The Writer's Breakfast - Healthy Living

Why Eat Well
If you're half-asleep, sick, or dead, your writing suffers...

You are what you eat, and you write what you are. Ergo: you write what you eat(?) Well, o.k., so syllogistic thinking isn't always at its best at 6 A.M. Still, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is axiomatic.

It's also problematic since writers "know" so many other things, and are driven to enlighten the world with that knowledge. Occasionally, then, a writer may think, write, and enlighten right past breakfast and suddenly realize breakfast hunger pangs at dinner time.

A Breakfast for Writers - the Basics
Do you know where your oatmeal is?

Sturm's Whole Grain Oatmeal is a standard in The Writer's Breakfast. It is "healthy for your heart" and provides a good nutritional foundation to begin your writer's day. My two favorites are Sturm's Blueberry Whole Grain Oatmeal and Sturm's Cranberry Whole Grain Oatmeal. Sturm's Whole Grain Oatmeal is made in the U.S.A. (See Endnotes, below, for nutritional values and daily requirement numbers.)

Yoplait Light Yogurt, approved by BestLife and meeting the National Yogurt Association "criteria for live and active yogurt culture," is fat free, with 110 calories. My favorite is Yoplait Light Yogurt "Very Vanilla" because it is high in protein (6g). Yoplait Light Yogurt is distributed by Yoplait USA, Minneapolis, MN under license of Yoplait International SAS, France. (See Endnotes, below, for nutritional values and daily requirement numbers.)

Bigelow Green Tea, either Mint or Blueberry, is a good antioxidant agent. Blended and packaged in the U.S.A., Bigelow Green Tea has 0 calories, 0 fats, 0 carbohydrates, 0 Sodium, and only 15mg Potassium. Additionally, on average, green tea only has about 25% the caffeine of coffee (25-50mg v. 100-120mg per 8 oz. serving).

and/or

Folger's Coffeehouse Coffee is a medium dark roast with a "bold, robust taste" and sufficient caffeine. I usually go with French Roast. Folger's is a U.S.A.-based company.

A Breakfast for Writers - Supplements, Extras, and Add-In's
Spice it up!

The Basics of The Writer's Breakfast can be enhanced in flavor, zing, and nutritional values by adding other foods and spices. I "spice it up" with these.

Hershey's Cocoa - Special Dark
Hershey's Cocoa - Special Dark can be sprinkled lightly over the Sturm's Whole Grain Oatmeal either before or after preparation. Stir if you like. Also, Hershey's Cocoa - Special Dark works well with Folger's Coffeehouse Coffee, either sprinkled lightly on the surface or stirred in. Manufactured in the U.S.A for the Hershey Company, Hershey, PA, Hershey's Cocoa - Special Dark has 20 calories per tbsp (5g), 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 3g carbohydrates, 1g protein, and 65mg Sodium, as well as providing 10% of your daily Iron. For a special bonus - maybe on Friday, when you've met your weekly writing goals, reward yourself with a Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar! (Salaciously yummy and primo Antioxidants, too...)

Ocean Spray Craisins
These sweetened dried cranberries are "naturally fat-free" and provide a flavorful source of energy. Too, they have Antioxidant properties. Made in the U.S.A. with North American cranberries, Ocean Spray Craisins have 130 calories per 1/3 cup, 33g carbohydrates, 26g sugar, 3g fiber, 0 Sodium.

Three spices which work well with all the Basics of The Writer's Breakfast, providing a distinct edgy flavor accent and potential health benefits:
McCormick Pure Almond Extract
McCormick Ground Cinnamon
McCormick Ground Cloves
These are all packed in the U.S.A. Add to suit your taste.

Aspirin
An aspirin in the morning (either regular strength, 325 mg or "lite," 81 mg) may go a long way toward protecting a writer from heart attack or stroke. Also, aspirin will ease the discomfort of Writer's Back and Writer's Wrist. Taking an aspirin with The Writer's Breakfast Basics of Sturm's Whole Grain Oatmeal and Yoplait Light Yogurt will mitigate any gastrointestinal distress side effects.

...and don't forget your Honey (optional)
Honey added to your coffee or tea and oatmeal is a good source of quick energy and will increase your stamina. Writing is hard work and I can use all the stamina I can get. (What "honey" did you think I was suggesting? Well, her (or him), too.... Inspiration comes in many forms.)

The Writer's Breakfast will provision you to "Eat Well," to "Write Well," to "Live Well." Try The Writer's Breakfast, being sure to listen to Cummings, far and wee, and you should be around "just so long and long enough" to write another day.

Happy, Healthy Eating! ...and have a good write!

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ENDNOTES: Please see my subsequent article, The Writer's Breakfast: Healthy Living by Nutrition and Daily Requirements - Nutritional Values and Daily Requirement Numbers to Make You Write.

[Disclaimer: The foods, spices, and food preparation practices - as herein described - have not been tested by any regulatory, governmental, or health care agency or body. The writer claims no responsibility, and gives no assurance, explicit or implicit, of the personal or public safety or benefits of the foods, spices, and/or food preparation practices herein described.]

The Writer's Breakfast, per se, in context and concept as herein appearing is copyrighted Millennium Suites, LLC 2008 and may not be adopted, adapted, or used in any comparable way.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright Millennium Suites, LLC 2008