The morning sun was making its way into our kitchen with the
smell of warm food filling our home. Sailor kicked her feet with excitement as
I lifted her into her high chair and Nate and I took a seat at the table. The
fluffy pancakes were removed from the griddle and on to plates where 2 kiwis
and grilled zucchini awaited them. Nate handed a little pancake to Sailor, a
morning prayer was offered and we all started to fill our tummies. After a few
bites, Nate put his hand on my leg and delightedly stated, “I love mornings!”
Can you see
this peaceful, rejuvenating setting in your minds eye? Mornings truly are
special and one of our favorite parts of the day. Contrast this to the
beginning of the year… Nate’s work schedule had him being in Downtown Salt Lake
by 7am each day, which meant he left our home in Provo by 6am, which he did not
feel like eating that early. The project was long, months long, and the hours
meant he would not return home til 7pm or later. By that time, Sailor and I had
already had dinner but had saved some for him. A little bit of time would be
left with us 3 before Sailor needed to go to bed. All of us had taken on new
roles and responsibilities. I was not working for income for the first time in
over a decade and although Nate never made me feel like it was my
responsibility, I felt the need to have the house clean and food ready when he
got home. I was still trying to find joy in these repetitive tasks but also
knew that if I did not do them, we would be hungry and not enjoy being in our
home amidst the mess (we had just moved as well so still getting moved in at
this point). I knew my role as homemaker was important but did not feeeeel that
way. I felt I was going through the motions and did not like the tasks I
assigned myself. I wanted home to be a nice place for all of us to be, a place
Nate looked forward to coming to, that enriched our lives. But, I was not
satisfied. I felt empty, like I was barely keeping my head above water, with
all the demands I was putting on myself but for me, things that needed to be
done too.
During this
time, I felt distant from Nate. We were both so tired, him from his work and me
from my work and very interrupted sleep. We did not have much quality time
together and I wanted to change that but didn’t know how. In the free time I
had when I was not sleeping, I spent a lot of time reading books and
researching the different benefits and sources of main vitamins and minerals
because I was very aware that my body was still healing and also the source of nutrients
for Sailor. With Nate’s busy schedule and with how early he left, he often did
not take food but would buy fast food and such. He noticed eating that way did
not feel good and often left him feeling unsatisfied and crappy… but it was
fast and available right? All these things set me up for finding an answer for
us.
One day, I
took a look at all the things in and out of my control and realized food was
definitely something I could control. I could not control the intensity of
Nate’s work but I could provide fuel to help him feel better at work and also
show my love by putting the food together for him, while occasionally sneaking
love notes and cheesy play on words to the contents within. So although Nate
left early in the morning, too early for his liking to eat, I made an effort to
make him breakfast and pack a lunch so when he was almost to work, more ready
to eat, he could have a nice, nutritious, delicious, filling breakfast… and as
a breast milk provider, I was hungry any time of day and enjoyed having a tiny
bit more time than usual with Nate in the morning. After a while, I asked Nate
if he felt like my efforts, this change in food fuel, was making a difference,
“Definitely!” Putting forth this effort was also super beneficial to me because
I was becoming more consistent in my life which eventually spread to other
areas. A little thing, but it helped me feel like I was making a difference for
all of us which to me, is super exciting!!
Nate’s work schedule changed and it
was back to his normal 8:30-5. We were already in a routine of having
nutritious breakfasts. Our morning meal is indeed that, OUR morning meal. We are
enriching our relationships by all eating some deliciously nutritious food
together, talking about our day, taking pleasure in watching Sailor try new
foods and eat more and more, and have a loving experience to start off the day.
Breakfast has become a morning ritual that we each look forward to and what I
think, sets us up for success! We have noticed we stay full longer, do not
crave nearly as much crap, and just freakin feel good when we fuel ourselves
well. Making breakfast each day is indeed something I give time to. It would be
much faster to pour a bowl of cereal and milk than it is to crack eggs, cut up
zucchini and stick them on the George Forman Grill, whip up some Kodiak Cake
batter (which is super easy, have you made these yet?... you need to!). But
really, it is not that much longer, maybe 10 minutes, 15 at the most. You live
with yourself constantly so it is worth the time to fuel yourself well so you
are not prematurely thinking about the next meal, or have a sugar high and
crash from sugary cereal that leaves you hungry within an hour. It is amazing
to me that we have so many choices and can make small adjustments that will
yield tremendous results. Could breakfast change your life for the better too? I
LOVE being a homemaker now. I get to kickstart mine and my family’s day with
providing a very simple, yet meaningful experience each day! I get to fuel
myself and family well that will add to their energy, mood, and health and HOW
FREAKING EXCITING IS THAT?!!! I, me, get to create a delightful morning, a
family experience for us with a simple breakfast. I don’t dread making food
anymore, I know it is a big deal! Yes, it is repetitive because dang, we eat a
lot but that is all the more reason for us to eat well then right?! Oh yes! Wahoo! Remember, you are constantly with yourself so You deserve the best by giving your body nutritious deliciousness. Fuel
yourself well today and let me know if you try any of the suggestions below!
You rock! Your body is amazing and does so much for you! Do a nourishing, strengthening breakfast for you, for your body. Have a great day!
We regularly rotate through these
and this week I am trying more so feel free to head over to my insta stories
for more ideas too.
Breakfast
suggestions (with more to come):
·
Kodiak Cakes (this is a protein, whole grain
pancake mix that is delicious! Found at Costco and any food store by pancake
mix).
·
Egg omelet with your choice or combo of
Mushrooms
Spinach
Onion
Tomato
Peppers
*Be sure to soften, sauté these ingredients before you add eggs
·
Multigrain German Pancakes
·
Multigrain crepes (also can use almond and
coconut flour)
·
Old Fashioned Oats with agave to sweeten
Awesome sides to go with the above:
·
Grilled zucchini (our favorite)
·
Sweet potato hashbrowns
·
Chocolate Shakeology banana smoothie
·
Chocolate Shakeology peanut butter smoothie
·
Choice of fruit
~ we love banana, kiwi, strawberries, mangos~
What are your favorite breakfasts? What are things you have
created in your life to enrich it? Please share with me and lets go Dominate
Life + generate good!
FUEL WELL ~ FEEL WELL
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