Fueling the day of music making with a great breakfast seems like a no brainer, yet we have all ignored this obvious fact, either succumbing to sugar bombs like doughnuts and cereal, or skipping breakfast altogether. Give your body some complex carbohydrates, protein, and nutrients like vitamin C and magnesium to help make the most of the morning.
My favorite quick and easy breakfast is a mix of oatmeal with nutritional goodies like nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. I add goodies like chocolate or matcha for their energizing properties. Keep a container of this mix handy for those times when you need to excuse-proof your morning fueling session.
- 4 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds or other chopped nuts
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup raisins or other dried fruit (chop larger pieces)
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds, pepitas, sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
Place all the ingredients in a zip-loc bag or large jar. Shake to distribute.
To serve, measure out 1/2 cup of the mix into a cereal bowl, pour 1 cup boiling water over, and mix it up. Cover and allow to steep for at least 5 minutes. (I make my coffee while waiting.) Sweeten as desired, add milk of choice, and top with additional goodies. I like to add a scoop of peanut butter for an extra protein boost.
Chocolate Variation: Add a teaspoon of cocoa powder and a small handful of chocolate chips to a single serving.
Matcha Variation: Add 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder to a single serving.
Earl Grey Version: Steep a bag of Earl Grey with the oatmeal, removing it at the desired level of potency.
The Sated Musician 