Gluten-Free Breakfast Goodness

It's often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast prepares your body to get through your day and it's certainly worth giving special attention. This post will go over some protein packed gluten-free options that will get your day off to an awesome start. Now before your mind goes into some basic combos like bacon and eggs, I'd like to give you some healthier options that in some cases taste better than the combo mentioned above.

 Turkey Sausage

Have you ever tried turkey sausage? Turkey sausage has become increasingly popular over the past five or so years and it has been added to many breakfast hot spots all over the country. Let's go over a few benefits that turkey sausage brings to the table. Did you know that turkey sausage has more protein than pork sausage? A three and half ounce serving of turkey sausage has 23.9 grams of protein as opposed to 14 grams of protein in pork sausage. Eating a breakfast rich in protein provides the amino acids that your brain needs to function at its optimal level. Now pairing your turkey sausage with complex carbohydrates, helps segue us into our next breakfast items.                                                      

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Pancakes &Waffles

Pancakes and waffles have been breakfast staples for years and retailers have jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon; great news for us right!  Although it may cost these companies a little more dough to make gluten-free pancakes and waffles, there is a market for it. Take a walk down the frozen food isle or the baked goods isle and you'll find gluten-free pancake and waffle mixes and/or frozen pancakes and waffles. If you choose to buy the dry mixes, in most cases, you'll need to add eggs, oil and milk. You could also opt to make your own gluten-free  pancake and waffle batter (we'll go over this topic in another post). As for adding nutritional value to your pancake and waffle breakfast, flax seeds and seasonal fruit can provide some essential vitamins such as Omega 3s and Vitamin C.

Smoothies

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If there's one way to get a jump start on your day, it would be drinking a fruit and vegetable smoothie. Smoothies can be made with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and the best part about it is that you have complete control as to what goes into your smoothie. You have the opportunity to fulfill most of your fruit and vegetable servings first thing in the morning. Feel free to add fresh greens such as kale, romaine and/or spinach with bananas, strawberries or even kiwi.  I mentioned flax seeds earlier and adding them to your smoothie could be a nice addition of Omega 3s to your breakfast shake. Since most nutrients in fruits and vegetables are found in the skins and membranes, it's important to make sure that your blender utilizes these key parts.

Oatmeal

Another breakfast item that is naturally gluten-free is oatmeal. However, it depends on where the oats are manufactured. Many companies choose to consolidate their facilities and therefore the oats could face contamination. Meaning that naturally gluten-free oats could be processed on the same machines that process wheat products.  It's important to check the label of your oatmeal to ensure that your oats are processed in a gluten-free environment. As with pancakes and waffles, adding fruits and also cinnamon make great additions to your breakfast as well.

Wrapping It Up

All of the foods mentioned above are great ways to start your day. Or if you're like me, breakfast can be eaten at any time of the day! Keep that in mind whenever you'd like to change up your routine.  Be sure to keep your eyes pealed for my next gluten-free goodness post as I plan to tackle lunch time. Until next time, take care and be well :)