For me, breakfast always sets the tone for how I eat for the rest of the day. On a cold winter morning, a hearty bowl of steel cut oats with some yummy toppings is a great way to start off the day right. It actually contains the perfect combination of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fat (60%/20%/20%). And it will keep you full all morning. Here’s my recipe:

You’ll Need:

1 cup steel cut oats, prepared with 1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbsp. agave or honey

Juice of 1/4 lemon

1/4 cup strawberries

1/4 cup blueberries

1/4 cup raspberries

1/2 Tbsp. sliced almonds or other nuts

A sprinkle of lemon rind

A sprinkle of clean granola

Prepare the oats according to package directions adding salt. I usually cook mine on the stove, but you can do so in the microwave too. When it is nearly finished cooking, stir in the cinnamon and vanilla. When it is finished cooking add in the agave and lemon juice and stir well. Move to a bowl. Top with berries, nuts a small drizzle of agave, lemon rind and a sprinkle of your favorite granola.

With the freshness of the berries and bright flavor of the lemon combined with the warm and chewy oats and the crunch of the nuts, it reminds me of eating berry crisp in the summer time. It’s a delicious and nutritious breakfast, yet it’s only 276 calories.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 276

Fat: 5.4 g

Saturated: .5 g

Polyunsaturated: .3 g

Monounsaturated: 0

Trans: 0

Cholesterol: 0

Sodium: 296.3 mg

Potassium: 279.9 mg

Carbs: 50.7 g

Fiber: 8.8 g

Sugar: 15.2 g

Protein: 8.7 g

Vitamin A: .5%

Vitamin C: 65.6%

Calcium: 3.7%

Iron: 12.3%