Breakfast Challenge Day 4

Digestive enzymes are tiny active components within our digestive tract and their job is to break down our food for proper absorption. Healthy digestive enzyme activity makes for a healthy and happy gastro-intestinal tract and bowel. A diet high in refined foods and sugars disturbs the delicate balance of these enzymes and renders the gut sluggish and weak. I believe gut enzymes are too often overlooked when it comes to restoring and improving gut health.

You can supplement your diet with digestive-enzymes but it is equally important to eat foods that naturally encourage and support their growth and activity. Fermented foods such as Kefir yoghurt or REAL yoghurt, sprouted breads, various sprouts, miso, mushrooms, sauerkraut, and raw milk are examples of the kinds of foods that contain their own enzymes (and bacteria) that in turn stimulate our own. Sadly, these foods are rarely eaten today, especially by children, and our 'taste' for them has diminished as a result.

I like to eat sprouted bread occasionally (and you can make your own). It is dense, satisfying, full of protein, fibre and nutrients. I also love that rich nutty flavour and texture. It is a healthy addition to many meals such as a quick breakfast, with eggs, as a snack, and lovely with soup during the cooler months. You can toast it - as I have done in the recipe below, but as you develop a taste for it, I encourage you to eat it sliced thinly and raw (in order to retain enzymes).

There is no technique to making this breakfast. It is a simple combination of flavours and textures with hempseeds and some fresh fruit on the side. It is quick to make and full of protein, complex carbohydrates, minerals, fibre, essential fatty acids, and flavour. A cup of rooibos tea with fresh ginger on the side is a lovely compliment to the offering you are making to your wonderful body!

Macadamia Spread (or Almond/ Cashew are fine too)
Sprinkle with Hemp seeds
*a small spread of butter - if it is real and not margarine/butter spread
Sprouted Bread 1 -2 thin slices (I like the Khorasan Bread)
Fresh or frozen Raspberries and a sliced Nectarine - this I added recently to break up the dense texture of this dish. You could easily add an egg, some fresh herbs, or some raw nuts.

*If you are a health buff like me, stir in a little raw organic Coconut oil with your nut spreads. Totally yummy, and super charged with goodness!

Breakfast Challenge Day 3

Refined empty carbohydrates and sugars comprise many of the calories we consume in our diet today. They are major contributors to Insulin Resistance (Syndrome X) which I believe is a Condition of the 21st Century. 
Insulin resistance occurs when the hormone Insulin fails to be recognised by the Cells in the body, causing Blood Glucose (sugar) to rise and the Pancreas to eventually fatigue. The body does only what it can with the excess Glucose and stores it as Body Fat. People with Syndrome X find it difficult to lose weight, suffer tiredness, headaches and often retain fluid. They store much of the body fat around their abdomen, giving them that classic apple or pear shape. Syndrome X may contribute to hormonal disruptions and even Type 2 Diabetes. Where do we find such empty carbohydrates and refined sugars?

Here is a clue: 



Are they for ceREAL?

Breakfast is a time to set the right tone for your digestive system and energy levels.
I like to eat simple meals high in healthy protein through out the week to give my GIT a rest. To keep it clean and happy, so that it can give it's best to me. This in turn improves my mood, energy, and fitness - things I have come to rely on as a mother!

Here is a simple breakfast snack that is refreshing, light, and simple to make.


Sunrise Crunch

1 cup of chopped chunks of rock melon (papaya, pineapple, pear or apple is ok too)
1/4 cup of Raw Macadamias
Raw Buckwheat (lightly roasted buckwheat is also nice)
Sheep's, Coconut, or Organic Plain Yoghurt - sometimes I use Organic Coconut Cream, though CoYo Coconut yoghurt is pricey, it's perfectly Divine!
A small handful of Buckwheat kernels on top
*Consider a sprinkle of Bee Pollen too if you have some





For optimal digestive enzyme activity, this combination requires slow and thorough chewing. Yes, remember when you used to do that? Drink plenty of water through out the morning.






Breakfast Challenge Day 2

Another day is another opportunity for you to nourish and nurture your body and well-being. By avoiding processed cereals and refined wheat products you allow your digestive system to do it's job with ease, and that is to break down and assimilate nutrients from your food.
Offering your body healthy and vital food allows your system to thrive and heal itself.
It provides your cells with valuable fuel to energise your system, for longer periods. It makes you beautiful from the inside so that your outside can glow.........


