Homemade Golden Muesli

An Unboring Healthy Breakfast Cereal to Eat All Week

I don't blame you if your boxed breakfast cereal is one pour away from putting you back to sleep. Branch out from the processed foods and make your own muesli with whole ingredients that you can enjoy a few days a week for breakfast. Shop for these ingredients today and you'll save yourself time and money, and you'll feel good about eating something homemade—you'll know exactly what ingredients are in every spoonful!

Makes 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free oats such as Bob's Red Mill
• ½ cup slivered almonds
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. sea salt
• 3 Tbsp. Barlean's ground flaxseeds

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well to combine. Serve with dairy-free milk such as almond milk or rice milk and fresh fruit. Muesli will keep in an airtight container for three weeks.

Creamy Cinnamon Amaranth Porridge

Here's a fun gluten-free spin on your regular warm oatmeal breakfast. Amaranth is a hearty grain that's creamy and flavorful when cooked. I took some creamy kefir, which is great for digestion, and tossed it together with a few sweet toppings like cinnamon, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds for a protein-packed way to jump-start your day.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1/4 cup amaranth

1 cup water

1/2 cup Lifeway organic kefir

1 tbsp. hemp seeds

2 tbsp. raisins 

2 tbsp. golden raisins

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tbsp. slivered almonds

1 tbsp. sunflower seeds

2 tbsp. Enjoy Life Foods dairy-free mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Cook amaranth according to package directions on the stove top, approximately 15 minutes. 

2. Remove from heat; add kefir, and top with remaining ingredients.

3. Serve warm.

Vanilla Cinnamon Pancakes With Caramelized Apples and Vanilla Icing

Craving an indulgent (but resolution-friendly) breakfast today? Susanna Backman is a nutrition and fitness coach who specializes in making healthy versions of delicious recipes. I asked her to share a delicious breakfast idea perfect for starting off the new year. Below, her recipe for healthy vanilla cinnamon pancakes with caramelized apples and vanilla icing.

Makes 4 pancakes

Ingredients:

Pancakes

.5 cup (40g) old-fashioned oats, turned into a flour in food processor

1 tbsp. coconut flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 packet stevia (such as Truvia)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tbsp. unsweetened applesauce

2.5 tbsp. almond milk

2 egg whites

Vanilla Icing:

.5 cup (125g) low fat plain Greek yogurt

4 tbsp. almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

.5 packet stevia

Topping:

.5 large apple, chopped

1. tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. brown sugar or honey

10 almonds, chopped

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients for pancakes with a hand blender or in a blender. Spray a pan with cooking spray (or use coconut oil). Pour the batter in the pan and cook on medium heat for about 1 minute each side.

2. Chop apple and put in a pan, sprinkle cinnamon and sweetener on apples, and saute until apples are soft.

3. Mix ingredients for icing with a spoon.

4. Stack pancakes, pour icing over pancakes, top with apples and almonds.

Nutrition for 4 pancakes: 488 cal., 40g protein, 51g carbs, 13g fat. Share them with someone (2 pancakes each) and you'll each have a delicious breakfast, less than 250 calories a person.