10 Energizing Breakfast Ideas
1. Greek Yogurt
Packed with protein and full of flavor, Greek-style yogurt provides a rich and satisfying way to get your day started. Try adding fresh berries, low-sugar jam, or honey for added sweetness.
2. Whole Wheat Toast
Whole grains will keep you fuller, longer. Add a small amount of nutrient-rich, natural peanut butter for added protein and healthy fats.
3. Coconut Water
Filled with potassium and natural electrolytes, pure coconut water is a wonderful way to hydrate yourself in the morning or after a workout.
4. Eggs
Filled with iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, eggs provide the perfect fuel to keep you going. Try scrambling them with spinach and low-sodium turkey bacon for a more substantial meal.
5. Peanut Butter
All-natural peanut butter provides protein to keep your hunger at bay. Be sure to buy organic peanut butter as non-organic peanuts contain high levels of pesticides.
6. Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Steel-cut oatmeal is an excellent source of whole grains and cholesterol-busting nutrients. Top with a banana for an added boost of potassium.
7. Cottage Cheese
Tart and filled with protein, cottage cheese is great on its own or with fresh fruits. The combination of calcium and protein will keep your bones strong and your stomach full.
8. Fresh Berries
Filled with antioxidants, fresh berries provide added sweetness to yogurt, cottage cheese, whole grain cereal, smoothies, and oatmeal. Fresh or frozen, berries can help lower blood pressure and provide you with vital antioxidants.
9. Turkey Bacon
Low in calories and filled with protein, turkey bacon is a light alternative to heavy breakfast meats. Add to eggs, put in a wrap, or eat a serving on its own for a great start to your day.
10. Walnuts
With a low glycemic index, nuts are an energizing way to add a crunch to your breakfast cereal or whole grain waffle. Nuts such as walnuts have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.
I Can't Believe It's Meatless!
Cutting out meat doesn’t have to mean cutting out flavor. Guarantee smiling faces and full stomachs with these top-rated recipes. You might even be able to trick your family into thinking there’s meat in them!
Artichoke Spinach Lasagna | “Wow! I’m a vegetarian and my fiancé is not, but we both love this lasagna.” — JamieBarker
Billy’s Favorite Smoky Collard Greens | “I recently made them for a potluck and everyone loved them, but kept asking if I had stopped being a vegan. They just couldn’t believe these were meatless.” — veggievixen4worldpeas
Black Bean Cigars | “I love this recipe! My husband didn’t even notice there was no beef.” — Rozztafarian
Tofu Parmigiana | “My husband knew there was tofu in the recipe, but was unable to find it between “the chicken” pieces!” — Rebecca50
Quinoa Black Bean Burgers | “My husband was horrified when I told him I would be making black bean and quinoa burgers (he HATES quinoa) but he had two! The flavor of these burgers was phenomenal.” — Amandaz13
Farmer’s Market Vegetarian Quesadillas | “We loved this. I was even able to get my 9-year-old to eat these up. He usually complains about veggies.”
— Darla G
Chanterelle Risotto | “Wow, this is delicious. Chanterelle mushrooms, garlic, and butter makes for a scrumptious, luxurious risotto. Kings should eat so well.” — Gwen on the West Coast
The Army stopped serving breakfast to troops in Afghanistan on 17 bases.
braley.house.govThey still receive meals-ready-to-eat (MREs), but it is no less astonishing to see this happening. More bases will be following suit on February 1st. House Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) has written a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh:
Recently, it has come to my attention that certain bases in Afghanistan have stopped serving breakfast to our deployed troops. I have been informed by a U.S. Army representative that 17 locations in Afghanistan have enacted this meal strategy. Instead of breakfast, the soldiers are now receiving MRE’s.
The reasoning behind this change has been described to me as moving from “a sustained presence feeding concept to that of an expeditionary feeding concept.” I am troubled that the Army would deny any deployed troops three meals per day, regardless of force size. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to protect the very freedoms we cherish. The exhaustive mental and physical labor that is required by soldiers to fight in harsh and unforgiving conditions is tremendous. We shouldn’t deny our troops something as fundamental as a proper meal.
I am positive that with the logistical mastery the Army has exhibited in combat operations around the world, you can logistically administer the procedure of serving breakfast every day.
Additionally, I was also informed that this policy will be expanded to more locations in Afghanistan starting February 1, 2013. I do not see any reason why this has to be the case. The greatest military in the world should have the capacity to adequately service the basic needs of its fighting force.
I urge you to reverse this policy and swiftly reintroduce breakfast for our men and women serving in uniform abroad. Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this matter and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Bruce Braley
As a servicemember, I know the importance of a hot meal while serving in Afghanistan. I have never served in a combat role, but I know many who have and many times spend months at a time eating MREs while outside of the base. Having a hot meal waiting for you when you return to the base can be some of the only drive you have to return.
I do not often get astonished and even less often do I become aghast when reading something. But, this should not be happening.
