I was talking to a friend and I mentioned that I hadn’t put my standard breakfast of Yogurt, fruit and granola online – but then thought – maybe I should? This might help someone out there ? Before I tell you more about my breakfast of champions – a bit more personal info about me. I’ve been trying to watch my weight (…again…) and have been working on having higher protein and lower sugar meals. And this breakfast fits that bill.
Let’s start with the Yogurt :
Typically I get the Fage Lowfat or the Chobani Lowfat — PLAIN. Yes, virginia, plain yogurt is good for you, it is flexible in recipes, can substitute in for mayo or sour cream in a pinch. It can be added to baked goods to improve the crumb. There are a ton of great things to do with plain yogurt, in addition to eating it for breakfast – so know that it is flexible and there are many uses. (Tzaziki / Dips / Baking etc.)
I get the lowfat because the full fat is just a few too many calories extra and the fat free doesn’t hold me over as well – I feel that my body needs some fat to keep me satiated.
Chobani Brand – 3/4 C is a serving – which is a LOT – and it’s only 120 calories and includes 15 g of Protein (score!) and only 7 carbs and 6 sugars.
Fage Brand – similar ! 3/4 C is a serving – which STILL a LOT – and it’s also only 120 calories and includes 17 g of Protein (even better!) and only 5 carbs and 5 sugars.
Add some fruit:
I typically add in berries. I’m a big berry girl. Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, you name it I’ll eat them! The buying of these is partially about what is on sale (of course!) and what will last. I also don’t buy strawberries unless they are organic or from a farmers market. (Strawberries are #1 offender on the Dirty Dozen…) As you know raspberries don’t always last very long so if I’m buying those – I will be sure I am able to eat them before they spoil.
While I’m speaking about berries and spoiling — I’ll share one of my favorite things – which is my fruit and produce storage containers from Rubbermaid. My friend Marie turned me onto these – and I was skeptical – but they REALLY do save your fruit and produce a whole lot longer than when it’s in a bag or in the plastic little fruit box – and just laid in the fridge. I’d tried a different brand refrigerator containers and they didn’t do nuthin. Hence my skepticism on these when Marie told me. She bought me a couple for my Bday, and then I was amazed at how well they worked and I bought more! So that’s how that went… So don’t be skeptical… You can read more on this – in my favorite things post here.
Today, though, in addition to my berries I also had gotten some first of the summer peaches at the grocery. I sat them on the counter, willing them to ripen and tried one today. Hmmm bit disappointed as it wasn’t exactly ripe as I wanted but it was still good. 🙂
Icing on the Cake ? Granola …
OK kids, this granola is for grown ups. You get it at Costco and it is da Bomb. The only trouble with it is, how delicious it is. It’s low carbs and high calories and did I mention how delicious? Yes please. More of this granola please. (This granola is another thing that is routinely on our Costco shopping list.)
Do yourself a favor, tho. Don’t sit down with a big bowl and add milk and chow down. You’ll probably regret that. It’s fairly high in calories – because it’s mostly nuts and seeds with dehydrated blueberries and some cinnamon.
160 Calories in 1/3 of a C. I typically use the 1/8 C or 1/4 C to scoop it out of the bag – and honestly always do a heaping cup of whatever I add…. haha So 1/4 C is about 120 calories and 3 g protein and 7 carbs.
So overall I get about 18 – 20 g of Protein for about 240 calories + a few carbs + fruit. I don’t worry about fruit calories or sugar in the fruit – because God made it and it was around when Nana was around and it’s not processed. I know the die hard low carb police would come after me for that – but I don’t worry about fruit. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Ain’t no one ever got fat eating too much fruit”.
OK – let me know if you think I’m off my rocker on this – or if you’ve already added this granola to your Costco shopping list ????