In my experience, the meal that seems to give folks the most problem, when eschewing grains and reducing their carbohydrate intake, is breakfast. At first, especially if one has just been enlightened on the truth about saturated fat and cholesterol, eggs and bacon become a morning staple. Then the novelty wears off and the need for variety creeps in.
Enter today's healthy recipe for Super Food Cereal, made with coconut flakes, sliced almonds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, cacao nibs and wild blueberries. Each of these ingredients are superstars when it comes to nutrient density and the nutrition they provide.
However, before I get to sharing this recipe, there is one caveat, while this recipe meets all my healthy requirements, grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and low-carb, it is also a “little” low in protein for my liking. We can negate this and still enjoy the variety it brings to our morning meal, by making this the star and accompanying it with perhaps a side of homemade sausage or really any protein you prefer. I never tire of eggs, so that is usually what I have on the side.
Click Here To Pin Super Food Cereal
3 Reasons for Powering up with Protein
When it comes to having a healthy body composition, protein plays a very important role. It improves satiety, increases thermogenesis and ensures maintenance of lean body mass.
1. Satiety
Of the three macronutrients, protein, fat and carbohydrates, protein takes the longest to make its way through our digestive system. This is important, as that means hunger will stay at bay longer after we eat a meal with an appropriate amount of protein.
2. Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis or “the thermic effect of food” refers to the calories the body burns or wastes to digest the food we eat. The body burns more calories when digesting protein, 3-4 times more, when compared to carbohydrates and fats.
3. Muscle Maintenance
Protein provides the building blocks for muscle tissue. Our need for protein increases under stress, when calories are reduced, when we are sick and when we exercise. Adequate amounts of protein ensure we maintain lean body mass.
How much protein do you need? Check out this article, The Power of Protein: Amounts & Sources, for your answer.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz. Raw Cacao Nibs
- 1/2 oz. Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
- 1/2 oz. Chia Seeds
- 1/2 oz. Sliced Almonds
- 1/2 oz. Hemp Seeds
- 1 oz. Wild Blueberries
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Vanilla Stevia
Directions
- Place a cereal-sized bowl on kitchen scale and measure out ingredients.
- Add unsweetened almond milk and a few drops of stevia.
- Let soak for 5 minutes, top with blueberries and enjoy!
Click +1 Below. Have you tried super food cereal yet?
Just posted this breakfast idea for my Crossfit clients and for those who follow a paleo meal plan. So many people get stuck in a box when thinking about breakfast food. This is a new fresh approach! Love it….thanks.
You are most welcome!
Though I have never tired of eggs either, this looks good. Love your kitty’s reach – one of our 2 boys (who look just like yours) would be at the table behaving the same way, too. Ha, ha, cute! Kitty knows good food.
No matter how long I have been doing Paleo I still find that I miss cereal frequently. This looks like a good alternative for the occasional switch-up. Luckily I am too lazy to bake or I would be making cookies and muffins and cakes, pancakes (Paleo Style) all the time.
How about adding a spoonful of gelatin as well?
Go for it! 🙂
Could you use unsweetened Vanilla Soy milk?
Hi Ronnie. Thank you for your readership. You are always free to modify as you see fit, however I don’t recommend soy products. Confused About Soy?–Soy Dangers Summarized
This sounds great! Could you please offer approximate measurements for those of us who don’t have kitchen scales? I know it won’t be exact. Thank you!
Sure, about 2 Tbsp. of everything but the chia seeds, for that I would use 1 Tbsp. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much! That totally helps. 🙂
Love, love, LOVE this recipe! I miss cereal. So, this was a real treat and easy to throw together. Too, I can tell that my energy is sustained throughout the day. So nice! Thank you!!!
Another great idea for cereal. Thanks for the recipe.
Vanessa, I love this “cereal”. Did not have cocoa nibs, so I added chocolate dynamic greens. It was awesome!! Thank you for posting!!
So trying this!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the cat stealing your breakfast!!!
Love this – wish u had a Pin widget for Pinterest
Merle, at the bottom of every post is a sharing bar with a Pinterest pin.
Thanks! I see it now… Didn’t show up on my iPad for some reason??
I pinned it 🙂
Chop up some protein pancakes (egg whites and protein powder) & throw them in for a great addition!
This looks fantastic – thanks! One trick I use to increase my protein levels with “cereal” is to add some egg protein powder (sweetened with stevia) to my coconut milk before pouring it into the bowl. I just put the milk and powder in a small jar that fits on my blender and give it a quick buzz.
The amazon link goes to “hemp powder” instead of seeds. Is it okay to substitute and is the measurement the same?
Thank you Christa — no we want to use hemp seeds not the powder. Enjoy!
For a variety of fruit, would you recommend dried fruits such as cranberries,etc.?
I would stick with fresh fruits not dried. The dried are like little sugar bombs. lol
Looks tasty! I’ve never tried hemp seeds before, I’ll have to look into those. Could they also possibly be replaced with flaxseed/flax meal?
You wouldn’t want to use whole flax seeds the flaxseed meal will make it thick.
Just made this for my breakfast. Yum! I used homemade plain kefir in place of the almond milk and it was delicious.
Thanks for the recipe. I love your website! Do you happen to have the nutritional breakdown for this?
I do not. You can run your ingredients through an online calculator like http://www.fitday.com
i toasted the nuts and coconut and it was so good!! really awesome idea! love it!
Yum!
with exception to the milk and blueberries can I make a larger batch at one time for convenience and store in the fridge?
Sure!
Great recipe!, something different to eat beside eggs.
My mother-in-law love this. Thanks for sharing this blog. Very helpful for me.