Quality Breakfast = Weight Loss

If you consume a good quality and satisfying breakfast you'll crave, desire, and eat less food for the rest of the day. Whole grains are one of the best ways to start your day if you're trying to lose weight. Not only are they filling, but they are packed with fiber and protein so they'll keep you full for a sustained time. Whole grains load you up with vital nutrients and antioxidants. A whole grain, as opposed to a refined grain, provides you with a steady rise in blood sugar, for sustained energy and brain power. For a great breakfast try my Whole Grain Raspberry Cornbread and my Naturally Sweetened Granola with Almonds, Cashews, and Walnuts.

Cornbread With Raspberries
1/3 cup soymilk
¼ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup maple syrup
1 cup finely ground cornmeal or corn flour
¼ cup almond flour or almond meal
¼ cup whole grain spelt flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Finely grind 1 tablespoon flax seeds, or use 2 ½ tablespoons pre-ground flax seeds. Mix the ground seeds with 3 tablespoons water to make a paste.
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries or blueberries. If using frozen, defrost and drain in a strainer before using.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix together soymilk and vinegar. Let sit.

In a separate bowl mix together the flours, baking powder and soda, and sea salt. Use a wire whisk to incorporate everything very well.

Add oil and maple syrup to the soymilk mixture. Mix very well.

Add the flax seeds mixture and wet mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir gently until almost incorporated. Gently stir in raspberries. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix.

Bake at 325 for 45 minutes. Let cool about 20 minutes before cutting.

Almond Granola
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup raw almonds
¼ cup raw cashews
¼ cup raw walnuts
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Mix well in a large bowl.

Add the following:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup brown rice syrup
½ teaspoon almond extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract.

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, stirring about every 5 minutes or so. Bake until light golden brown.

Granola will be sticky when you take it out of the oven. Transfer to a bowl and stir until cool.

Stir in ¾ cup dried fruit such as currants, raisins, cranberries, cherries and/or blueberries.

Serve with ground flax and fresh almond milk.

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Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with a Satisfying Smoothie!

A smoothie is one of the healthiest and most satisfying ways to nourish a sweet craving. This isn’t to say that every time you crave something sweet a smoothie will suffice, but when it does, you’ll be on your way to a healthier you! Like craves like, so the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the more you’ll begin to crave them over time. Replacing a smoothie with some other sweet or junk food, even if only some of the time, gives your body much needed nutrients, satisfies a craving with less calories, and helps to get you eating healthier food. The way to lose weight, and keep it off, is to start slow, making changes gradually and easily. A smoothie is a fantastic start to a healthier you!

Start with a base: soymilk, apple juice, orange juice, coconut milk, or water
Add Fruit: fresh or frozen: berries, bananas, mango, pineapple, and/or cantaloupe, etc.
Add Power: dinosaur kale leaves, spirulina powder, bee pollen, goji berries, blueberries, coconut, and/or maca.
Optional more flavor: almond butter, peanut butter, coconut oil, vanilla bean, and/or cocoa powder
Here’s a favorite: almond milk + blueberries + banana + dinosaur kale + peanut butter.