Monday, November 15, 2010

Fat Burning Breakfast Options: Banana-Quinoa Muffins & More

There is nothing quite so glorious as quiet time in the morning accompanied by a good breakfast and hot cup of tea.  As much as I am inclined to skip it, I know from a lot of reading that breakfast is the most crucial meal of the day.  It fuels us, boosts our metabolism and enables us to sail through until noon.

 Banana-Quinoa Muffin (with choc chip or 2) & Green Tea 
(in my favorite smarmy cup)

Last week I mentioned my renewed vigor for eating right and getting back on the workout wagon.  So far so good.  First thing in the morning I try to head out for a brisk 2 mile walk, come back and eat something smart aka not a chocolate bar that makes me want to go back to bed instead of to work.  My focus has been incorporating as many fat burning foods into my diet as possible, while still eating things I like and occasionally indulging.  All things in moderation is a fine motto when it comes to getting and staying in shape.  One of my quicker breakfast options that doubles as a snack is Banana-Quinoa Muffins. (oh the irony-losing the muffin top by eating a muffin).  Notice that the ripe bananas knock out the need for sugar (yay!) and the only other sweetening additive is 2T of honey.

Banana-Quinoa Muffins (Gluten-Free)
1/2 cup  Quinoa Flour
1/2 cup  Quinoa Flakes
2 Tbsp   Honey
2 tsp     Baking powder
1 tsp      Baking soda
1/2 tsp   Salt
2           Very Ripe Bananas
2           Eggs


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour and flakes with dry ingredients. In separate bowl mix together bananas, eggs and honey, add to dry ingredients. Pour into greased muffin tins. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Note: fill muffin tins 1/2 full.

Quinoa is a seed that is high in protein, gluten-free and from the same family as beets and spinach.  I opt to bake with the flour and flakes as often as possible because they are high in protein and fiber - keys to burning fat - as well as in antioxidants and B vitamins. You can find other great recipes (including the muffins) on the Ancient Harvest website.  

I wanted to share some other great fat burning breakfasts to keep you moving through the week.  Feel free to sub them whenever necessary throughout the day.  Ixnay on the french fries.  Ixnay!
  • If you aren't gluten intolerant, I highly recommend eating oats for breakfast.  Super high in fiber and protein, they'll fill you up and get your metabolism going.  Mix in some fruit and/or yogurt and you're good to go.  When I could still eat wheat and grains, I'd sometimes switch them for Cheerios without sugar too.  Yum!   And if you're a warm cereal eater...heat up those oats and you're all set.
  • Quinoa is a great substitute for oats - you can do all the same things without the gluten.  For added variety try eating with an apple, some berries or a portion of pink grapefruit.  Keeps the meal interesting and rounds out the food groups, too.
  • Egg eaters:  omelettes are an excellent way to go if you have a minute to whip one up.  Doesn't have to be fancy, either.  Eggs are high in protein so they stimulate your metabolism.  Just use the whites for a healthier alternative and in each case toss in some veggies to maximize the healthy factor.
  • Low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese + a side of fruit.  It is crucial to meet your daily calcium intake requirement so your body will burn fat instead of storing it.  Yogurt or cottage cheese in proper quantities will definitely assist with this.  I have a tough time eating either of these plain, so usually eat alongside a piece of melon, grapefruit (citrus is perfect right now), or a crispy crab apple.
  • Green tea - no matter what I'm eating for breakfast I always try to have a cup of green tea with it.  I've mentioned many of tea's benefits before, but my fave about green tea is its fat burning quality.  If I'm going to be working out I want my body to be fueled properly and provided with all the benefits it can have to assist it.
  • Here's an interesting note I found on bananas (the part about unripened bananas caught my attention because it's one of my go-to snacks and something my body will crave on occasion - this one is interesting, too)
I hope this post keeps you motivated to stay on the fitness wagon...is anyone still on this thing with me?  What are your healthy breakfast options?  To be honest I eat several of these as snacks throughout the day, and have been known to have an omelette for dinner every now and then, too.  Whatever it takes to stay motivated and interested in eating healthy vs. chips, chocolate bars and sour gummy worms.  I've got issues.

71 comments:

Dawn said...

These muffins look pretty yummy...but do I really have to give up my handful of chocolate chips (or gummi-bears)with my breakfast.....?
:)
I love Steel Cut oats for breakfast. They take forever to coo...but way too good!

Anonymous said...

That muffin sounds delish, and the mug just adds to the greatness of it all. I'm horrible about eating breakfast but I know I need to. It's on my list (that stupid list is getting so long...) of things I'm going to do. Someday.

