Breakfast of Champions

Chandi Schwab
This is a staple breakfast for me. I eat it almost every day. It gives me great energy and always settles so well.

Blueberry Oatmeal
-1/2 cup oatmeal
-1 cup boiling water
-1/2 cup blueberries
-1 TBS All natural peanut butter
-1TBS honey

Mix all together...Yum!

Why Oatmeal?
The best benefits of oatmeal for weight loss is that it is a great source of fiber. The oatmeal is a soluble fiber, which means your body slowly moves this food product through your digestive system, allowing you to feel more satisfied for long amounts of time. The other key benefit of oatmeal for weight loss is its ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and raise the body’s metabolic fat reducing engines. Because of this sustained energy level provided by oatmeal it is a good idea to eat a bowl or two about 1-2 hours before your workouts. This will give you the energy and power for a longer and more intense workout!

All Natural Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has a place in a healthy diet. An easy, inexpensive protein source that is brimming with nutrition, peanut butter is a simple, versatile food. Just be sure you enjoy peanut butter in moderation, since it's high in fat and calories, too.
 Honey
The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. A great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.


A Bit on Blueberries
The dye that is released from the blueberries' skin may well be the most valuable nutrient the fruit has to offer. The pigments in blueberries and also in red crops such as cherries, plums, and red cabbage are powerful antioxidants. They have been determined to be a much-heralded chemical warrior against heart disease and also cancer. Blueberries actually have the highest antioxidant capacity because of their large anthocyanin concentration. Antioxidants in our food can save us from virtually everything. Most of our health misfortunes are due to the perversity of oxygen. Our cells are perpetually besieged by toxic forms of oxygen which have been proved to have fierce destructive powers. So far scientists have linked destructive oxygen reactions to at least sixty different chronic diseases, as well as to aging itself. Oxygen free radicals can attack DNA, the genetic material of cells, causing them to mutate, which is a step on the path to cancer.


Also try out this health conscious recipe...

Blueberry Nectarine Granola Crisp

Makes 8 servings
Fruit Filling
5 cups blueberries
2 large nectarines, peeled, chopped
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour (can substitute whole wheat or cake flour)
zest of 1 lemon
Granola Topping
1 1/2 cups regular oats
2 tbsp chopped pecans
2 tbsp chopped almonds
2 tbsp chopped walnuts
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine the blueberries, nectarines, brown sugar, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl;
toss to coat.
3. Spoon fruit mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
4. For the topping, combine all ingredients and toss to evenly coat oat mixture and nuts with syrup.
5. Sprinkle granola over the blueberry nectarine mixture.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, ice cream, or whipped topping.