Food is the fuel that produces the energy we need to be our best throughout the day. Just like your automobile, your body will perform best with the proper fuel, but unlike your car, your body doesn’t come with an owner’s manual that tells you what fuel to use.

Because you don’t have an owner’s manual, you need to pay attention to how your body feels and how much energy you have when you eat specific foods. (But hey, being a human is way better than being an automobile!)

Breakfast is the first opportunity to fuel your body. “Break-fast” is just that, breaking the fast! It’s as simple as that!

After your fast, which most commonly lasts for 8-12 hours, your body is ready for more fuel! It’s kind of like that game Hungry Hungry Hippos, except without the plastic hippos and real food instead! You get the idea!

The food that you choose to eat in the morning can have a negative or a positive effect on your metabolism and your food cravings.

N’OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS RECIPE

(Serves 9)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 c nut or seed butter, unsweetened
• 1/4 c pure maple syrup
• 1/4 c coconut oil, softened (plus some additional for coating the baking dish)
• 2 eggs
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/4 t sea salt
• 2 t cinnamon
• ¼ t baking soda
• 3/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut
• ¼ c almond meal
• ¼ c coconut flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. and prepare a 9” x 9” baking dish by coating it with coconut oil.
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl cream, the nut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil together.
3. Add in the eggs and vanilla, stir until everything is all creamy.
4. Add in the salt, cinnamon, baking soda, ½ cup of the shredded coconut, almond meal, and coconut flour. If using optional additions stir those in as well.
5. Stir together until everything is well combined.
6. Spread dough into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining shredded coconut.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting.

TIPS/SUBSTITUTIONS

• Feel free to add chopped nuts and/or dried fruit to spice up this tasty recipe.
• Try different kinds of nut butter! My favorites for this recipe include sunbutter or almond butter!
• Store these bars in the refrigerator to keep these fresh and to avoid them crumbling into a mess in your hands.
• Use pure almond extract instead of vanilla for a nutty twist!

As I have learned to pay attention to my body, I have also discovered that traditional, high carbohydrate, breakfast choices make me feel sluggish, bloated and crave sweet foods all day long — and nobody wants that!

When I started paying attention to my morning food choices, I learned that eating a paleo based diet was the perfect fuel for my body. While this works well for me, remember that you MUST play around and see what works best for YOU!

These bars are grain free (yay!) and paleo friendly! They are rich in protein, high in fiber, as well as, healthy fats to keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunchtime.

If you’re the kind of person who skips breakfast because you just don’t have time, instead of going without, try making these N’Oatmeal Breakfast Bars the night before and grab one as you run out the door!

Hungry for more quick breakfast recipes? Check out this Good Morning Sunshine Cereal Recipe!