What I'm eating: breakfast

When I was trying to figure out how I could motivate myself to make a lifestyle change, I had a love/hate relationship with healthy living bloggers/Instagrammers. On the one hand, I loved seeing how other people were changing their lives, and I rooted for them to succeed. But on the other hand, I wanted to be making progress myself. And every time I saw someone achieve a goal or make a healthy choice, I was reminded that I wasn't.

But ultimately, I did decide to make a change, and I really feel like I was motivated by others who were willing to share their stories and struggles and tips. 

And so, as I've been getting so many emails and comments asking for tips and pointers and recipes, I figured I'd do series on what I'm eating these days. You can find even more Paleo/Whole30 recipes on my Paleo Eats Pinterest Board. And I highly recommend The Paleo Kitchen cookbook, as well as Juli's blog PaleOMG. 

Today, we're talking breakfast.

I eat one of two things in the mornings during the week because it's easy, and I like predictability. 

2 hard-boiled eggs cut into quarters and drizzled with Louisiana Hot Sauce + big handful kale + big handful cherry/grape tomatoes + small handful of nuts (or 1/2 avocado)

OR

2 hardboiled eggs + green smoothie (recipe below)

I always hard-boil eggs three days at a time at night after Grace goes to bed and put my kale/tomatoes/nuts in baggies so they're handy to grab and go in the morning. (I take it all with me and eat at work.) I make the smoothies on mornings that Grace sleeps a little longer than usual because they're more time-consuming.

On the weekends, we usually do something a little more fun.

Scrambled eggs + salsa + avocado + bacon (I pull my eggs out and then add cheese for Micah and Grace)

Paleo Pumpkin Waffles (these turned out better as pancakes for us) + bacon 

Sweet Potato, Apple, and Bacon Hash (this is still one of my favorite recipes)

Even on the weekends, though, I make myself eat a big handful of kale or spinach because I feel like I need it, and also because it makes me feel hardcore. Ha.

My Go-To Green Smoothie

1/2 banana (fresh or frozen. I usually freeze bananas when they start to turn brown, and this is the perfect way to use them up.)

1/4 to 1/2 cup berries (blueberries and strawberries are perfect)

2 T. unsweetened coconut milk

2 T. water

1/2 cup ice

1-2 cups kale/spinach (I promise you won't taste the greens)

Add all ingredients to blender, and blend until smooth. If your blender has a hard time (like mine often does), add more water. I wouldn't add a whole lot more coconut milk, or it will taste like you poured heavy cream in it. I think the banana and fruit give enough sweetness, but if you want more, add 1 T. honey.

(Please note that if you're doing the Whole30, not all of the things listed above are Whole30 complaint. For example, you're not "allowed" to have smoothies or Paleo pancakes on the Whole30, and I wholeheartedly agree with the program's focus on resetting your brain. So swallow down those veggies as best you can and tough it out for 30 days. I promise, it gets easier.)