Little Paper Trees said...

i'm so bad at eating breakfast but might just try this recipe, its easy when you are on the go!

Anonymous said...

Oh, thanks for this post Carrie! I´ve never heard of Quinoa before, gotta google it and try to get it.
I´m a tea drinker, too. I can´t imagine to start my day without a nice cup of green tea. The muffin looks so great and I like the idea of it being healthy :) Do you have the recipe? Could you send it to me? I need a substitute for my millet gruel with fruits I eat every morning atm - it´s getting boring :)
Dinner cancelling is what I do now too. I do it for a week now and I feel so much better and even more relaxed in the morning...

Have a beautiful day!

xxx
-M-

Anonymous said...

Ok, forget the recipe - I just noticed the link in your post ;-) Well, sometimes I really am blonde hehe
xxx

jemina said...

I've heard of quinoa and have used it in baking :), and I love oats too. Thanks for sharing healthy breakfasts with us sweetie, I appreciate it very much

Kisses
J
xoxo

Signe said...

That Muffin and tea looks like such a great way to start the day :)

Laura said...

The muffin looks yummy! I'm a huge green tea fan! I'm just not so good at the eating something with it for breakfast... unless it's a chocolate bar. ><

L x
Half Dressed

o said...

Thx for sharing these tips, Carrie! I'm trying to eat healthier, but I must admit that it's so difficult!! I've been eating warm cereal or oatmeal for breakfast:) I had no idea that green tea had fat burning qualities! I'm a huge fan of green tea, so it's good to know that it has its benefits:)

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

Collette Osuna said...

LOVE quinoa....I was introduced to it back in January.....Im a vegetarian, so I est it alot...and you are right...breakfast is the most important meal of the day....too bad its the meal we are running around nuts for!!!

Your muffins look awesome:)

Stop by and say Hello ♥
Have you heard about Twitter Tuesday?

Anonymous said...

Oh, who would think a muffin would help lose the muffin top?! Love it. Looks yummy. If you big tea drinker I wonder if you have ever tried Teavana? Expensive but worth it. My favorite green tea is from them is Fruit Bomba. xo

Jessica said...

I just picked up a package of quinoa and have been looking at it skeptically. I've never used it before, but I know how good it is. We'll see. A muffin is definitely one way to motivate me to try it!

I lost five pounds last week from poor eating post-everything. Boo. But now I'm trying to only eat all-natural food to help keep that weight off in a healthy way. Too bad I made chocolate chip cookies on Sunday. (My coworkers love me, at least.)

Leia said...

I'm still with you, Carrie, and I'm saving this post to read through properly post-vacation. I normally don't eat any breakfast at all (!!!) but am hoping to change that soon :)

Leia

Alleen said...

Yummy! Good for you, staying committed!! Very inspiring as I sit here debating to go for a run or not (treadmill, it's raining).

Love breakfast...favorite meal! :)

Claudz said...

I had my first Qunioa encounter this year and I have been pleasantly surprised! Exciting to try more recipes with it

heather said...

Oh, man! I honestly never thought of using quinoa for baking! I just made a quinoa salad yesterday, using the last of our stock. We have lots of beans and brown (and white) rice left, so buying more quinoa when we're trying to empty out the cupboard is a no go... But I will definitely try quinoa muffins on the flip side. Fabulous! And atta girl on tha wagon! :)

little luxury list said...

Thanks for the list and I'm totally wanting to try quinoa muffins now!
We eat egg white omelets a lot and I cook oatmeal for the husband every morning so we're definitely trying to eat right too!

I have a $100 Shopbop giveaway up today with lots of possible entries! Enter if you'd like!

hip hip gin gin said...

This post is making me feel mighty guilty about the Lucky Charms I had for breakfast this morning. Oy. I'll have to send this recipe to my mom, she is gluten intolerant so she eats a lot of quinoa but I don't think she has ever baked with it. They do look yummy! And I love your mug =)

Nikki said...

YUM!!!!!! These look delicious and sound healthy. I like that combo!


xx
Nikki

SiSi Sparkles said...

I absolutely LOVE tea! :] a new follower here.

http://www.sisisparkles.blogspot.com

Isabel said...

lately ive been eating plain all natural yogurt with a cutup apple in it. sometimes when im feeling bad i add a little honey. pretty delicious!

Cafe Fashionista said...

Yayay for yogurt! Seriously, I'm kind of obsessed with yogurt - and not because it's S and B's lunch of choice at the Steps of the Met. :P

erica said...

Thanks for the post doll! Seriously I have been trying to get back into shape since the wedding I kind of "let myself go" and need to get back down or people will be rolling me out of their house at Christmas lol. Awesome breakfast ideas!
xo

LyddieGal said...

