paleo snacks Archives

3 Easy Paleo Breakfast Ideas

Paleo Breakfast Ideas Made Easy

Breakfast is an important meal, because it can get you going in the morning. The best foods to eat will depend on what you want your meal to do for you. For example, for some people, it can provide the fuel for a workout, and for others it can be the after-workout recovery meal.

Think Outside the Box…

One thing to keep in mind when planning paleo breakfast ideas is to think outside the box. You may have not considered steak, shrimp or broccoli from breakfast, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. With the paleo diet, they are fair game!

Loren Cordain, PhD, author of The Paleo Diet Cookbook, suggests trying some meat with fresh fruits or vegetables for breakfast. It may take some getting used to, but it will fill you up and be a great source of energy for your day.

Are you limited by time or location? Here are some easy fixes.

Often, your meal may depend on how much time you have in the morning or where you are. If you are not at home, you will need to prepare a meal that you can easily transport. If you don’t have much time, throwing a protein shake in the blender or preparing your meal the night before may be the solution.

Are you new to the paleo lifestyle? Here’s what to do.

If the paleo diet is new to you, switching everything all at once can be challenging – and may result in a bunch of cheat days. What works for me is to have a few different options that are quick and easy to make – but not so many choices that I can’t decide what to do.

1. Eggs

For example, eggs are one of my regular paleo breakfast meals. I can prepare hard boiled eggs in advance or I can throw them in the microwave for 2 minutes in the morning. I add things like salsa, tomatoes, spinach or avocado if I have the time or I’m at home.

2. Sweet Potatoes

Another staple breakfast for me is sweet potatoes. I usually eat these when I am craving something sweet, since it is one of the few paleo foods that satisfies both my sweet tooth and my hunger. Sweet potatoes or yams also cook quickly in the microwave or can be made the night before. I add coconut oil and some sea salt, and they really taste amazing for how simple they are.

3. DIY Protein Shakes

Another idea is having a protein shake. Lots of people do this, but if you are following a paleo diet, it becomes a little more challenging. Most standard protein powder mixes contain sugar and other processed ingredients that don’t fit with the diet plan.

For this reason, creating the perfect protein shake takes some trial and error. I start with plain unsweetened protein powder and add a green superfood mix, which includes tons of nutrients in a single scoop – so it’s easy.

I also add flax seeds, shredded unsweetened coconut, unsweetened almond milk and a little stevia. By the way, coconut tastes good with both the cocoa flavored superfood mix and lemon-lime.

Of course, it’s always handy to have paleo protein bars on hand just in case I forget to meal prep the night before and I run out of time in the morning. It also adds a little more variety to the paleo breakfast meal plan.

About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest

Where to Find Quinoa Protein Bars

Quinoa Protein Bars: An Excellent Source of Healthy Protein

If you’ve heard of quinoa, it’s probably been in comparison to other grains. It is usually talked about as a healthier alternative to rice, pasta or wheat, as it contains twice as much fiber, a good amount of protein and a variety of important vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, riboflavin and manganese.

Another interesting fact found in the bestselling book Quinoa 365, by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, is that quinoa has been ranked in the top 10 foods for muscle-building due to its protein and amino acid content plus complex carbohydrates. Want to get specific nutrition data? The USDA has a food nutrient database that you can check out online to search for quinoa.

However, only recently have I heard about quinoa protein bars…

Getting the Benefits of Quinoa… in a Bar

Quinoa makes a lot of sense in a protein bar, though. It is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat, and is a great alternative to protein sources such as eggs, dairy or nuts that are commonly found in protein bars.

Whether you have an allergy to these foods, a food sensitivity, are a vegan eater or you want a high-fiber protein bar, quinoa can be a simple solution.

Oskri makes a Quinoa Bar. It’s vegan, gluten free, lactose free and contains no refined sugar. It’s also organic and soy-free.

Some people compare the taste and texture to sesame sticks. They are crunchy vs chewy, if that matters to you.

The Good News …or the Bad News

These quinoa protein bars only contain 4 ingredients. This can be good news or bad news. The first 2 ingredients are quinoa seeds and sesame seeds – which make up almost 60% of the bar. If you you don’t like either of these seeds, I highly recommend that you don’t get this bar, but you probably already figured that out.

Keen-Wah Protein Bars

YogaEarth makes gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO quinoa protein bars called Keen-Wah Decadence Protein Bars. Although they contain healthy, clean ingredients, these bars are more like a desert than a snack. You might have already guessed this from the name on the package.

For example, the organic chocolate chia contains almond butter, coconut nectar, Peruvian cacao powder, chopped almonds, cacao butter, Peruvian cacao nibs, chia seeds, sprouted quinoa flour, quinoa crisps, brown rice protein powder and Himalayan sea salt. It also has a chocolate coating.

Bars are also soy-free, except some flavors contain a very small amount of soy lecithin.

Time for Dessert!

You can’t really complain about the ingredients – just be prepared for something rich and chocolate-ful. Of course, if you are looking for an easy and healthy dessert alternative, this is it.

You can also get coconut almond or cayenne cinnamon (because I know you’re wondering, it’s not super crazy – just a mild spicy flavor).

Another Option – with Less Protein.

Pure Organic makes their Ancient Grains Nut Bar, which contains quinoa, hemp, flax and amaranth. However, with just 5 grams of protein, plus rice and several sweeteners, I would not necessarily consider it paleo.

Paleo Angel Power Balls – What Makes them Different?

One unique aspect to these paleo balls is the grass fed collagen. Most bars don’t contain this gut-healing ingredient.

However, we’ve seen lots of attention towards incorporating collagen and bone broth in a healthy diet.

The Benefits of Collagen:

In addition to healing leaky gut, collagen helps to fight infection, reduces inflammation and is great for growing healthy bone, hair, skin and nails. Plus, it helps to promote good sleep.

The downside of making fresh bone broth (in my opinion) is that it takes time, requires washing dishes and it can smell up the house.

Although I don’t mind the scent of bone broth, I don’t want my house smelling like it all the time.

Purchasing collagen instead can provide a hassle-free alternative. Having it mixed in with my protein bars (or balls) is even easier!

Additionally, collagen offers a source of protein for people who want extra protein – but don’t necessarily want it to come from whey, egg or plants.

What These Power Balls Don’t Have:

Speaking of avoiding certain ingredients, Paleo Angel Power Balls don’t contain gluten, dairy, eggs or tree nuts.

4 Paleo Angel Power Balls Flavors:

Carob (rich)
Vanilla (creamy)
Lemon Cream (fresh & tangy)
Orange Cranberry (sweet & tart)

Power Balls give you a nice change from the traditional rectangular-shaped protein bar. Therefore, if you decide to have one for breakfast, you don’t have to feel like you are eating a pre-packaged snack.

Paleo Angel Power Balls actually look like mini cakes that you’d pick up at your local bakery. In addition, they provide more nutrition than many breakfast foods, and they are easy to take with you on-the-go.

The company Paleo Angel was founded with the idea of providing great tasting food for those following paleo, gluten-free or autoimmune diets. In addition to creating nutritious snacks that anyone can enjoy, the company has set out to educate people autoimmune disorders and how to nourish the body through food.

Of course, you can make your own power balls at home. They don’t require baking, and you can customize the ingredients to your liking. Below, Lizabeth Lopez, health and fitness expert show how she makes homemade power balls, one of her favorite healthy snacks…

Get the Recipe Here