- May 9, 2017

Cocoa Granola & Mixed Berry Breakfast Parfait

When people learn about a plant-based diet, they often ask, "where do you get your protein?" or "what do you have for breakfast?"

The quick and easy answer to the first question: plant-based diets easily meet protein requirements; there are plenty and plenty and plenty of sources confirming this.

As for the second question: I too years ago would have wondered the same thing.

It makes sense, right? What ingredients are in breakfast foods for many people?

Eggs. Ham. Bacon. Cheese. Milk. Yogurt. Butter.

Heck, this is what I used to have for breakfast:

milk/yogurt-based smoothies
milk-based oatmeals
BLT (bacon-lettuce-toamto) sandwiches
egg sandwiches with cheese
omelettes with cheese
grilled cheese sandwiches cooked with butter
buttered hash browns
crepes
muffins
croissants
cookies
lattes

... wowza!

The only common breakfast food that's naturally plant-based that I can think of is the good ol' peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter and banana toast.

But now, I'm lucky enough to be able to enjoy this:

The beneficial antioxidant capacity of this breakfast trumps anything on the list I mentioned above. In fact, I guarantee it offers more in this one breakfast than of all those breakfasts combined. Plus more beneficial fiber, vitamins, minerals...

But good-for-you talk aside, it's just damn good. That's why I go back to it over and over.

The ingredients are simple:

Granola (for this one I used the roasted cashew and coconut cocoa granola)
Soy yogurt
Bananas
Frozen raspberries and blueberries
Fresh pomegranates
Pumpkin seeds

And it takes only 5 minutes (or less) to put together.

It can't possibly get easier than that.

In this one breakfast you have all four food groups:

Grains (oats)
Fruits (banana, raspberries, blueberries, pomegranates)
Milk alternatives (soy yogurt)
Meat alternatives (cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)

Dietitian's Recommendation: choose a milk alternative (for example soy yogurt) that has been fortified with calcium. Check the label and aim for a product that offers about 100 mg calcium per 100 mL or 100 g serving.