Almond & Peach Parfait

Breakfast Parfait

In this blog, I will be proving a super easy recipe to make on the go before school. I made this breakfast parfait in less than 5 minutes, so this recipe is perfect for anybody who wakes up at 6:30 am like me and still wants to eat a healthy breakfast. In my previous blog posts, I mentioned facts about healthy eating so I wont ramble on for too long, but I just wanted to remind you readers that "Research reveals how unwise it is to go without breakfast. People who skip it will crave carbohydrates and will consume more sugary foods and beverages and less vegetables and fruit. The effect on your health will soon add up" (Turner 9). So don't even think about not eating breakfast, just make this quick and easy parfait instead!

Turner says that the almond peach parfait recipe is perfect for desert lovers because it's a creamy layered desert packed with super foods (Turner 56).

Ingredients

Serves 1

Layer ingredients

2/3 cup Greek yogurt

1/2 cup blueberries

2 tbsp. silvered almonds

1 peach, diced

Topping

a few raspberries

1 tbsp. hemp seeds

raw honey to taste

Modified recipe

2 tbsp. of greek yogurt (Tip: mix honey into yogurt)

a few blueberries

a few peaches (canned peaches as peaches are not in season right now)

Questions: Have you ever had McDonalds parfaits? Are they or are they not the best parfaits ever!??

When do you wake up?

Apple & Kale Smoothie Bowl

Good health begins with breakfast

Breakfast is no longer the regular and boring breakfast as we knew it. In Kate Turner's book, Superfood Breakfasts, a fun variety of breakfast recipes are provided, some of my favorites being smoothie bowl recipes. For the past few weeks, I have eaten these healthy breakfast recipes and have genuinely felt more energized throughout the school day, so I highly recommend trying the smoothie recipes that I have provided on my blog. To talk about the apple and kale smoothie bowl recipe itself, this recipe is my favorite smoothie bowl recipe in Kate Turner's book. I really love how fresh everythign tastes together and how the kale isn't overpowering in the smoothie.

Turner describes as the apple and kale smoothie as being "Almost off the charts where nutrients are concerned, kale is an obvious choice for a smoothie" (Turner 32). She also notes that if you don't like the taste of kale, don't worry too much because the apple is what's most tasteable (Turner 32).

Ingredients
Serves 2
2 cups coarsely chopped curly kale (large stems discarded)
3/4 cup chopped apple (skin on!)
1/3 cup avocado cubes
1 cup alfalfa sprouts
1 large frozen banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
2/3 cup almond milk
1 tbsp. moringa powder (optional)
raw honey, to taste
Toppings
2 tbsp. blueberries
1 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 tbsp. pomegranate seeds
3 tbsp. finely diced apple (skin on)
2 1/2 tbsp. raspberries
1 tbsp. sunflower seeds
Modified recipe
Ingredients
2 cups of kale (I just bought a box of organic baby kale)
1/2 of an apple (skin on- much easier than peeling off and you can't taste the skin anyways)
1/2 of an avocado (doesn't need to be in cubes w/ a ripe avocado)
1 large banana (Is better frozen to make the smoothie thick, don't have to put banana- overpowering and tastes good without it)
2 or 3 cups of mixed frozen mixed berries (Dole brand has a nice mixed berry blend, comes with: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and pomegranate)
1 cup of watermelon juice (The juice isn't overpowering and tastes yummy in the smoothie)
2 tbsp. of Greek yogurt (I used the Chobani strawberry greek yogurt, any kind works though)
Toppings
Blueberries
Raspberries
Apples
Sunflower seeds
Tip: To make the smoothie thick instead of watery, add the suggested frozen fruit or any frozen fruit.

Questions: What's your favorite smoothie? Do you like kale?

Avocado, Nori, & Nut Cream Toast

A superfood breakfast

A superfood breakfast can include a lot of different ingredients and have many different meanings. To me, a superfood breakfast means not only to eat healthy a breakfast but to try new recipes that I'll enjoy and benefit from. So, in this blog post I'll be providing a quick and easy recipe that has energy boosting ingredients such as quinoa and avocado. In Kate Turner's book, Superfood Breakfasts, quinoa's essentials are described "Manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus, plus all the essential amino acids our bodies need. Heart- friendly quinoa is gluten free, helps alleviate migraines, relieves constipation and lowers cholesterol" (Turner 34). Before getting this book, I didn't know the importance of quinoa in my diet and how it could benefit me and from making these healthy recipes from Kate Turner's novel Superfood Breakfasts, I've really noticed an overall boost in energy and concentration in school.

The ingredients in the avocado, nori & brazil nut toast recipe  all play starring roles: avocados contain healthy fats, nori is rich in minerals, while Brazil nuts have high levels of selenium to support your immune system (Turner 44).

Ingredients

Serves 3

6 slices quinoa supersede bread

1 1/2 avocados, sliced

9 cherry tomatoes, sliced

3 tbsp. nori seaweed, shredded

1 tbsp. sesame seeds

A few sprigs basil

Nut Cream

3/4 cup Brazil nuts

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. olive oil

Directions to make nut cream

1. To make nut cream, put the ingredients into a blender or processor, and process until combined. You may need to stop the machine occasionally to push the mixture down with a spatula. Gradually add 2 tablespoons of hot water to achieve a thick, creamy consistency. Season with salt and black pepper

Note: Toast the bread and spread with nut cream. Top with the avocado, tomatoes, nori, seeds and basil.

Modified recipe

Ingredients

Slices of whole wheat bread

1/2 of avocado

2 or 3 pieces of organic seaweed (Can add more or else depending on whether you like seaweed)

Note: All other ingredients were used

Tip: Instead of adding sliced avocado pieces on top of the toast, blend the avocado, brazil nuts, olive oil, lemon juice and water together to achieve a creamy paste.

Questions: Do you like seaweed? What's your favorite kind of toast? Do you eat quinoa often?

Berry & Chia Smoothie Bowl

 High school mornings smoothie recipe

Eating breakfast in the morning is the best way to stay energized throughout the entire school day. There is no better way to start your day than with a balanced, nutritious breakfast packed with natural superfoods (Turner 8). Even though many of us high school students are always in a rush to get to school on time, the fun recipes that I have found from the book Superfood Breakfasts by Kate Turner can be made in under 5 minutes. Another nice thing about smoothies is that they are so refreshing and super easy to make. Throughout the past few weeks of school, I've made myself and my family smoothie bowls for breakfast and we have all enjoyed them. But most importantly, I've noticed that I can focus better in class.
The Berry and Chia fruit smoothie bowl as described by Kate Turner "Will make your body love you" (Turner 28).

Ingredients
Serves 2 (Or you could just pour the whole thing into a bowl like I do)
3/4 cup frozen raspberries
2/3 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup nut milk
1 small ripe banana
1/3 cup avocado cubes
2 tbsp. chia seeds
2 tbsp. acai berry powder
Toppings
1/2 small mango, peeled and sliced (Let sit in window first!)
1 tsbp. raspberries
1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp. dried mulberries
Here's my modified version of this recipe
2 cups of frozen mixed berries
1 small ripe banana
1 cup of apple grape juice ( Orange juice/ Water or almond milk)
1 tbsp of raspberry yogurt (can be any yogurt)
Toppings
A few pieces of store bought sliced mangos
A few raspberries
1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp. dried mulberries
Tip for my smoothie recipes
You can add or change any ingredients to make the smoothie the way that you'd like.

Questions: What's your favorite smoothie? What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?