
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
.5 cup plain greek yogurt
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (can swap for olive oil)
Instructions:
In a blender, combine all ingredients until completely mixed (starting with oats to create a fine power, then add the remaining ingredients)
Grease a large non-stick pan and set over medium heat
Scoop pancake batter in 1/4 cup portions onto hot pan
Cook roughly 2 mins on first side, then 1 min on second side
Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup!
Enjoy! :)
Questions? Contact Plus Forte today!
Email: courtney@plusforte.co
Phone: 978-590-6951
Website: Plus Forte Physical Therapy
Schedule a free phone call: Contact Us — Plus Forte Physical Therapy
