Emergency responders are often depicted leaping into action when they get a call. You race to your vehicle, ready to do your best for the community you serve. You will likely be in action for a while. One way to get started right is to make sure to get a good breakfast. No matter what time of day your breakfast happens, choosing wisely can keep you from getting weak or hungry on the job.
People have a lot of different dietary needs and goals. These energizing power breakfasts offer plenty of options. Each packs a variety of flavors and the potential energy to sustain you through the challenges of your shift.
Pineapple Banana Orange Breakfast Smoothie
Don’t let the parenting blog origin deter you. If you like smoothies, this one provides plenty of flavor and protein. Prepare the ingredients and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to throw them into the blender. You can get into the specific directions at the link, but there is the quick version:
Ingredients:
- One banana cut into 1” slices and frozen
- 10 frozen pineapple chunks (1” size)
- 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds
- 8oz of orange juice
- 4oz of vanilla almond milk
Blend all these ingredients until smooth. If you want it thicker, add ½ – 1c. of ice.
Bulletproof Coffee
If you are a coffee connoisseur or into low-carb diets, you probably have heard of Bulletproof Coffee. This delicious emulsion of coffee and butter is recommended by Bulletproof, a brand name ketogenic diet. Their coffee recipe uses their own patented “Brain Octane” oil. They say it provides a host of benefits and an impressive ability to sustain a person until lunch. The recommend brewing your coffee with a French press.
Check out the link above for more detail. Here is the quick version:
- 1c. coffee
- 1t. – 2T. Brain Octane oil
- 1t – 2T. clarified butter (ghee)
Mix in a blender for 20-30 seconds until it is emulsified.
Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar and Fried Egg
You’ve likely never seen oatmeal like this before. Talk about horsepower! At the link you can find the savory version we will summarize here, and also a sweet version. There are quite a few prep strategies at the link, so take a look.
Ingredients:
- ½ c. cooked steel cut oatmeal
- 1/4 c. diced red peppers
- 2 T. finely chopped onions
- 2 T. shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper
First, prepare the oatmeal following stovetop or microwave instructions. Use half the coconut oil to cook the vegetables in a non-stick pan. Spoon them over the oats. Using the same pan and the rest of the oil, fry the egg. Serve egg with the oats and vegetables.
Cherry-Almond Granola Bars
Make these bars ahead for a fast, fulfilling, grab-and-go option.
Ingredients:
- 2¼ c. old-fashioned oats
- ¾ c. whole raw almonds
- ¼ c. coconut oil plus more
- ¾ c. coarsely chopped dried tart cherries
- ¾ c. unsweetened finely shredded coconut (about 3 oz.)
- ½ c. roasted unsalted shelled sunflower seeds (about 3 oz.)
- 2 t. flaxseeds, toasted
- ½ c. honey
- ½ c. (packed) light brown sugar
- 1 t. kosher salt
Preheat oven to 400°. Mix oats and almonds on a deep baking sheet. Bake 10 min. until golden. Place on cooling rack. Reduce oven to 325°.
Grease 13″ x 9″ x 2” baking pan with coconut oil. Line with parchment paper, overhanging edges. Brush paper with oil.
Grease a large mixing bowl with coconut oil. Use to combine oat and almond mixture with cherries, coconut, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds.
In a saucepan, bring ¼ cup coconut oil, honey, sugar, and salt to a boil. Cook for 1 minute. Pour over oat mixture. Stir with heatproof spoon or spatula. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Press and smooth flat.
Bake for 10 minutes. Turn pan, and bake another 15 minutes. Then allow to cool completely. Lift with paper and then cut into bars. They should keep 4 days in a sealed container.
By assembling or preparing these options during the quiet moments, these healthy foods will be ready for action when you need them.
PHOTO: Pixabay / CC0 Public Domain