Food&Nutrition

3.08.2016  Breakfast #1

 

 

We can all agree that coffee-and-cigarette does not represent a breakfast. I can never spend enough time emphasizing the importance of having a proper meal  before you start your day. Here are a couple of tips that might help you have a better morning breakfast-experience:

 

Tip n°1: Put some extra care in all you do, specially the little things like preparing a dish for you and/or your loved ones. You’ll see it can even become a form of meditation with positive effects on reducing your anxiety levels. Giving an equal amount of care to the presentation of your food, other than the cooking process, means feeding your body through your eyes before you eat. Colors can be energizing and you know you need a lot of mental and physical energy in the morning.

 

Tip n°2: Try not to rush. If you have kids, I understand this will be a little harder to accomplish, but the good thing about this specific breakfast is that it can be prepared in advance, and all you need is 10-15 minutes to sit down and enjoy it. You deserve this time.

 

Chocolate chia pudding

(Makes 5 servings)

 

• 500 ml organic unsweetened almond milk

• 10 tablespoons organic chia seeds (I used the black ones)

• 4 to 5 tablespoons good quality cocoa powder (depending on how chocolaty you like it; I like mine extra dark)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon orange extract (this is my personal touch)

• 1 pinch of salt

• 2-4 tablespoons maple syrup grade A 

 

In a bowl mix together almond milk, vanilla and orange extracts, maple syrup and salt. Sift in the cocoa powder and whisk vigorously till the cocoa dissolves. Pour the mixture into 5 small glasses, stir in 2 tablespoons of chia seeds per glass and cover with plastic wrap. Chill overnight.

Before serving top with your favorite fruit or nuts. This time I used thin banana slices and cocoa nibs to add en extra kick. You can store your pudding in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and enjoy it also as a mid-day snack or a dessert.

 

Serving tips:

1. Don’t forget to scrape off the papaya seeds and add a generous squeeze of lime to it.

2. Refrain from using any electronic device while eating your breakfast. Yes, you can entertain yourself for ten minutes!

 

Facts about this breakfast:

 

Papaya is very low in calories (only 39 every 100 gr.) and is one of the fruits with the highest contents in vitamin C, which makes it a great immune system booster and anti-inflammatory remedy; it also provides a good deal of vitamin A and flavonoids (which will make your skin glow), potassium, magnesium, copper, folate and soluble fiber among the others. I particularly love the Hawaiian variety which is grown year-round; just make sure you pick a ripe one (it should slightly give to pressure and present a rich orange color with yellow-pink hues). Papaya is very easy to digest and thanks to its enzyme papain — which breaks down proteins into individual amino-acids — it can actually improve your digestion.

 

Chia seeds are a great alternative way to increase your omega-3 daily intake (which keep your heart safe), as well as a good source of proteins and dietary fiber.