Feed your body, feed your brain… and ditch the alarm clock

I don’t need an alarm clock; my stomach tells me when it’s time to get up.

“I’m STARVING!” is usually the sound of the alarm. And, trust me, there is no “snooze” button. I wake up because I’m hungry; and once I’m awake, I want to eat!

I like to get up before my daughter does, so that I can get our day started and also grab 15 minutes to myself. Those 15 minutes are spent enjoying my breakfast, along with a great cup of coffee and the morning news. Ahhhh… bliss.

You’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Research backs it up, and if you are in the habit of eating breakfast already, you know from personal experience that it’s the best way to start the day.

For one thing, when you eat breakfast, you are reassuring your body that food is plentiful and there’s no need to store fat. For another thing, when you feed your body, you feed your brain. You are rewarding yourself with energy and creativity!

Of course, make smart food choices: oatmeal, whole grain cereal, quinoa, lowfat or nonfat dairy, protein shakes, fruits, vegetables and eggs. Egg whites, in particular, are a great source of protein and a smart part of any weight-loss plan. Check out the easy recipe below.

Omelette: egg whites, spinach, feta cheese

Ingredients (for one serving)
4 egg whites (about 3/4 cup of egg whites from carton)
1/2 cup spinach (cooked, squeezed dry)
14 cup feta cheese

Recipe
Spray your pan with cooking oil. Heat the pan and pour in the egg whites. Fold the egg whites when they begin to cook, but don’t overstir them or you’ll have scrambled eggs instead of an omelette. The egg whites should look like a white pancake; you may need to jiggle the pan and loosen the sides with a rubber spatula to keep the omelette from sticking. Add the drained spinach and feta to one side and fold over the omelette. Cook for another 30 seconds.

Calories: 171