Did Someone Say Breakfast?

What's more American than a bowl of Kellogg's in the morning? A 2 p.m. "coma!" Many Americans experience an energy slump in the afternoon because of consuming excess carbohydrates, particularly refined flours and sugars. If left uncorrected, this lifestyle eventually leads to a pre-diabetic condition called insulin resistance.

"More than one-third of people in the United States have insulin resistance, yet 90% of them don't know it," said a physiology and developmental biology professor at Brigham Young University. Benjamin Bikman has been studying the unfortunate trend of rising insulin resistance. To combat the energy deficit that inevitably accompanies this condition, Bikman recommends eating less sugar and starch overall and increasing the amount of fat consumed throughout the day.

A helpful technique is to start the day with a no-carb breakfast. Here are a few suggestions:

• Taco Eggs: Mix scrambled eggs, taco meat, avocado and salsa.
• Thai Curry Eggs: Combine sauteed celery & bok choy with coconut milk, curry paste, and hard-boiled eggs.
• Pizza Eggs: Start with a vegetable omelet filled with peppers, onions, mushrooms and olives. Sausage optional. Smear with pizza sauce and add a sprinkling of cheese.
• Stuffed tomatoes (or bell peppers): Mix beaten eggs, salt, and chopped broccoli or spinach. Pour into a hollowed tomato or bell pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. 
• Swedish potato pancakes (latkes) minus the potato: Grate a zucchini, crack an egg over it, add salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. Fry on a hot griddle. Good served with ricotta cheese.
• Country Omelet: fill with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and herbs.

Don't like eggs? How about these breakfasts?

• Coconut pudding: Whisk together 1 can coconut milk, 1/4 c. chia seed, a dash of vanilla, a pinch of salt and a packet of stevia. Chill overnight. Nutty & creamy option: add 1/4 c. unsweetened nut butter. Good with maple flavoring.
• Avocado Boats: Cut avocado in half and remove seed. Fill cavity with tuna salad & tomato, or taco meat & salsa
•  Stir-fries: lots of veggies with a little beef, chicken, or fish. Flavor with ginger and garlic. Curry optional. May add coconut milk. 
• Leftovers from last-night's dinner. Who says you can't have chicken cordon bleu for breakfast?