Getting it right for breakfast – homemade muesli recipe

There are lots of reasons why you shouldn’t skip breakfast. Not least of which is because it’s yummy and really is the easiest meal of the day to prepare. If you think you don’t have time for breakfast then get up 10 minutes earlier. This may be one of the simplest and most health inducing things you can do for yourself today.

Breakfast is important, especially for kids who need adequate energy to fuel brain function and growth. Having said that, us big people need to be looking after ourselves too.

Eating breakfast :

* helps brain function, memory and cognition.

* helps you avoid the 10am sugar low when you get so hungry that you fill up on coffee and biscuits or anything you can find while battling a cranky mood and headache,

* You are more likely to maintain a healthy weight when you are a regular breakfast eater – you are less likely to snack and it also increases your metabolism.

Avoid like the plague anything which calls itself a breakfast cereal but is primary coloured ! Fruit Loops, Coco Pops etc are the scourge of the world and will do you no good. Please don’t give them to your children – it’s like having lollies for breakfast.  Things like pastries which are high in fat and low in anything of much good to you are to be avoided. Meats, particularly processed ones like bacon, are a no-no offering little in the way of nutrition and giving you lots of nasties like saturated fats and nitrites which are known carcinogens – and I’m sure the animals aren’t too happy about it either.  I am constantly dismayed by the queue at the McDonald’s drive through – McDonalds for breakfast ?- you may as well just sign up your funeral plan now.

Look for cereals which are wholegrain, low in saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories. Aim for fibre, and protein with things like dairy or soy products, nut butters, eggs, wholegrain cereals and breads, fruit and veges.

Breakfast ideas can be simple and wholesome and prepared in minutes – eggs on toast, juice smoothies with yoghurt, yoghurt and fruit, toast or fruit loaf with ricotta and fruit, porridge with grated apple and some nuts or try my MAGIC HOMEMADE MUESLI.

I made a big batch of this muesli today. It took me 2 minutes to throw it all together and 10 minutes or so in the oven. Voila ! Muesli for weeks to come which is yummy and has all the things you need and nothing that you don’t. Try it with some yummy vanilla yoghurt and fruit – poached strawberries or rhubarb is about as fabulous as it gets. Treat yourself to something great …this wheat and dairy free version is bound to become a favourite and who doesn’t feel virtuous eating homemade muesli ???

MAGIC HOMEMADE MUESLI

500g shredded coconut
300g pepitas
200g sunflower seeds
130g pecan pieces
125g walnut pieces
125g flaked almonds
500g rice bran cereal
170g dried cranberries or other dried fruit of your choice
40g melted butter or dairy free spread
3 tablespoons honey

Melt butter and honey together.
Mix all other ingredients except cranberries in a big bowl and add honey/butter mix. Stir well to combine and place on baking trays. Bake in oven till golden, stirring a few times to make sure everything gets evenly toasted.

Add cranberries and allow to cool before storing in airtight containers.

This does make lots so feel free to halve or quarter quantities according to your needs.