Working from home isn’t something new for me. Almost 5 years ago I set up my own company which started on my laptop sitting at my dining table. Although we rent office space and I enjoy working in an office environment, I’ve certainly got used to working remotely and especially working on the move.
This means being told to work from home to stop the spread of Covid-19 was relatively easy for me, initially. Other than seeing my clients face-to-face, delivering training, and popping into the office, things didn’t change much. I did start to realize how much I missed going out and getting outdoors though – something I’d completely and unknowingly taken for granted.
WFH every single day can get repetitive; I’ve started to lose motivation, as well as, lose my sense of time. That’s why I’m now making a conscious effort to switch up my morning routine. I’m pretty bad for skipping breakfast because I don’t often feel hungry in the morning – but I know I’m shooting myself in the foot – so I’ve decided to find some healthy breakfast recipes I couldn’t resist.
Reasons to Eat Breakfast
• Enhances Immune System – According to a study in the Netherlands, skipping breakfast caused a 17 percent drop in gamma-interferon. Okay, so I don’t know exactly what that means but I do know it’s to do with our immunity response. In 2020, we need to look after our immune system more than ever.
• Brain-Boosting Powers – Ever find yourself working but not actually working? Yep, we’ve all had that feeling. Your brain needs a fresh supply of glucose (blood sugar) for fuel. Without it, you’ll struggle processes and remembering things.
• Stabilizes Energy Levels – A balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber is the key to any healthy breakfast, and eating foods with these components will increase your energy levels. Breakfast was found to supply around 25 percent of people’s daily energy expenditure, thus leading to a high-functioning day.
The Stuff Breakfast Dreams Are Made Of
One of the perks of working from home means you have more time to dedicate to things like making breakfast (or hitting snooze a couple more times!). When I don’t have to travel into the office I save at least an hour a day in commuting time – and I know a lot of people who travel so much further!
I’ve been on the search for healthy recipes that are easy to make but also healthy, because after all, what’s the point if you’re just eating a load of rubbish? Bang in the middle of lockdown I was introduced to Erbology who takes powerful plants and making them accessible every day in delicious foods and drinks. Erbology’s 100% plant-based and holistic approach is to deliver food that makes you feel good.
Their products are certified organic, gluten-free, raw ingredients with no additives or GMO.
Honestly, could this have come at a better time!?
Tropical smoothie bowl
I’m a huge fan of smoothie bowls (who isn’t!?). They’re healthy, quick to make, and super flexible. It’s an easy way for me to get more fruit into my diet and I usually cover them in Chai seeds. **Psst** Chia seeds are the best way to combat wrinkles because they have 10x the antioxidants than blueberries do!
In the morning I struggle with feeling sluggish, which is why I was instantly attracted to mixing up my smoothie bowls with organic sea buckthorn shots. Sea buckthorn is a berry that grows in coastal regions, and it is chock full of health-boosting nutrients, giving you that boost you need in the morning 🙌
Simply blend bananas, pineapple, raw beetroot, full-fat coconut milk, and your sea buckthorn shot in a high-speed blender then pulse until you reach your desired consistency. To finish garnish with sliced banana, coconut chips, figs, and sesame seeds.
View the tropical smoothie bowl recipe online here.
Alternatively, if you don’t fancy making a smoothie bowl, you can also drink the sea buckthorn shot in one for an energizing boost, or add to orange juice or water.
Vegan pancakes recipe
Pancakes take that bit longer to make than your roster of grab-and-go weekday breakfasts but sometimes that mindful morning calls for a special breakfast. Eating pancakes with warm berries or chewy chopped dates on really doesn’t feel like a chore in the morning. The only problem is, it’s easy for pancakes to become unhealthy so I’m toying with different topping and incorporating raw organic Jerusalem artichoke powder.
Nutritionally, Jerusalem artichokes pack a real punch. They are a source of valuable minerals such as potassium and iron. A shortage of iron is an issue for many people transitioning to a plant-based diet. When I went vegan earlier in the year, the plant-based diet intially wreaked havoc with my menstrual cycle and energy levels.
Finally and perhaps most notably, Jerusalem artichokes contain plenty of inulin. This is a soluble prebiotic fiber that is particularly valuable because it stays in our gut, fermenting into incredibly healthy intestinal microflora. That is to say, microflora is good gut bacteria. In other words, eating sunchoke means that your gut will be supported in digestion and other functions.
Some of these other functions include the elimination of the bile that is stored in our bodies. When the liver is encouraged to produce more bile, cholesterol levels go down naturally. Microflora also helps your body extract more nutrients from the food that you consume and process blood sugar more efficiently.
Pretty neat, huh? View the vegan pancake recipe online here.
Cashew energy balls
I’m a self-confessed workaholic and the first thing I do in the morning is dive into my emails. I’ve had it drilled into my head a million times over that this isn’t good, but honestly, it works for me. My morning anxiety dissipates as soon as I can see that nothing terrible is hiding in my inbox. Before I know it, I’m 30 emails down and if I’m lucky, clutching a cold cup of tea.
With all the best intentions in the world, I know what I’m like and how busy my lifestyle is running a business, even if I’m doing it all from home. Something set up and ready for me to eat is far more appealing, because it’s not that I’m not hungry, it’s that I don’t give myself the time to tear myself away from the computer. That’s where energy balls become the saving grace to my breakfast plan.
Made with 100% organic sea buckthorn powder – honestly, I can’t get enough of this stuff. Similar to the shot mentioned above, with all the same great benefits (including glowing skin, hallelujah!), but it’s made from 100% organic crushed dried sea buckthorn berries.
Energy balls are really easy to make. Simply place raw cashews in a food processer and mix until finely chopped. Add raisins and hemp seeds, along with a few other ingredients, then form little balls and roll in the sea buckthorn powder. They’ll be good for 2 weeks in an airtight container.
View the cashew energy balls recipe online here.
