Breakfast on the Run

Breakfast is both my most loved and most hated meal. I have never liked eating first thing so during the week I really struggle, but a lazy indulgent weekend brunch is just the best. I don't think I will ever be able to get up early enough to eat (and feel like eating) before I leave the house during the week so I tend to eat breakfast at work at about 9 or 9.30.

That means I need to be taking something either prepared the night before or pretty instant to throw together and these three are my staples at the moment and each recipe serves one.

If you don't like eating first thing then a shake might be the perfect options for you as it often is for me. There are millions of breakfast smoothie type recipes out there but for the absolute quickest thing mine is as follows:

Basic Breakfast Shake

2 scoops Arbonne Protein Shake Mix in Vanilla or Chocolate
1 tsp instant espresso powder or a shot of Espresso
300ml cold water or nut milk

Put all ingredients in a shaker cup (I generally put dry ingredients first then fill up with water), blend and drink. Depending on which flavour shake mix you use it'll be a mocha or latte flavour - latte is my favourite. I prefer just blending with water but for a richer shake try any kind of milk according to what you prefer.

The shake in the picture is another variation: 

2 scoops Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix
300ml cold water or nut milk
1 tbsp almond butter
1 frozen sliced banana

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

This is a super yummy breakfast shake if you have a blender to have (I keep a hand blender and a plastic jug in the kitchen at work). As soon as I have any over-ripe bananas I slice up and freeze in a bag so they're ready to add to a smoothie - think I got this tip from Jamie Oliver and it's really handy.

[Disclaimer: I'm an Arbonne Independent Consultant so of course use this nutrition range and thoroughly recommend it as a healthy and tasty choice - you could use any protein mix but steer clear of cheap whey].

If you prefer to chew your calories then just a couple of minutes the night before is all you need for  a bircher muesli type breakfast.

Lazy Bircher Muesli 

250ml fruit & vegetable juice (I used Innocent Orange & Carrot here but Tropicana and V8 also do some good ones)
4 tbsp oats
handful chopped fresh fruit

1. Stir together the oats and juice, then mash in a bit of the fruit. Leave to stand overnight
2. Either chop the rest of the fruit and box up now or just take with you in the morning.
3. When ready to eat, stir the muesli and add the rest of the fruit.

Traditional Bircher Muesli

250ml natural yoghurt (I used soya here but the important thing is nothing with ant added sugar)
2 heaped tbsp oats
1 large apple, grated
honey, nuts, seeds to serve

1. Stir together the yoghurt, apple and oats then leave to stand overnight.
2. When ready to eat stir again and add fresh fruit, honey, seeds, nuts or whatever you want to jazz it up.

I do notice my energy levels being more consistent on the days where I eat breakfast at a sensible time and it definitely affects what I eat later in the day. These are my absolute fastest no-hassle options but I'm planning to expand my repertoire!

To try the Arbonne Protein Shake Mix visit my online shop http://emilywright.arbonne.com