Ugh, I'm one of those people who consistently has coffee and nothing else for breakfast. Sometimes I try to eat an instant oatmeal, but I can't even force myself to finish it. I hate eating in the am.

Courtney Erin said...

I love breakfast! It's the one hour of the day where I can get a bowl of oatmeal and cup of coffee and sit on my couch and read my book or the paper in peace!

xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

www.janetteria.com said...

Oooh, thanks for sharing!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Jude said...

I sadly love those sour gummies wa-ay too much! That muffin and green tea look so d-lish...I may just have to start with that tomorrow! Thank you for this motivation!

Josie said...

Admittedly, I'm really bad about breakfast. I mean, I'm all about Sunday brunch (I have quite the passion for fried egg whites, bacon, and hash browns) but rarely eat it the rest of the time. Time for me to give it a go!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Nikki said...

Yum! I'll have to give these a try! Of course as I read this I'm eating chocolate chip cookies, but at least they're made with almond flour ;)

Ashleigh said...

I just started bringing mini cottage cheeses to work for breakfast. I didn't realize what a great source of protien they are and I love how they fill me up until lunch! (I do have a fruit smoothie at home before I leave too.) I'm trying to do better overall but I get lazy with this grocery list making & shopping trips :(

Joy | The life of Joy said...

Haha i guess you aren't really a teenager is your room is cleaned up :P

Valerie said...

Yum, thanks for the inspiration, Carrie. I've been trying to stick with you and be on a health kick recently too and I'd say I've just been doing "okay". The working out is fine, but it's the overeating that gets me in trouble. The words "portion control" don't exist in my vocabulary. But I'm trying! I love your breakfast list. I'm not a devoted breakfast eater, even though I know I should be. I eat it about half the time and usually stick to eggs and unsweetened oatmeal. Cottage cheese is something I love and always forget about. Thanks for the reminder.

xo
Valerie

Daniela said...

good for you on working out and eating healthy! I try, really I try..

Jessica said...

The muffin looks delicious! I'm so bad about skipping breakfast and just drinking coffee. I am the WORST healthy eater ever. I've heard a lot about quinoa but have never actually tried it. My mom is a personal trainer on the side and she is always hounding me about eating healthy foods like this. I've GOT to start! No time like the holidays to become healthy, haha.

Diana Mieczan said...

I so love starting my day with a cup of tea and a yummy muffin:) You are making me so hungry right now, darling
Happy Tuesday
Kisses

Laura said...

I love a good cup of tea! I wish I had the dedication to exercise before work!! I am always sleeping for as long as possible and then racing out the door.

Marie a la Mode said...

Those look delicious! I eat oatmeal every morning (boring I know but I'm addicted to cinnamon and raisin)and I am still drinking about 2 cups of green tea in the morning as well : )

I'm still on the fitness kick with you, you're not alone! Yay for Pilates!

A Crimson Kiss said...

This recipe sounds mouthwatering, but I always try to avoid sweeter things in the morning. My go to breakfast is a piece of toast with peanut butter, or maybe a little yogurt, and by this time my stomach is grrowling!

STYLE'N said...

awesome post and I love eating all of these items. I agree-breakfast is so key to sailing through until lunch. Lately I have been having whole wheat waffles with PB. Weekends-I make eggs and omelettes. I have to say this recipe sounds good. I have eaten quinoa for dinner but is it really good in muffins? If you say so then I will try it

Lila said...

I love Quinoa but have never baked with it. These muffins look so delish!

Not going so great on the workout scene. I've been sick = no energy.

Annie said...

These sound really delicious Carrie! I definitely will have to give them a try :) Xo

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

Great tips! I love that muffin is healthy - looks so good!

bananas. said...

bananas are GREAT for you...but i could've easily told you that ;)

that muffin looks delish. probably won't make it but still...

Unknown said...

The recipe sounds great! I made some cinnamon-raisin bran bread last week and have been alternating eating that for breakfast or activia yogurt + banana. Makes me feel pretty good usually!

Anonymous said...

I made some cake the other day and was horrified at how much sugar I had to pour in. I like the sound of this. So much healthier.

Bren said...

These look so amazing! I love Quinoa, but I've never cooked/baked with it at home. I try to eat breakfast most days, but it usually doesn't happen until late morning, and by then I'm starving! These would be the perfect thing to grab for my drive to work!

