From Cooking with Kaye November 6, 2011
Hearty Breakfast:
Yogurt & Granola are for Sissy's
Men who report following a diet for weight loss say a hearty breakfast is key for staying on track all day. And by hearty I mean eggs, bacon or sausage, whole grain and some vegetable or fruit complex carbohydrates. Women, on the other hand, tend to eat "proper" diet food for breakfast such as yogurt or granola, a meal replacement shake, fresh fruit or simply plain black coffee or tea. You already know who feels hungry by 10 a.m.
Joel, a weight loss surgery patient from Indiana down 120+ pounds told me, "I need to have breakfast, to put my food on a plate and eat it with a fork and knife. It has to look like a meal. I tried going with shakes for breakfast but it just didn't do it for me. I'm born and bred a farm boy and we eat breakfast early, every day. But now, instead of 12 slices of bacon and 4 pieces of toast I have 2 slices of bacon, scrambled eggs and a few bites of toast." Joel added that he pays attention to his pouch and stops eating at the first sign of fullness. And he saves that strong cup of cowboy coffee for a little bit later in the day giving his food time to digest.
Most of us cite lack of time as the major barrier in preparing a healthy cooked breakfast. Dedicating some time once a week to ingredient preparation can make tossing together a one-pan breakfast a snap. Consider cooking a package of bacon or lean sausage all at once and store in the refrigerator until time to make breakfast. Clean, chop, and store veggies (in the recipe below we use sliced mushrooms) so they are ready to toss in the one-pan breakfast as you need them. Use non-stick pans and cooking spray to make clean-up a snap. Save leftovers and gently reheat for a warm breakfast the next day. And set the clock 15 minutes earlier if needed: you deserve to start the day with a healthy hearty meal.
The One-Pan Breakfast
Here is a blueprint for a manly one-pan breakfast. Use it as your guideline for tossing together great food in snap to start the day off right.
Ingredients:
6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup mushroom slices
1 cup grape tomatoes, washed, halved
Salt and Pepper to taste
Canola or Olive Oil
8 large eggs
Directions:
Coat the bottom of a large skillet with the canola or olive oil, about 1 teaspoon. Heat over medium high and add the mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender and lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a plate and keep warm. Add crumbled bacon to skillet and toss and stir until just reheated. Add warm crumbled bacon to mushroom and tomatoes. Add 2 teaspoons canola or olive oil to the pan and then carefully crack in the eggs. Cook them sunny-side up, or until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.
As the eggs continue to cook distribute the bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes back to the pan arranging around the eggs. Cook eggs to your preferred doneness and serve warm, 2 eggs per serving, with a generous serving of the vegetables and bacon.
Change-ups:
Scramble the eggs if you prefer. When almost done top with bacon and veggies. Add a sprinkle of shredded cheese and melt under broiler. Consider using cooked flaked halibut or salmon in place of the bacon. Peeled, ready-to-eat shrimp is another good lean protein that works well in this dish. No time for veggies? Use good quality salsa in place of the vegetables.
