Food for Thought: Breakfast of this Champion

And no way am I talking about Wheaties, my friends.

'They' say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I don't know who 'they' are, but I tend to agree.  I mean, I don't know for sure if it's true, but I do know that if I don't get my vittles with a cup of coffee in the morning, I am a B**** all the live long day.

I am a faithful breakfast eater.  But even the faithful get weary.  I mean, how can you "shake" up breakfast so it doesn't get boring....eating the same thing EVERY DAY.  Especially when one is conscious about their health, weight and for runners/athletes, important recovery foods after workouts AND don't have a lot of time?  Well, I've been bouncing between a few options for breakfast.  And one of those I was inspired to share with you all this fine, sunny, 90 degree day (oh for heaven's sake the heat is starting early this year, it's going to be a long summer...).

A friend of mine introduced me to Irish oatmeal.  I was always one of the Quaker instant packet fiends with the Maple & Brown Sugar....but becoming health conscious, I didn't want to do that route anymore.  So I tried to make my own oatmeal.  Two words.  LOVED. IT.  That lead to rough cut oatmeal, and now steel cut.  LOVE IT!!!  I think that might be the only kind I will buy now.  AND how wonderful was it that I was eating it before I read an article in Runner's World yesterday about it being, well, awesome.  This isn't from that same article, but I can't find it that exact one, so this is from a different one that came out in the winter time, but pretty much says the same thing:

OATMEAL AND COFFEE Steel-cut oats provide loads of carbs to refuel muscles. And research shows that pairing those carbs with caffeinated coffee boosts glycogen stores even more than eating carbs alone.

So...does this mean I'm ahead of the game?  Probably not, but at least I know I'm on the right track.

And another good thing about oatmeal? You don't have to eat it the same way every time.  The possibilities are endless.  You can add your own fresh apples, cinnamon and nutmeg. You can add almonds or walnuts.  Dates.   Pretty much an fruit you want to....I like to add vanilla extract in mine too.

This morning I was chopping up my half banana, my strawberries and picking out the best blueberries from the carton, when I looked at it and thought to myself..."how pretty is this?  I must take a picture.

And taking a picture means it's blog worthy, which leads to this installment of "Food for Thought".

Some steel cut oats, walnuts, strawberries, blueberries, banana, a little vanilla extract, a pinch of Splenda and TA DA!

enjoy :)