Warm Winter Breakfast

I don’t know about you but I love a warm breakfast in the winter, when its cold outside I want something warm in my belly. 

Since September, I have been enrolled in an Ayurvedic Seasonal Wellness program with one of my favorite yoga instructors, Melina Meza, we spent the fall talking about the Vata season and establishing routines around the busy, hectic autumn months and since mid December we have moved into the Kapha season, talking about the foods and self care techniques to get us through the dark days of the winter. 

One thing that we have been focusing on during both seasons is getting a variety of tastes in each meal and through out the day to help our bodies feel full and satisfied. For today’s post, I thought I would share a recipe for the oatmeal I often make for breakfast, with all the spices and topping it has a variety of tastes, textures and flavors that kept me satisfied and nourished for my morning run. 

It’s easy and comforting to take a few minutes to stir spices into your stovetop oatmeal and this recipe will make enough for two breakfasts, so the next day your meal is easy and ready to go! 

Simple Spicy Oatmeal 

• 1 cup Old Fashion Oats
• 1 cup coconut milk (you could use any type milk or even water, I like just coconut best) 

I generally just wing it and don’t measure the rest out, a dash or so of each is usually fine and you can add more for your own taste… 

• Cinnamon
• Pumpkin pie spices 
• Ground Ginger 
• Vanilla 
• Maple Syrup 
• Chyavanprash (an herbal jam-like medicine used in Ayurveda. It is traditionally used as a health supplement to fight everyday illnesses and to support the immune system) 

Stir all these together on a low heat until the Chavanprash is mixed through and your oatmeal starts to bubble about 5 minutes or so, taste to make sure the oatmeal is cooked through. 

When its done add the toppings, this is what I had today… again no measuring, about a tablespoon of each… 

• Walnuts 
• Coconut flakes 
• Cooked apples or apple sauce (we always have too many apples so I cook them down with spices – a lot of the same from above and eat it through the week) 
• Ginger Mango Chutney (you could also add jam, almond butter or skip it, but I like this one because its adds a lot of extra flavors) 

Let me know if you try it out or if you have any other fun recipes that would warm up a cold winter morning.