I eat the same breakfast every day.
Runners tend to be creatures of habit. I am no exception. As a vegan, I eat a large variety of plant based foods, grains and legumes. But when it comes to breakfast I eat the same meal every morning – no variety.
So is it good or bad to eat the same stuff everyday? From what I have researched and personally tried, you can get away with eating the same things on repeat… but you have to be very shrewd about the foods in your grocery basket. There’s no question that, as a species, we eat a greater variety of things now then we used to. But whether that’s good or bad for us is still in question.
If you’re thinking a bagel for breakfast, P&B sandwich for lunch, and meat with potatoes and iceberg salad for dinner, you’re probably going to be deficient in a number of the necessary nutrients your body needs to thrive (especially to perform well athletically). If you’re packing plenty of healthful, micro-nutrient-dense read foods into your meal plan, you probably don’t have much to worry about.
Based on this understanding, I have found my perfect nutrient rich breakfast and I eat it every morning. It is easy on my wallet, gentle on my stomach, and tasty!
So what does Lyndy’s everyday breakfast include?
Banana
Oatmeal
Hemp Seeds
Cinnamon
BANANA
The unique mix of vitamins, minerals, and low glycemic carbohydrates in bananas has made them a favorite fruit among endurance athletes. Bananas are easy on my stomach and a simple food for the first meal of the deal. I also eat a banana before a race or workout.
OATS
By weight, raw oats are 66% carbohydrates, 17% protein, 7% fat and 11% fiber. Oats are very low in sugar, with only 1% coming from sucrose.
PROTEIN: Oats are a good source of quality protein, ranging from 11-17% by dry weight, which is higher than most other grains (22).
FAT: Oats contain more protein and good fat than most other grains. Plus, pure oats are gluten-free.
VITAMINS: Oats contain high amounts of many vitamins and minerals, such as manganese, phosphorus, copper, B-vitamins, iron, selenium, magnesium and zinc.
Bottom line, cooked oatmeal is low in calories, is very filling compared to other breakfast foods.
HEMP SEEDS
Technically a nut, hemp seeds are very nutritious.
PROTEIN: Hemp seeds are a great protein source, as more than 25% of their total calories are from high-quality protein. That is considerably more than similar foods like chia seeds and flaxseeds, which provide about 16–18%. Hemp seeds contain all the essential amino acids, making them a complete protein source.
FAT: Hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats and essential fatty acids.
VITAMINS: They also contain high amounts of vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc.
FIBER: Whole hemp seeds contain high amounts of fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which benefits digestive health. De-hulled hemp seeds have had the fiber-rich shell removed, and therefore contain very little fiber.
Overall, hemp seeds are incredibly healthy. They might just be one of the few superfoods that are actually worthy of their reputation.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon is loaded with Antioxidants; Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory properties. Not to mention it adds flavor and sweetness simply.
Consider this permission to be monogamous when it comes to your favorite healthy meals. I don’t intend on changing my breakfast routine for a long, long, long time.
*Data from Huffington Post