this is why you're not fat

Raise your hand if you've ever eaten ice cream for breakfast.

Don't lie.

I'll admit it, there have been times when I was growing up and my parents were out of town that ice cream for breakfast sounded totally awesome.  Because when you're 15 and you have that kind of freedom of course you will choose Ben & Jerry's over Bran Flakes.  But then we grow up.  And the desire for a pint of Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz isn't as strong as the desire for a pot of coffee coffee right freakin' now.

Most mornings my breakfast is pretty simple.  A fruit smoothie, lox & a sprouted grain bagel, or fruit salad are my main morning staples these days.  Hardly things my younger self would have looked forward to.  Now, though, I look forward to bananas and strawberries in the morning with the same vigor that I used to save for ice cream breakfasts when my parents went away.  Starting the day off right really helps my body function better, which in turn makes me happy.

If you need a little convincing about eating healthy food feel free to use some aversion therapy.  Whenever I start to think, "if only I could have..." I take a wander over to This Is Why You're Fat.  Within 2 pages of the most indulgent and disgusting food imaginable I am running for the nearest piece of fruit.  What frightens me the most is that there are people out there actually eating this stuff.  For example "the Morning Glory" which is sausage, egg and cheese sandwiched inside a glazed cinnamon roll.  If you look closely at the photo you'll notice where it says "Dale spec."  Who is this Dale?  Does he eat these regularly?  Has Dale's cardiologist been notified? (see below for list of other cringe-worthy breakfast items)

So now that I've totally grossed you out this morning may I suggest a healthy breakfast alternative?  This is a version of what I have most mornings for breakfast.  Layer in a bowl:

• 5-6 fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 banana, sliced
• 4 tbsp plain yogurt (I use Trader Joe's goats milk yogurt)
• 1/4 cup Trader Joe's High Fiber Cereal (or Kellogg's All Bran)
• optional: 1 tbsp honey drizzled on top

It makes for a really filling and healthy breakfast.  Picking out yogurt can be VERY difficult.  I've found myself going through labels for half an hour at the grocery store before.  Usually low-fat options add in more sugar.  Really read the ingredient labels before you purchase.  If you've never had greek yogurt before you might want to try that.  I personally like the goat's milk yogurt because I'm sensitive to lactose, and Trader Joe's makes one of the only thick ones on the market.  Above all else I'd urge you to start buying plain yogurt over flavoured.  It's a lot healthier, and that way you can control what flavouring you're adding in.  It will probably taste odd at first, but your taste buds will adjust to not eating something loaded with sugar.

Other gross breakfast foods I found:

Fool's Gold Stack - pancakes layered between peanut butter and bacon, topped with maple syrup

Hot Apple-Bacon Turnovers With Icing

IHOP Who-Cakes - Inspired by Horton Hears a Who! : A stack of five pancakes drenched in boysenberry and blueberry syrup, covered in rainbow-colored chocolate candy and topped with a pink Dum-Dum lollipop.

Eggs Benedict Poutine - French fries, brown gravy and cheese curds topped with a poached egg, bacon, Hollandaise sauce.

The Toaster Orgy - A toaster strudel topped with cream cheese, strawberry jelly, butter and Aunt Jemima syrup sandwiched between two waffles, all covered in strawberry cream cheese and more syrup.

Strudel Circus Stack - Nutella and strawberry jam sandwiched between two Toaster Strudel Pastries topped with icing, cherry pie filling, whipped cream, sprinkles and a drizzle of honey.

The Sausage McStuffin' - Sausage McMuffins with jelly donuts inside.

Triple Breakfast Panini - Giant buttermilk pancake stuffed with fried chicken, eggs and cheddar cheese, pressed in a panini press and served with maple syrup and white gravy.

The Silly Rabbit - French toast breaded in crushed Trix cereal.

Ultimate Biscuits - Three biscuits topped with ham, pork sausage, bacon, cheese, two over easy eggs, and gravy.

Breakfast Pizza - A sausage pizza with bacon and eggs, topped with mozzarella cheese and country gravy as sauce.

Snicker Bar Pancakes - Three buttermilk pancakes topped with chocolate syrup, caramel, peanuts and whipped cream.

Make sure to click the links, seeing really is believing.