Breakfast of champions: awesome greek yogurt parfait
Breakfast really is an important part of having a healthy day and the name comes from the original intention; breaking the fast from your night of slumber. It is important to jump start your metabolism so that your body is ready to use the nutrients and calories provided rather than trying to store them (ie build fat).
Yogurt is a great choice as it is a rich source of protein and if you choose one with live and active cultures, you're also getting a nice dose of healthy bacteria, also known as probiotics, to keep your immune system strong and your gut happy. Greek yogurt is also a great choice because it is strained and therefore has a higher amount of protein per serving.
The trouble is, most fruit flavored yogurts are LOADED with sugar. While some sugar is naturally occurring from both the milk and the fruit, labeling doesn't differentiate between that and what is added. Plain yougurt is lower in sugar, but in my opinion, a bit dull (and I'm a dietitian!).
Enter the parfait!
This is a great option because you can prepare your breakfast the night before; in a bowl if you're going to eat at home or in a glass jar if you're going to hit the road and take breakfast with you.
Greek yogurt parfait:
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 - 1 cup berries, fresh or frozen (raspberries are the highest in fiber)
- flavorings such as cinnamon, vanilla extract or nutmeg
- 1-2 tablespoons slivered almonds
- Scoop your yogurt into desired bowl or jar. Add seasonings to taste and mix it up!
- Pour fresh or frozen fruit on top
- Top with almonds
- In the morning, the fruit will have gotten juicy and when you stir up the parfait, the ruby red color is lovely (although perhaps defeating the purpose of layering the parfait...)
Plain yogurt spiced up with cinnamon and vanilla |
Frozen fruit is often less expensive than fresh (but is just as nutritious) |
Ready for the fridge! |
Breakfast of champions! |
In terms of minding your wallet, I also love getting the large containers of yogurt as they're usually less expensive per serving. This is also lighter on the planet because I reuse those containers. Other than starting seeds, I don't have much use for those individual yogurt cups and you can't always recycle them either.
Added bonus of the spices? Beyond excellent flavor, they're also loaded with antioxidants! You can also add them to your coffee grounds before brewing your morning Joe. Double dose of antioxidants in the morning? Double win!
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