You’ve likely heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It prepares you for those long morning hours of work or school and should fuel you all the way ’til lunch. If you’re trying to improve your breakfast habits and pack in more energy, protein can keep you feel full for longer and also prevent over-eating throughout the day.
Collagen, a type of protein, has become a popular supplement for boosting energy in the morning. It can also help improve gut health, which may lead to better digestion and a better mood. If you want to start your day off right, you can try naturally collagen-rich meals or add collagen powder to your favorite breakfast foods.
1. The Ultimate Breakfast Smoothie
This nutrient-rich smoothie provides a hearty quick-meal by combining green leafy vegetables, fruits, and crunchy seeds. You can whip this up by adding collagen peptides in powder form, Greek yogurt, kale or spinach, frozen blueberries, almond milk, frozen bananas, and chia seeds to a blender and blending it until you get a thick consistency. The Greek yogurt is low in calories, while spinach or kale packs potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K, which may reduce high blood pressure, improve eyesight, and strengthen bones. The fruits add a natural sweetness and are packed with fiber while the chia seeds are high in calcium, magnesium, and iron.
2. This Turmeric Ginger Bone Broth Smoothie Bowl
Many people enjoy bone broth because it’s loaded with collagen. Although you can drink the broth by itself, you can make it a little tastier with this nutritious smoothie bowl recipe.
All you need to do is add bone broth, coconut milk, sweet potato, a small piece of ginger, a dash of turmeric, and cinnamon. You can also add a bit of honey and vanilla powder to a blender until it becomes smooth. Once you serve it in a bowl, you can add any of your favorite toppings, such as fruits and nuts.
While the bone broth works as a rich source of collagen, the turmeric and ginger offer anti-inflammatory properties and may aid in better digestion. Moreover, the sweet potato thickens up the smoothie and also adds natural sweetness.
3. All About Egg Whites
If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast choice, egg white breakfast cups can be both filling and nutritious. To make them, all you need is to prepare a muffin tray with grease and then add in vegetables such as chopped spinach, chopped tomatoes, and chopped corn. Pour in the egg whites and top with grated parmesan or additional vegetables and cook until the whites set.
Egg whites contain a high amount of amino acids, especially proline, which is essential for the natural production of collagen in the body. Spinach and tomatoes provide vitamin A, C, and K, as well as iron and calcium.
4. Almond Butter Banana Bread
If you have overly-ripe bananas at home, don’t toss them out just yet—you can make wholesome banana bread with it. To make this, you need to combine yogurt, all-purpose flour, eggs, vanilla essence, almonds, chocolate chips, bananas, and honey in a bowl. You can add in some collagen powder to the mixture for more collagen because it’s safe to bake with and won’t change the bread’s taste or consistency.
After pouring it into a greased bread pan, you can top it up with more chocolate chips or almonds before baking for an hour. The bananas are nutritious and fibrous, while eggs are rich in amino acids.
5. The World’s Best Berry Bowl
This fruity and colorful smoothie bowl houses nutrients that can keep you full and satisfy your sweet tooth. Add mixed frozen berries to a blender along with spinach, coconut milk, and almond butter. You can also add in acai powder and an additional sweetener if you want. Blend them until it becomes smooth and add in more coconut milk if you prefer a smoother consistency. Serve in a bowl and top with chia seeds, more berries, hemp seeds, or coconut flakes.
Berries such as strawberries and blueberries are rich in Vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and promotes collagen production.
Make Healthy Choices First Thing in the Morning
By prioritizing protein in your morning meal, you’ll have enough energy to sustain you until lunch. With your stomach satisfied, you’ll have an easier time concentrating on the tasks at hand. By starting the day with a protein-packed (and delicious) meal, you might even enjoy the earliest hours of your day.