Dear Reader,
In today’s blog post, you will find two good alternatives to cereal in the morning. Our goal? Less processed, less sugary and more nutritious. Before you say you don’t like some of the ingredients, try it. My husband hates coconut AND blueberries, two main ingredients in one of the recipes and he liked it.
I am not a cereal eater, for a few reasons. First, they are full of sugar (most of them, anyway). Second, they are usually wheat and I don’t eat wheat. Third, even if they don’t include gluten, they are made from things I avoid (like corn because it is GMO).
I’m sure most of you have heard of the term probiotic. But what does it mean and why is it good for us?
Probiotics from the Dairy Case
Probiotics are bacteria that help to maintain the balance of bacteria in the intestine. There are many, many different types of probiotic bacteria that can be found in the intestine, that help to keep the harmful bacteria in check. Basically, it promotes a healthy digestive system. You can use probiotics to reduce/prevent diarrhea, gas and cramping caused by antibiotics, since the medicine kills good bacteria (along with the bad, which is the target). Probiotics can also help prevent other problems that arise from a decrease in beneficial bacteria, like vaginal yeast and urinary tract infections. They help with diarrhea overall, from unknown causes, prevent digestive tract upset and help control inflammation in the bowel and intestine.
A few guidelines to follow when you are choosing a probiotic from the dairy case:
- It should contain at least 6-strains of good bacteria (live and active cultures)
- It should be unsweetened
- Ingredients should be clean and simple with absolutely nothing besides milk and possibly vitamin A or D3
- Ideally, it should be certified organic
A brand of probiotic that I have used.
Try this recipe that is really pretty tasty and nutritious. The products I used are all organic, natural and sugar free. The ingredient list should simply be “coconut” and “almond”. No added ingredients, even for preserving.
You can completely miss the point of this if you buy products with added sugar or with other added ingredients. The granola will have a bit of sugar, but make sure it’s not a lot.
Fruit and Nut Probiotic Bowl
1/2 cup whole blueberries
1-tablepoon ground flax seed
1-tablespoon of coconut flakes
1-tablespoon sliced raw almonds
1-tablespoon of gluten free granola (optional)
1/2 cup liquid dairy probiotic (like the one pictured)
Remember: organic, no added sugar, natural, limited ingredients.
Layer all ingredients, starting with blueberries on the bottom.
This can be eaten with warmed berries too. Just cook the blueberries on the stovetop for about 5-minutes, or until they are popped and soft. That would make it taste a bit sweeter, if you were looking for a healthy dessert alternative.
Canadian Bacon Cup
1-slice of canadian bacon
1-egg
Choose canadian bacon that has minimal ingredients, no nitrates and is uncured. Eggs should be cage free, organic eggs.
Preheat the oven to 325. Spray a muffin tin with Pam or other vegetable spray. Slice a small slit in the middle of the canadian bacon. Press it into the muffin tin; it’s okay that it’s not laying flat or along the sides. Crack the egg on top of the canadian bacon. Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on how hard you like your egg yolk.
Slit the canadian bacon so the egg can seep through.
Adjust your cooking time, based on how you like your egg. I cooked mine for 15-minutes and it was hard cooked like this:
phatandfit 