Still catching up on blog reading after my NY/bday break, so bear with me. :)

xoxo,
Bren @ Chasing Beauty

Rosa creativa said...

woww this is such an interesting blog I love it... I follow u
Thank you so much for your lovely comment today on my blog..

xx
Rosa

My Stylish Little Secret
http://mystylishlittlesecret.blogspot.co

kimbirdy said...

awesome! i just jumped back on the health wagon after a long hiatus starting with my wedding. i've been trying to eat really simply and naturally (fruit, salads, whole grains), and get really smelly and sweaty at least 30 min every day. so far i've been successful for three days in a row! success! :) thanks for the inspiration!

Melmo Momoko said...

yummy this looks so delicious. I want to try it :)

A Crimson Kiss said...

I just can't help but think that a banana muffin would feel like such a delicious indulgence! Although my favorite sweet treat is frozen whipped banana, so I should just make up these muffins!

OneCraftyFox said...

OK, I totally have to try this!! You have to come link this recipe on my blog, I just posted a recipe swap today, how ironic :)

I decided to start eating right and working out again last week. I have incorporated fresh fruit and veggies as snacks into my day, reduced my salt intake, and overall just tried to eat more sensibly (as I'm typing this I'm eating Chinese take-out, lol!! I've been so good this is my treat).

I also started doing the P90X workouts... OMGawd they are killing me. Of course I don't do 6 sets of 30 push-ups, I do sets of 10. OK, 8, sue me!!

this free bird said...

Girl you crazy?? P90?? I'm so proud of you!! Jillian Michaels beatings leave me trounced and passed out on the living room floor!

Giovanna said...

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!! ❤
xo
Giovanna
Boho Market

Lisa Griffin said...

this a fabulous article! i have had quinoa but i had no idea it came in flour and flake form, is it similar?
www.indramaticfashion.com

ryan said...

I am going to have to try this. I am not a breakfast person but I know how important it is to have something in the AM to give you energy for the morning. Great post.

La_Flaneuse said...

Fabulous recipe! I am totally inspired!

bubbs

www.paris-on-my-mind.blogspot.com

Kristin Quinn said...

I don't usually pay attention to recipes on blogs (mostly because I don't cook or bake all too much ) but you've completely sold me on these! And yes breakfast always with a cup of green tea... or three! That is a must :)

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Okay, these sound amazing!!! A must try!!! :) :)

Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls

Kristen said...

I am so proud of you for adhering to this!
And I have been CRAVING healthy muffins! I want to make some Pumpkin, walnut, oatmeal, raisin && spice muffins. I have been wanting to do this for like almost two months and it hasn't happened. It needs to happen veryveryvery soon!

&& Err, this week has been another bad one... :/
Blah.
I did so good last week. Of more correctly- for a few days.
My motivation has been zilch. In every aspect of my life. It's not good!

style-haus said...

my breakfast usually consists of just coffee and yoghurt but these muffins would be the perfect addition to my morning meal!

re: the images on my clutch post, i used pics from polyvore believe it or not (i stopped using polyvore for a while b/c it always slowed down my computer but their new layout has improved!) i simply saved the images in the original size and put them together in a collage using photoshop.

http://style-haus.blogspot.com/

FarmGirl said...

Your muffins look delicious!
Thanks for the comment on my blog.
Have great day!
xxx

k said...

those look incredible. and sound incredible. I might have to make them for us this weekend. or give mark the recipe and have him make them for us. yeah i like that option better!

Anonymous said...

Those muffins sound so yummy and wholesome!
-Felicity

http://FelicityLingle.blogspot.com

Marissa said...

These muffins sound delicious. Most reduced-fat muffins are still super high in sugar, so I can't wait to try these out!

Anna Walker said...

And now I like bananas even more! :)
Seriously! My perfect 'winter' breakfast, is Oatmeal with Banana, sometimes with a little peanut butter too!

http://annawalker1992.blogspot.com/

Stacey said...

I've had banana muffins for breakfast a couple times this week. However, not the Quinoa ones(must try those). XX

HannahsBlogger said...

Lovely blog! :) The muffins look so yummy! May have to give them a go some time xo

justagirlLaura said...

OMG. I have that SAME EXACT mug sitting on my desk and drink green tea out of it every day!!

These muffins sound and look delicious!

Heidi said...

Ohhh, I LOVE those mugs, magnets, bag & wallets that have the vintage pictures with smart ass sayings on them. I have a metal wallet with a women dressed to the nines that say, 'domestically disabled'. It fits me well, seeing as I'm a mother & housewife. Ha.

& I freaking love today's outfit. So edgy but girlie. Well done.

Tash said...

I love banana anything so I will definitely try this healthy muffins recipe. Thanks! You sound super motivated, good for you! Its always fun to read your posts :)

Anonymous said...

wow these muffins look amazing!! i love quinoa in almost anything...so I'm sure i will love these :). thanks for sharing! and thanks for the breakfast/snack ideas too.

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