Breakfast is my most favorite meal to eat and least favorite to prepare. Maybe it’s because I’m chronically overworked. Maybe it’s because eating on a medically necessary Total Elimination Diet is ridiculously hard and mentally exhausting. Maybe it’s because I have two small children I’m in charge of feeding. But either way, breakfast is the thing I get out of bed for and also the thing I put off for hours until I’m so hungry that I end up eating 17 handfuls of trail mix or just skipping it altogether and waiting until lunch.
Friends. This is not good adulting. It’s not even good humaning. It definitely doesn’t work while taking care of those said small children and I need to set a good and authentic example of self care for them because their bodies and minds and spirits are precious and important. And so are mine.
So breakfast it is.
The best and easiest way I can make this happen, especially on my limited diet, is finding foods I can make ahead of time and quickly cook them and also share with my food-allergic son. I’m willing to figure out a way around the breakfast conundrum for his sake and mine.
This does require creativity and a bit of thinking outside of the box. But have no fear, I have both of those qualities in spades and am ready to use them for the greater good of my family and virtual community. Since oats are a giant no for us, I try to find other ways to eat a warm, healthy breakfast that can be taken on the go if necessary.
Quick grits are a perfect fit for a simple, hot breakfast during the week. You can make a batch of it well in advance and store it in a sealed container in your pantry for a long while. You can pre-portion the servings into mason jars, and add water, microwave, and go.
Ingredients:
1 /12 cups grits
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 Tbsp brown sugar (optional)
Pinch of salt
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in an airtight container. Use a 1/3 cup of the gluten free hot cereal mix to 1 cup of water. Microwave partially covered on high for 5 minutes, stirring once. If you’re like me and you don’t own a microwave because your partner is opposed, you can make this on the stovetop in 10 minutes. Top with your favorite nut milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, or other favorite accoutrements.
Feed yourself, mama. For more ways to support your family and allergy food needs, check out our Nourishing Families Facebook group.
