“I don’t care how late it is, when I wake up I’m eating breakfast.” -Anonymous

The holiday season is in full swing. I can’t even believe that it’s December 9th. I looked at the date on my phone yesterday and I was literally shocked. Time is just flying by! Amidst the fun, food, festivities, and frenzy of the season I want to talk about BALANCE. It’s something I strive for everyday. I believe that the concept of balance is at the core of my blog, my approach to health, and my approach to life in general! One of my best friends, when asked to describe me in one word, responded with, “balanced!”

That, my friends, was not always the case. In fact, I was once pretty ‘extreme’ when it came to my diet. I tried low fat/no fat and low carb/no carb. I binged and I deprived myself. I was consumed by the scale and I avoided the scale. I know first hand that in order to maintain my health, I must always strive for balance. Sounds reasonable, but what exactly does that look like in a time of year when you’re overwhelmed with projects and papers, friends and finals, shopping and baking, and eating but not eating too much? Well, it usually starts with BREAKFAST.

Breakfast is, without a doubt, my favorite meal of the day. I truly believe that breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. I used to skip breakfast because I was ‘too busy’ and I thought I could drop a few pounds by skipping. Unfortunately, I’d inevitably end up snacking throughout the day, making up for any lost calories…big time! Nowadays, I always begin my day in the healthiest way possible, with a nourishing breakfast. I always aim to include some healthy carbohydrates and a bit of protein to start my day on the right foot. I also can’t imagine an AM meal without fruit… or coffee!

Breakfast helps you concentrate, improves your mood, and lowers your stress. Long term it helps lower your chance for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. If you want to stay balanced and keep your tummy happy this festive time of the year, make sure to start your day with a balanced breakfast. If you don’t have time to whip up some eggs or cook some oats on the stove top, try overnight oats, or a slice of g.free toast with some almond butter and a few slices of banana. Try a fresh fruit and Greek yogurt parfait, or a tasty nutritious smoothie. Grab an apple and a nut-based nutrition bar if you must… but make sure to get something healthy into your tummy!!

How about you? How do you maintain balance this time of year? Do YOU eat your breakfast everyday?

P.S. These are just a few of my favorite breakfasts as of late… be sure to follow me on Instagram to see more!