From the Kitchen Friday: Cookies for Breakfast?

Happy Friday! Now that you have gotten to know me a little more, you know my passion for nutrition and for cookies!  Recently, I had a friend of mine ask if there was such a thing as a healthier cookie (because I guess mine were adding a few inches to the waistline) and of course I said yes!  Combining my passions make me happy, so I decided it was time to share my breakfast cookie. 

Cool has a delicious one too that she will share during a later post, but I thought this was perfect timing with all the buzz about the importance of eating breakfast.

 

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. You need something to kick start your metabolism in the morning, otherwise your calorie burning furnace gets started too late in the day. Many people think they need to have an elaborate meal for breakfast but it doesn’t have to be. It just needs to have balance, meaning you need a good high fiber carbohydrate with a good quality protein. By the way, coffee and/or soda do not count!  However, a nice black cup of coffee compliments my delicious cookies very well, go ahead and have a cup! 

 I bake up a batch once a week to have them ready to go when I am running late. They are also great as a quick snack or when you have a sweet craving.  Who would skip breakfast if they knew they could have cookies?

The Right Start

Get the day off to a great start by making a good breakfast a part of it.  Breakfast is truly the most important meal to eat. 

Studies show kids and adults who eat breakfast are more likely to:

 

§  Concentrate better with problem-solving skills used in reading, writing and math

§  Have healthier body weights

§  Have lower blood cholesterol levels

 

Follow the 3R’s to help yourself make healthy breakfast choices.

 

Rev Up Metabolism

Breakfast simply means to “break-the-fast”.  Your body tends to burn fewer calories as you sleep.  Burn more calories and jump-start your metabolism by eating breakfast.

 

Reach For Protein and Fiber

Smart breakfast choices should include two or three foods groups.  Include protein and fiber in your breakfast to keep you feeling full longer.  Our bodies love carbohydrates.  They are easy to digest and give quick energy.  Proteins take a little longer to digest, therefore providing energy when the carbohydrates are gone.

 

Ready-To-Go In One Minute

Don’t have enough time in the morning to eat breakfast?  Here is a great recipe for a breakfast cookie to start the day!  

 

Blissful Breakfast Cookies

Makes 12 cookies, or 6-2 cookie servings

All You Need:

·         1 c unsweetened applesauce

·         2 large mashed ripe bananas

·         2 tbsp agave syrup

·         ½ c dried mixed berries

·         ½ c sliced almonds

·         1 c fresh strawberries, finely            chopped

·         1 tsp pure vanilla extract

·         2 tsp cinnamon

·         1 scoop of low-sugar vanilla whey protein powder

·         1½ C old fashioned rolled oats(certified gluten free if necessary)

All You Do:

1.      Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare one baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.      In a bowl stir together the applesauce, mashed bananas and agave syrup.

3.      Add in the dried fruit, nuts. fresh fruit and vanilla.

4.      Sprinkle the mixture with cinnamon and protein powder, and then stir in the oats. When combined, drop 12 - ¼ cupfuls on the prepared baking sheet.

5.      Pat the cookies down to the shape and size you like and press all the goodies that may have fallen out of the cookie back so it bakes well.

6.      Place cookies in the oven and bake for 30 minutes till golden, rotating the sheet around half way through baking.

7.      Remove from oven, let sit for 10 minutes on cookie sheet then place cookies on a baking rack to cool completely (about an hour)

8.      Then you are going to bake again, but the place the bottom of the cookie facing up, so you are baking the bottom. Repeat steps 6 and 7.

-Crazy