Good News: Breakfast Is Free with Today's Newsletter

This week... rethinking your morning java, green juice options, beautiful smoothie bowls, and why I think cereal is really code for kryptonite.

Good Morning!

Today's newsletter is sponsored by the most important meal of the day.

Breakfast. (At least that’s what they told us in grade school.)

You may be wondering, “Why is an entire newsletter dedicated to breakfast?”

That’s a great question, and the answer is a strange one.

I came up with today’s topic after a trip to Costco last Friday when I joined six hundred or so other shoppers who were also looking to get a head start on weekend errands. After almost an hour of dodging carts and trying to avoid screaming children (like two-year-old Avery, who somehow appeared in every aisle), I was exhausted and starving. So, when I walked past a huge display of chocolate Catalina Crunch, of course, I came to a screeching halt. I thought I’d found the perfect car snack for the ride home. 🚙

But because I have a freakishly sensitive stomach, I need to be careful when it comes to all food, especially cereal. I flipped the package over to see if it passed the test - no added sugar or soy✓, gluten-free✓, and no nasty seed oils or weird flour ✓. Plus, it was high in protein and chocolate.

A WINNER! I envisioned crunching myself home with that treat.

But then a voice in my head (I’m pretty sure it was my higher self) reminded me, “Abbey. You are not to be trusted with this type of goodness. Remember what happened in college…”

Well, this voice and I had a nice little back-and-forth right there in the middle of Costco. At first, it appeared as if I’d won as I dropped the (five-pound) bag in my cart. However, the voice pulled a Hail Mary at the checkout.🏈

Just as the checker was about to scan the crunchy bit of heaven, I put up my hand✋and said, “Sorry, I actually don’t want that.” I drove home starving but glad I’d resisted the temptation.

You might think - what’s the big deal? The cereal seemed healthy. While that bag of cereal might have been clean as a whistle, it represents a slippery slope for me that dates back to college.

I actually majored in cereal. (And minored in Diet Coke and beer, but we’re not getting into beverages.)

When it came to my cereal, I didn’t just like it, I loved it and would craft odd combos like Raisin Bran, Lucky Charms, and Frosted Mini-Wheats. I’d eat it at every single meal.

My nieces and nephews started calling me Aunt Cereal and made the title official with an elf-in-a-box of Cheerios ornament.

Huge shocker - all that cereal made me sensitive to gluten and a lot of other things, which is why I ultimately left that beautiful bag of Catalina Crunch on the shelf. However, that cereal encounter inspired (you guessed it) What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week:

Breakfast.

It really IS the most important meal of the day, but for more reasons than we think.

When we do breakfast right, it can set the stage for a great day, and great overall health. It’s like the platform for how we eat and live the rest of the day.

But when we do breakfast wrong, while it might not cause problems right away, it can affect how we feel and perform. Like my cereal addiction, for example.

To counter all of that (and to give me an excuse to write about my favorite meal of the day), I’ve put together a list of clean foods and beverages to start your day.

Because when we start the day with healthy habits, chances are we’ll have healthy habits the rest of the day.

And every day after.

So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever, and let’s start this day and this newsletter.

Have a good one!

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BREAKFAST BONANZA

Gotta❤️ a hotel breakfast! I found this one at the NH Hotel in Zamora, Spain.

Maybe you’re one of those people who doesn’t eat or drink first thing in the morning. (I don’t understand you, but I’ll still be your friend.)

However, I know you’ve got to break your fast at some point in the day. When that time comes, consider these crisp, clean, and delightfully delicious ideas:

Let’s Start with Coffee

Is it even morning without coffee? If you’re like me and start your day with this gift from the gods, you probably have your favorite beans. But picking beans can get kind of personal. For example, Starbucks Italian Roast and Nespresso “Odacio” pods have been fan favorites in my house.

