Start Your Day (and Year) Off Right!

It's the beginning of a new year and I'm sure many of us are resolving to eat better. Where better to start than with breakfast. There is a great article on how to take Small Steps: Making Time for Breakfast. As for me, in the winter, all I want in the morning is a hot bowl of cereal like maple and brown sugar oatmeal. For others of you, I'm sure a delicious egg sandwich is what you crave. Another great option is granola, which can be served with milk as cereal, mixed into yogurt for a parfait, or just eaten as a snack. What do you like to eat in the morning? Here are some options:

Maple and Brown Sugar Quick Oatmeal
Ingredients

• 1/2 c quick cooking oats
• 1 c water
• 1 tsp maple or pancake syrup
• 1/2 tsp packed brown sugar 
• dash salt

Directions

1. Mix oats, salt and water in a bowl.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes; stir. (varies on microwave strength)
3. Stir and top with syrup and sprinkle with brown sugar

Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
by Ellie Krieger
courtesy of Food Network
serves 4

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
4 eggs and 4 egg whites
1/4 cup minced chives
1/4 cup minced parsley
4 whole-wheat English muffins
4 1/2-inch round slices Canadian bacon
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices

Directions

1. Crack eggs and egg whites into a bowl and whisk. Add chives and parsley and stir to incorporate. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. 
2. Ladle 1/4 egg mixture into skillet and cook, omelet style, until eggs are cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Slide omelet onto a plate and repeat with remaining eggs; cover with foil to keep warm. In same skillet, heat Canadian bacon until warm, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. 
3. Toast English muffin. Fold omelet in to fit English muffin, then place omelet on 1 muffin half. Top with a bacon slice, then tomato, then top with other muffin half.

Quick Omega-3 Granola 

Recipe by Jeanne Thiel Kelley

Photograph by Kana Okada

February 2009

 

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons walnut oil, divided
• 3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon (scant) coarse kosher salt
• 3 cups organic old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup walnut halves, broken in half
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
• 1 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped or torn into pieces
• 1/4 cup honey

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush heavy large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, sugar, egg whites, and salt in large bowl. Add oats, walnuts, and flaxseed; toss well.
2. Spread mixture evenly on prepared sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Using metal spatula, stir granola. Bake 15 minutes longer. Stir again. Sprinkle dates over; drizzle with honey. 
3. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes longer. Stir to loosen. Transfer to clean baking sheet to cool completely. 

**DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled in airtight container.