For all of you "I'm always hungry" people...

EAT THIS!!!

This article peaked my interest this morning when I saw it on my email homepage.   The first words I saw were "The best food to beat hunger."  Ok, got my attention, so I clicked.  BANANAS....of course.  I could have told you that.  Well, maybe.  I mean remember this post I wrote about how much I love bananas for breakfast and how I need to eat them daily?  Well, there's a reason for that, they fill me up!  Yes, I have to eat them with something else when I'm starving for breakfast in the morning but I do have them as snacks too at times and they are filling, no doubt about that.  So they have Resistant Starch in them which is a healthy carb that fills you up AND speeds up your metabolism...what more could you want from a carb, right?  Let's not mention all the vitamins and minerals they pack as well.  Slightly underripe ones are the best because riper they are, obviously the sweeter and the more they lost that resistant starch.  I encourage you to check out the recipes on that page as well, there are some fun ones.

I have heard many people say to me (when I suggest bananas...) that they are so high in calories and/or they are so loaded with carbs.  People, people, your body needs some carbs, it just does, especially if you are exercising.  Yes, people survive without them but in all honesty, it's rare cases where you can go long term without carbs and continue to lose weight or not develop some other health problem.  Let's eat the good carbs that nature provides for us, shall we?  Like bananas, like apples, you know fruits!  I myself prefer underripe bananas so this is not such a big deal to me, but if it is to you then eat what you can.  I'm telling you any banana is better than no banana!  Just ask monkeys :)

And if you are wanting a fun family friendly healthy, filling breakfast (or lunch) then you should make one of our family favorites.  (and by family I mean from my childhood passed onto my children...)

Banana Boats:

-1 slice whole wheat bread

-1-2 T natural peanut butter

1/2-1 banana

-dried fruit (optional)

-Spread peanut butter on bread (yes, this is a difficult one...)

-Place peeled banana (or half of banana) on middle of bread and fold up the sides of the bread so they are touching the banana.  There's your boat!

-Add a little swipe of peanut butter on top of the banana and dried fruit if you so desire.  (we usually have raisin and dried cherry "people" in our boat)

-Be sure to serve on a blue plate and maybe throw a few cheerios (rafts) and more "people" on the plate so it looks like there are people swimming in the water around your boat :)  Imagination is key to a quality children's meal!



Breakfast

I have talked about this to some people before but I still get asked ALL the time what I eat for breakfast?  I wonder why that is so fascinating to people, but it is.  I think mostly because people get stuck in a rut and to bounce ideas off of other healthy people is probably natural.  Don't get me wrong, I wonder what Bob and Jillian eat for breakfast all the time!!

Afterall, breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, so I hope you all start your day out right with a nice hearty, filling breakfast consisting of good healthy carbs/fiber, a little protein and some fruit or veggies.  Trust me, if you are a snacker, it will help if you eat a good breakfast.  just trust me.

So, here it is in a nutshell....

I have basically 3 standby breakfasts that I eat.  Do I vary, yes, but these are all quick things I can make or take with me to work when I start at 6am (or earlier!)

-1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon, walnuts (or almonds) a few raisins (because I need the iron and nothing is better than raisins and walnuts...YUM!) and either a half of banana or apple (occassionally other fruit) either cut up in the oatmeal or on the side. 

-1 cup Kashi Go Lean, Go Lean Crunch or Go Lean Crisp.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I love Kashi and my life would not be complete without it.  As much protein as an egg...says it right there on the box.  Can't get that from too many cereals.  So, I have that Kashi with 1 cup plain yogurt spiked with some cinnamon and a drop of vanilla.  Also, a banana.  My life, you will learn, is NOT complete without bananas.  They love me, I love them.  Just a good relationship all around.

-Whole Wheat Bagel thin or mini bagel (both around 110 cals)  1- 1 1/2 TB of natural peanut butter smothered on top.  With the bagel thins I have to use more, more space to occupy, mini bagels, less space so I don't feel the need to have as much.  Guess what I have with it....yep, a banana!

If we don't have bananas I've been known to run to the grocery store right before it closes and right before I'm about to get in bed because I fear what my morning will be like without one.  I'm not joking.  Ask Soccer dad.  He wonders about my banana obsession all the time, mostly because he hates bananas.  He's weird.

So, that's about it people.  I have been cooking up some healthy granolas lately that I will share, but I've been using them more as snacks than atop my yogurt in the morning.  Sometimes I mix, Kashi with granola.  I just can't quit my Kashi.  I'm trying, it's only day 6 of the new year.  I have time.

So, I'd love to hear what you eat for breakfast, especially easy on the go ones.  I just don't have time to make some of the things I really would like to eat for breakfast like egg white omelets (not a big egg fan, but they are ok occassionally) or my dad's high protein pancakes...yum...too much time.  Even smoothies, to get the darn blender out....and clean it...forget it.  Catch me on a day off!  or summer maybe.

Anyway, share away, I'll be waiting.  Til then, get yourself some bananas and have a great day :)