Poached Eggs with Fresh Herbs

Poach 2 eggs in a saucepan with a little vinegar (apple cider vinegar is best)
Remember to stir the water to create a gentle spin to fold and poach the egg well
Finely slice a good handful of fresh herbs such as baby spinach, parsley, coriander or kale
Make a small mix of *Dulse flakes and *Hemp seeds and add a little extra sea salt to taste (but try first as the Dulse has a lovely oceanic flavour)





Place the eggs on some paper towel in a bowl to remove excess water or moisture before plating
Sprinkle the herb salad around the eggs and then add the Dulse & Hemp seed mix

If you need more 'oomph' to your breakfast you could add 1 slice of sprouted or Gluten Free bread

*Dulse flakes are a dessicated seaweed perfect for sprinkling on savoury dishes. They are a valuable source of iodine, iron, calcium and trace minerals.

*Hemp seeds are high in essential fatty acids, fibre, and protein. They have a subtle and tasty nutty flavour and are great addition to many savoury dishes and spreads, especially good on salads and vegetables.

Breakfast Challenge Day 1

Breakfast cereals were introduced to (American) consumers during the early 1900's and some dating back to the 18th Century, but I doubt very much they resembled the same highly manufactured food product we see on our supermarket shelves today. It begs the question: "What in the world did people eat before boxed breakfast cereals came along?" It is a good point because today people really struggle to think "outside the box" when it comes to breakfast.

Manufacturers have made their product indispensable, tasty, addictive, easy, convenient - but they have also contributed to the rise in obesity and diabetes in growing western populations. Highly processed grains - especially wheat, with sugars and additives are not the best start to the day and they can often leave adults and children feeling the effects of fatigue, bloating, and hypo-glycaemia (low blood sugar). They are what I call 'dead' food and they contribute almost nothing to your family's vitality and wellbeing.

In my clinic I have many women/mothers who struggle with that first meal of the day. This has been the inspiration for my Breakfast Challenge - so you can eat like me for a week and see how you feel. These are simple meals I commonly make for myself as I multi-task the morning duties. They are not elaborate (who has time for that?) but I guarantee that if you stick to these principles you will be feeling fresher and more energised by the end...And who doesn't want that?

Good luck!


This breakfast will be crunchy, chewy, tasty, real, live, satisfying and full of healthy fats and energy to get you through your busy morning. It is a great source of fibre and packed full of nutrients.

Nutty Delight

Small handful of whole raw macadamias and cashews
A small amount of fresh raw pepitas (I really like the Black Syrian Pepitas)
A good sprinkling of raw organic coconut threads
1 Fresh Nectarine or Papaya (Red Paw-Paw)

Add 1/4 cup of fine oats if you need the extra bulk - but I rarely do this.
Use a milk alternative. Try Almond (make your own), Oat, Rice, Goat, Raw milk or BONSOY.



*If you want to get a little more funky Activate (soak) your nuts.
Why? Because it removes the Phytic acid naturally occurring in the nuts and renders the mineral and protein more absorbable. Macadamias and Cashews only require a short soaking - even 20 minutes in filtered room temperature water will do.

Good for you! Celebrate what you just offered your body to thrive and get out there and go for it......... 

Breakfast Challenge Shopping List

She's done the Earth Birth Beyond Breakfast Challenge......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whole Raw Macadamias
Whole Raw Cashews
Pepitas (I really like to use the Black Syrian Pepitas)
Fresh Free-Range or Organic Eggs*Organic Coconut Threads
Goji Berries
Chia seeds - any style you like
*Raw Buckwheat kernels (try Health Food shop - in bulk?)
REAL yoghurt (plain or unflavoured and unsugared, no vegetable gums or numbers) if avoidng dairy try Coconut cream or Sheep's/Goat's yoghurt
Macadamia Spread or Avocado as a spread (or both)
*Sprouted or Gluten Free Bread
Bonsoy, Rice or Almond milk or preferred Dairy substitute
Red Paw-Paw (Papaya)
Rockmelon/Nectarine
Roquette or fresh basil/parsley
Fresh or Frozen Raspberries/Blueberries (you can buy frozen organic too)
Organic Coconut Oil
*Bee Pollen (best if you can buy in bulk for the purpose of this challenge, though my preferred brand is Loving Earth)
*Hemp Seeds (small packet)
*Dulse Flakes - small flakes (seaweed)

*You can usually buy these form Health Food Stores or Asian Grocers

A note about Bee Pollen: If you suffer from severe allergic reaction to bee stings you may wish to be careful or avoid Bee Pollen.

Come on, get your friends on board! Share this - it is free and from my heart to make your body, soul and mind happier and healthier :-D