HOW TO UN-KIT BREAKFAST!
Have you noticed the kit craze on your grocery store shelves? There are kits for everything!
I’ve seen kits for salads (um, apparently see-thru lettuce + pancake syrup disguised as dressing + stale nuts and dried cranberries = a “salad”), kits for packing a school lunch, and even kits for making rice krispie treats. Seriously? Mixing ONE boxed product with ONE bagged product and a stick of butter must be waaaaay too complicated.
It’s a kit-crazy world.
I know I sound grandma-ish here (I can’t help it), but in my day, we just used – a recipe.
I was thinking about kits the other day when I looked at the breakfast cereals on the store shelves. (Boxed breakfast cereals were the first, or at least some of the first, foods to be promoted as a “kit.”) Knowing there’s not a healthy boxed option to be found, it occurred to me that perhaps not everyone thinks outside the box.
There may be those out there who aren’t even aware of how quick and easy it is to throw a few ingredients together and come up with something nutritious and delicious.
And the best part? When you think outside the box – you get to add the ingredients that you like best. Allergic to nuts? Skip ‘em! Want a gluten-free option? Check out the great recipe using the ancient “grain,” amaranth, below. (Click here to learn more about amaranth.)
Want to reduce the pain and inflammation of fibromyalgia and chronic health challenges? Eating clean is a great way to help your body to heal from the inside out.Do your best to reduce the amount of highly packaged and processed foods you consume and replace them with simple, whole, healthy and deliciously homemade versions.
Today’s tip: UnKit your next breakfast with this simple recipe. It packs a nutritious punch adding protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and great antioxidants. It’s so versatile, it can be served for any meal of the day including dessert.
Fruity Amaranth
3 C Water
1 C Amaranth
1 Apple or Pear, chopped
½ tsp Cinnamon
¼ tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
Desired sweetener, to taste
Nuts or seeds, if desired
Directions: Bring water to a boil and then add amaranth. Return to a boil, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes or so. Add fruit and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until tender.
Stir to blend in fruit and to check for desired consistency. Let stand a few minutes before serving. Get creative and top with your favorite add-ins from the list below.
Fabulous and Fun Options: 
Sweeten, if desired, with grade B maple syrup, raw organic honey, coconut crystals, stevia, xylitol, erythritol, mashed bananas, or natural sweetener of your choice.
Experiment with peaches, plums, mangoes, cherries, berries, golden raisins or other dried fruits. (Apples and blueberries happen to be my favorite.)
Top with crushed nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.) or seeds such as ground flax or chia.
For a creamier texture, add coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut cream, almond butter, cashew butter, ghee, or butter. Try combinations to create your own favorite blends.
For a creamy dessert, serve chilled topped with fresh fruit compote and whipped (coconut) cream.
Have you experimented by making porridge from these great gluten-free options — quinoa, millet, or amaranth? Try them in this recipe and others.
What do you think? Tell us your favorite UnKit recipe suggestion, below!
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Interested in co-creating your own program to heal from the inside out? Check out Sue’s Rebuilding Wellness site – and click on the Work With Sue tab to learn more.
Hi,
I have found that having a Nutri-Bullet (fruits/veggies blend) with either milled almonds, chia, or flaxseed have added to my boost for better health. I am grateful for my husband agreeing how important it is to eat clean. I have just heard that due to weather (intense rain/floods) that the fruits and veggies may very well be very expensive in days to come. We shall see. Still need. Each year, we pick enough organic blueberries to last one full year. I set aside the money each year. Went July the 4th and had a wonderful time picking in the glorious sunshine. As long as I am able, I will always do this. Makes a huge difference having in my died almost daily.
I would prefer that our Nation would insist that processed foods not be so cheap anymore and that what we know is best would cost less. They did so for the cigarettes. Preventive health care is the way to go!
Julie — I love your healthy perspective and your improved health is an obvious result. Yes, it is frustrating that worst of foods out there are also very cheap. Corn is in everything and corn is one of the most government subsidized foods on the planet. All we can do purchase what feeds us best (whole, real, natural, nutrient-dense and fiber-rich foods) and keep ourselves and our families healthy. I love to hear about your blended smoothies, too!
Please change (LOL) died to diet or food intake.
Of course! I see typos in all of my stuff when I read it later. Makes you cringe or laugh. And … it’s good to laugh 😉
I LOVE this idea! I love oatmeal and I’m supposed to avoid oats, now. So I tried quinoa instead. It was a little weird, but I played with it and it wasn’t bad. It fulfilled the oatmeal craving and was super healthy and filling! I also use cinnamon and vanilla, I put in some almond milk, fresh strawberries, and chopped almonds. Delicious alternative to a classic! And I also haven’t eaten any boxed cereal in months, and cereal was a staple for me at all hours of the day and night! I’ve learned how to make my own Paleo-style cereal and that helps, too. 🙂 Thanks Sue for the great ideas!!
Brianne – so glad you enjoyed this. I hope you try this amaranth recipe with quinoa, too. I love it. Quinoa is one of the most versatile pseudo-grains out there. It can be used in so many different ways! Thanks for sharing!