As the cooler weather hits and the mornings become darker, getting up out of a cozy bed each morning can seem harder and harder. It helps if you have a warm breakfast waiting for you, and one that is hearty.
Preparation Time: 15
Cooking Time: 20
Yield: 3 cups
Description:
Warm breakfast cereal is true comfort food – it brings you back to childhood and your mum’s porridge, it warms your insides and fills your belly for the full day ahead. Warm breakfast cereal can actually be quite quick to whip together in the morning, or the night before. Try oatmeal in a crockpot and set it on low before heading to bed. Or try our Overnight Oats, warmed on the stove just before eating.
For a really nutritious treat, switch it up and reach for amaranth instead of oats or wheat. We’ve got a really tasty recipe for you to try. It might become your favourite warm breakfast cereal!
But first, here’s a little about this superfood:
Amaranth isn’t really a grain, but has the nutritional profile of one. It surpasses whole wheat in calories, protein, iron, zinc, copper and nearly all nutrients. Compared to other “grains” it is high in folic acid, calcium and Vitamin E. Like wheat, amaranth is rich in amino acid lysine. It has three times the amount of calcium as a glass of milk!
Amaranth makes a great warm breakfast cereal. You can make this recipe the night before and heat it just before eating. After freezing or refrigerating, you will just need to add a bit of water to thin it to your desired consistency. This recipe was originally created as a purée for baby, but I am sure you will agree, it works for all family members (just don’t purée for yourself).
Guest post by: Lianne Phillipson-Webb is the founder of Sprout Right (www.sproutright.com), a company that specializes in pre-conception, prenatal, and postnatal nutrition for women, as well as good food and health for the whole family. With over ten years of experience, Lianne is a registered nutritionist, author, member of the International Organization of Nutrition Consultants, a regular resource on television and in print and mother of two.
Recipe from Sprout Right Nutrition from Tummy to Toddler
Image credit: Amaranth http://www.amaranth-bio.com/
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup amaranth, rinsed in a fine sieve
2 pears, peeled (or leave the peel on for yourself), cored and chopped
2 apples, peeled (or leave the peel on for yourself), cored and chopped
¼ cup frozen blueberries
1 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ inch (1 cm) piece of ginger root, finely chopped
1 cup amaranth, rinsed in a fine sieve
2 pears, peeled (or leave the peel on for yourself), cored and chopped
2 apples, peeled (or leave the peel on for yourself), cored and chopped
¼ cup frozen blueberries
1 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ inch (1 cm) piece of ginger root, finely chopped
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer, stirring often, until amaranth is tender, about 20 minutes.
