‘One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.’- Robert A. Heinlein.
That’s indeed the punch of a power-packed breakfast. Any morning can be a ‘good morning’ if you begin it with a plate full of awesomeness.
We’ve literally grown on an ancient proverb that taught us to eat ‘breakfast like a king’. But did you know that Romans considered the concept of breakfast as gluttony and rooted for the notion of ‘only one meal a day’?
But thank god we are no Romans and gone are the days when breakfast was a waste of time. In fact dieticians and experts have always favoured a hearty indulgence of a wholesome breakfast. As not only it pumps up your energy levels to keep you going throughout the day but also calms down the cry of your growling stomach which is literally screaming for food after a lull of 10-12 hours. In short, it breaks the fast, therefore ‘Breakfast’.
But what actually comes to your mind when you think of breakfast? A lustrous bowl of cereals, sizzling hot paranthas topped with a dollop of melted butter or steaming hot idlis? Whatever it is, the objective is to face the humdrum of life with a belly full of healthy breakfast and a mind full of energy.
And if you wish to pep up your mundane breakfast options and lace it up with taste, health and speed then, here are some amazing off-the-cuff breakfast options:-
Multigrain Pancakes: Cushiony, soft and round – that’s exactly how pancakes should be. Also known as ‘hotcake’ or ‘flapjack’, this English invention is a superhit among all age groups. Top it with sugar-free syrup, crunchy nuts or fresh fruits, and a pancake is one big healthy smiley on the plate.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oats
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons zero -calorie sweetener or brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons water
* (Four servings)
Method to prepare:
1) In a medium sized bowl mix together the dry ingredients like whole wheat flour, sweetener, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
2) Take another bowl and whisk eggs, water, yogurt and milk.
3) Now blend the ingredients of the two bowls together and stir for a fluffy mixture.
4) Heat a pan and brush it with light olive oil.
5) Pour the batter on the pan and cook the cake on both sides until a brown cover appears.
Tip: Try a generous pour of maple syrup on hot pancakes as it is a combination made in heaven.
Oats Idli: Grainy, light and delicious! Although this popular south Indian dish can be enjoyed any time of the day, but combined with the wholesome goodness of oats, this is an ideal fit for the morning go-getters. A complete food in itself, a recent study at Tufts University showed that the presence of avenanthramides, a unique antioxidant in the oatmeal keeps the cholesterol levels at bay and also decreases the risk of heart diseases. What’s more? It is also a living example of how Indian food can make to the list of healthy breakfast without eating up time in the kitchen and adding more to the paunch.
Ingredients:
One and 1/2 cups of Oats
3/4 cups of Semolina
One cup yogurt
One cup grated carrot
1/2 tsp or cooking soda
Salt to taste
Water as required
1 fine chopped green chilly (Optional)
Oil as required
Method to prepare:
1) Dry roast the oats for few minutes and cool it off to powder it finally.
2) Combine the powdered oats, semolina with water and add salt, green chilly, cooking soda, grated carrots and yogurt to the mixture.
3) Grease the steamer with a touch of oil
4) Pour the mixture into the moulds of the steamer
5) Cover the lid and let it steam for 10 to 15 minutes
Tip: Serve it with green mint chutney. You can also tamper (tadka) it with mustard seeds and oil.
Spinach Omelet: A happy marriage between iron of spinach and protein of eggs, this is one breakfast that is immensely popular everywhere. A quick five minute jig and you can prepare a delicious omelet with almost any ingredient. But adding spinach to it makes the omelet a total win on the health meter. And remember, ‘you cannot have omelettes without breaking eggs.’ So, break it and dig in it.
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup roughly chopped spinach
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Method to prepare:
1) Break two eggs in a bowl.
2) Whisk two tablespoon of water with egg yolk and white
3) At this point you can add salt, pepper, chopped spinach and other herbs to the mixture
4) Melt a tiny dollop of butter or pour olive oil in the hot skillet.
5) Pour the egg and spinach mixture on the skillet and cook for 2 minutes until bubbles starts appearing on the front side.
6) Now carefully flip the other side and cook until a nice golden crust appears.
Tip: Add 1/3 cup of shredded cheese for a melt-in-your mouth experience.
Smoothie: Remember your favorite song on the play list of your iPod or music player? You may not attune to it daily but will always love to listen to it. Smoothies are like that. Rhythmic, soothing, mood-lifter and serves the purpose for almost all occasions. Perfect for your morning grub, smoothies are some of the easiest and most hassle free breakfast options. They’re a heavy duty fuel-on-the-go and in your favorite fruity flavor at that. Be it mango, banana, berry or tomato, the smoothie horizon is infinite.
Ingredients:
Any fruit of your choice chopped into pieces
1½ cups of milk
2 tablespoons oats (optional)
4 ice cubes
Sugar or sweetener to taste
Method to prepare:
Pour all the ingredients together into the blender and make a grainy puree of it.
Tip: For an instant kick, add your choice of vitamin mixes and protein powder to the smoothie.
Sandwich: And you thought that we will forget the good’ old sandwich! How could we ever? Imagine a decadent filling oozing out from two soft loafs of bread. Salivating already? Well, we bring to you a healthier version of this hearty indulgence – a carrot, peas and cottage cheese sandwich. Every bite of this serious eat will fill your body with proteins and vitamin A. So just stack in your bread with those beautiful ingredients and bite into heaven between two slices of breads.
Ingredients:
4 or 8 brown bread slices
One cup grated or finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup boiled and slightly crushed peas
1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated cottage cheese
2 finely chopped onion green chillies (Optional)
One finely chopped onion
Salt and Pepper to taste
Butter as required
Method to prepare:
1) Mix carrot, peas, cottage cheese, green chilies, onion, salt and pepper in a bowl.
2) Take two slices of bread and apply a light coat of garlic or plain butter on it.
3) Now stuff the filling of carrots and peas inside the two slices of bread.
4) Grill it in a sandwich maker
Tip: Add a dash of mayonnaise for that silky and dripping bite.
So, bid farewell to your straight, off-to-the-work days and pay heed to the most important meal of the day. Happy Breakfasting.
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