Inspiration: Breakfast Salad

Do you ever get in a breakfast rut?  Or simply have a craving for something totally out of the ordinary?  I know I do.  Sometimes my morning smoothie or scoop of granola just doesn't satisfy me.  I find this to be especially true on weekends when I usually have a little more time to make something for myself.  This past weekend was one of these times -  I was up early and ravenous!  I knew cereal or fruit was not going to cut it.  I looked in the fridge for inspiration and saw veggies, and remembered a post for a 'breakfast salad' I had pinned a while back on Choosing Raw.  Why not try it?  I thought... and then a beautiful thing was born.

This may be my new favorite breakfast (which is saying a lot, since I'm pretty addicted to green smoothies).   It's super simple to prepare, but also incredibly satisfying due to the chew factor.   Here's how to try one for yourself:

Step 1- Pick your greens.  I used baby arugula because that's what I had and what I love, but a milder green may be better suited for the AM (think baby spinach, butter lettuce, romaine).
Step 2 - Pick your fruit.  I sliced up a banana for my salad, but any fruit will work.  Take inspiration from what's in season or keep it simple with a personal favorite. Throw in whatever other veggies complement that fruit (I thought cool cucumber would add a nice contrast to the creamy banana).
Step 3 - Add some crunch. Top your salad with granola, cereal, nuts, and/or seeds.  Not only will this add a satisfying crunch to your salad, but it will also increase the protein content.
Step 4 - Dress it up!  I drizzled maple syrup and lemon juice over my salad, but the possibilities are endless.  A few ideas I will definitely try in the near future include some sort of almond butter based sauce and the chocolate avocado sauce featured on Choosing Raw (see link above).

I know salad for breakfast may sound strange, but in other places around the world this is totally normal.  In many Mediterranean countries, breakfast consists of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with bread and olives.  Asian countries also love their veggies:  a common morning meal in Japan is miso soup, pickled vegetables, seaweed salad, and cured raw fish.

So why not switch things up and get your day off to a GREEN and HEALTHY start?  And let me know how it turns out - I'm always on the lookout for creative new eats, especially for the most important meal of the day!

Happy crunching!