But lately, I’ve been wondering - is my coffee clean, and if not… what should I be drinking? I mean, who has time to worry about chemicals or mold? So I did a little research and found that while the mold situation wasn’t as dire as it had become in my head, it wouldn’t hurt to look into some healthier options, like those found in The Biohackers Lab report on 10 Mold-Free Coffee Brands.

One of Biohackers' recommendations was Kion Coffee, founded by Angelo Keely. Coincidentally, I’d just heard about Kion on the Skinny Confidential Podcast, where Angelo shared How to Manage Weight, Gain Muscle, and Age Gracefully.🎙️ Give that a listen for coffee talk and more.

Coffee Alternatives

If you can’t or don’t want to drink traditional coffee - my sympathies- and you’re in luck- Forbes came up with a list of 16 Best Coffee Alternatives. Maybe you’re looking for mushroom blends? Then try these. (But please, avoid #3 like the plague. Just my personal opinion.)

Or maybe you’re more into a green beverage. As you all know, I’ve talked about AG1 - I love it, and it contains so many vitamins that the ingredient list requires a 2-point font. However, it’s pricey, so I’ve been researching options: 9 AG1 alternatives, 8 Best Athletic Greens Alternatives, and 5 Best Athletic Greens Substitutes.

Do you have a green juice rec? Please drop it in the comments!

Wait, do you want something fruitier to start your day? There are so many out there, but my favorite is ZYN. It’s full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients and DELICIOUS. You can get ZYN in a sleek can or handy pack to take on the go.

*Note, I am affiliated with ZYN. Use ABBEYA for your discount!

Kryptonite, I mean Cereal.

I could dedicate an entire post (or day) to talking about cereal—from Lucky Charms to Rice Puffs and everything in between. Let’s keep things clean, though, with the 10 Best Sugar-Free Cereals, 8 High Protein Cereals, and an honest review of the pros and cons of some of the most popular bowls.

Not into cereal? No problemo.

Here are 7 High-Protein breakfast ideas from Nikki Vegan. Or maybe you’re interested in a frittata to start the day? Pick up Limes can help you with that, plus check out these no-cook breakfast ideas, 25 breakfasts to beat inflammation, and… breakfasts to keep your train running. 🚞 😉

Milk…specifically, plant-based.

Whether you start your day with cereal, smoothies, or just a cup of java, you might need some type of milk. If you do dairy, see what nutritionists are saying about the healthiest picks.

I've tried many plant milks since ditching dairy almost ten years ago. Through trial and error, I discovered that some include a ton of extra ingredients that cause digestive issues. For example, some contain Carrageenan👎 - a food additive linked to digestive issues and possibly colon cancer. Here’s how to find a healthy plant-based milk and 7 to try right now. ❤️My favorite is Almond Malk, but I also love Mooala and am interested in mixing up my own milk with JOI.

In a hurry?

Last but not least, maybe you want bars to grab on the go. If you’ve got the time, you can make your own healthy bars. If you just want to buy some to keep on hand, here are Good Housekeeping’s healthiest picks, or the best bars according to a dietitian at Very Well Fit. But maybe you don’t want to worry about a protein bar and just want a delicious treat that you can eat for breakfast or as a snack. In this case, I’m giving my friend’s cousin’s brand a plug. (Say that 5 times fast.) I first heard of Chunk Nibbles on Facebook when my friend was spreading the word about her cousin’s company. These treats look amazing, and I love the story—they’re made using their grandma’s recipe, and proceeds from sales go to help Veterans and Service Dogs. Providing deliciousness and helping the world while carrying on family traditions—what more can you ask for? Plus Chunk Nibbles has got to be one of the greatest names I’ve heard in a while.

I’ve written so much that it’s almost time for lunch… so I’m going to stop now.

I hope I’ve given you some new ideas for breakfast foods that are as good as a bowl of cereal and set the stage for a healthy day and a healthy and happy life.

Stay healthy, caffeinated, and happy, my friends.

Cheers☕️,

Abbey