Start your day right!

I like cake! There I said it. But it doesn't stop there. I also like chocolate, and biscuits, and carbs and crisps. It's about time I came to terms with it. I'd love to be one of those people (and I do know a few) that just 'don't really like bread or potatoes' or anything unhealthy. Well good for them for being so virtuous, or for lying to themselves, but sadly I'm not one of them. But it's ok to like these things, it's just about willpower and moderation. Sadly that's been the missing link these days. I haven't been great with balancing my diet. I have some pretty valid excuses, I get about 5 hours sleep a night, and that's often not even in one stretch, and with 2 young children food is generally of the 'grab and go' variety. But these are just excuses. Ultimately no one cares if I eat bad stuff except me. Yes I look ok and my clothes fit fine but I know I could do better and I plan to start. And what better place to start than breakfast, after all it is the most important meal of the day! 

I'd really love to start my day with eggs on toast. And actually if you poach the egg and use granary bread it's quite a healthy breakfast. But it's not always practical so like most people I often have to settle for cereal. Full-of-sugar, hungry-again-after-an-hour cereal! But we all know that oats are great for you and apparently fill you up for longer. The problem is there's no way I can cook porridge on a hob while trying to feed two kids. So granola it is, but have you ever seen how much sugar there is in granola? Even in the apparently 'no added sugar' ones I found 18g of sugar in 50g portion! I know it's from dried fruit but that's a third of the bowl full of sugar. Following a recommendation from a friend I have found a great low sugar granola (Lizi's) with 3g of sugar in a 50g portion (although I'm sure my portion sizes also need reviewing)! But it does means I can treat myself to a tablespoon of fruit yoghurt and some fresh fruit and make a yummy but not too sinful breakfast. 

But now for my amazing breakfast discovery. Ok for some of you hipsters this will be old news but I often cotton on to things a bit late. Yes it's overnight oats. I wish I had known you could make delicious creamy porridge oats without cooking them. It takes me less than 5 mins the evening before, I then get to dream about them all night and then devour them the next morning. Now that is a great start to the day! 

Overnight Oats 

- place 7 tablespoons of porridge oats in a bowl, jar or container

- pour over approx 100ml milk (regular milk or specialist milk such as almond or coconut) to cover the oats completely 

- add goji berries and seeds (e.g. flax, linseed, sunflower seeds etc) as required 

- add 1-2 tables spoons plain or flavoured yoghurt 

- top with fresh fruit e.g blueberries, banana, strawberries etc 

- leave in the fridge for 2 hours but preferably overnight 

- stir and enjoy! 

Other great toppings are nuts, coconut chips, peanut butter, raisins or dried fruit and chocolate shavings