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(Sadie and Ben shown above greatly enjoying their breakfast.)So, I’ve just read this ridiculously interesting book by Michael Pollan called The Omnivore’s Dilemma. It’s about food. When I say “about food” I mean about all aspects of food: production, consumption, evolution, emotion, health, community, environment, and philosophy. It was fascinating and frustrating, but I would highly recommend it.
Well, I’ve decided to try to eat more natural foods and less processed foods after reading about all the weird chemicals we’re eating in industrialized food. My selected starting point, which is my main source of processed food and my highest intake of sugar for the day, was cereal. You must know, though, that I am a passionate and loyal lover of cereal. So, this was a really hard challenge for me. I am now almost three weeks into my no-cereal-trial and I’m finally no longer missing it.
Some foods we eat instead are cream of wheat, steel cut oats (a lot!), toast with peanut butter and honey, yogurt and granola, bananas, kringler, eggs and potatoes, applesauce, hootenanny pancakes, crepes, and sour dough bread. Who wants cereal when we can eat that for breakfast? Steel cut oats we probably eat the most often. They are actually quite delicious, especially when sprinkled with brown sugar and/or fruit. They are also so cheap!
I suppose my biggest obstacle is the time investment. Breakfast cereals are so convenient – I have to admit. On the weekends we tend to make something exciting; but on weekdays, when time is an issue, we just start a pot of cream of wheat or oats or make toast with a side of fruit. We’re adjusting to the change and I’m even starting to enjoy my new breakfasts.
This was a one month trial, so cereals are not going to be banished forever. However, I seriously doubt I’ll eat or feed Sadie it as a daily ritual any more. Maybe just on those really rushed mornings. All things in moderation, right?
(Shown above: kringler. My most favorite breakfast pastry.)
(Sadie loves Kringler, too.)
(This is Ben’s favorite breakfast – Hootenanny Pancakes.)
Johnson Family - What a great goal Alicia! Cold cereal is a lot easier, but a warm breakfast is so much better for you and a whole lot more filling. My kids actually enjoy a warm breakfast much better than cold cereal. I just wish I had a little more time in the morning to do that. Maybe when Tyler is a little older I can be more consistent about it.
Keep up the good work. I love how you are always trying to improve yourself. You are a great example to me.
Lori - Try Greek Yogurt–I LOVE it!!! Best of all, the Oikos brand has 14 grams of protein in the container and NO FAT!!!!!!! I LOVE the kind with honey in the bottom. I eat it with some sort of fruit on the side–my fav being peaches or nectarines!!
Alicia - Thanks for the tips and compliment! The yogurt sounds delicious, Lori! I’ll pick some up next time I’m at the store. You guys excited for the weekend ahead? Are you going to a wedding for Jasmine on Saturday at noon? I’m suppose to take the pictures for the wedding….I’m a little nervous.
Kimmy - I have many things to say.
1. I know what you are talking about with the Micheal Pollan book. Last year in Biology we had to listen (for 50 minutes, I might add) to an NPR show that talked to him about all of that kind of stuff. It was sort of fascinating once you got past the part of staring at the same place on the wall for 20 minutes with out blinking…
2. I think it is a good idea. I would try this except I have to get up early enough as it is and don’t think squeeze time in to make hootnanny pancakes. But, it sounds yummier. (That must be a word because there is no red line underneath it so don’t try and tell me its not.)
3. Do you find that you eat more sugary stuff for breakfast now? I don’t buy sugary cereals anymore, so I think my sugar intake would dramatically increase were I to start this experiment as well.
4. I think it’s a great that you are not making it a habit for Sadie. If you start this while she is still young I think it will be something that is instilled in her for the rest of her life. It’s much healthier, in my opinion.
5. And this really has nothing to do with Cereal or Breakfast foods in general, but, Sadie is so gosh darn cute.