Another Breakfast Suggestion

French toast is absolutely one of the most delicious breakfast innovations out there.  I searched and found THIS RECIPE and modified it a bit.... The light, whole wheat hot dog buns seem strange for french toast, but they actually make a great substitute for the usual thick, calorie-dense bread.  You can use 4 slices of (light) whole wheat bread if you don't have any on hand.  You can top the toast with strawberries and whipped cream, but unfortunately I didn't have either one =( . Basically, this is fun recipe if you have a few extra minutes in the morning and crave something other than your boring cereal routine!

180 CALORiES: 3g fat/35g carbs/4g fiber/10g protein

(RECiPE SERVES 2)

* 2 Egg Whites or 4 TBSP Egg Beaters

* 1/2 Banana, mashed

* 2 tsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Creamer powder

* 4 tsp hot water

* 1 tsp Vanilla

* 1/4 tsp Cinnamon

* 1/4 tsp Salt

* 1 Splenda packet

* 2 Hot Dog Buns (Nature's Own Whole Grain Sugar-Free)

* 4 TBSP Maple Syrup (Mrs. Buttersworth's Sugar-Free)

1. Drop all ingredients (except for the bread and syrup) in a blender + combine for 30 seconds, or until smooth. Or, just beat the mixture with an electric mixer on the highest setting. Pour into a shallow bowl.

2. Grease a medium griddle pan lightly with cooking spray and set between medium or medium-low heat. If using a hot dog bun, tear the bun in half and cut into 8 pieces.  Otherwise, cut each bread slice into quarters (16 pieces total).

3. Dip and soak each piece evenly in the shallow bowl and then the pan to cook for 2 minutes on each side. Serve immediately with 2 TBSP. syrup each!

Breakfast Dilemmas Resolved

McDonald's Egg McMuffin: 300 calories

12g fat, 30g carbs, 2g fiber, 18g protein.

VS.

Your OWN Egg McMuffin: 250 calories

9g fat, 27g carbs, 8g fiber, 19g protein.

* 1 Thomas Light Multi-Grain English Muffin (CLiCK HERE)

* 1 Large Egg

* 1 Canadian Bacon slice, Oscar Mayer (CLiCK HERE)

* 1 Bacon slice, Hormel (CLiCK HERE)

* 1 TBSP. Kraft Fat-Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese (CLiCK HERE)

* 1 TBSP. Salsa or Hot Sauce

1. Set oven to broil on 500 degrees. Spray a small griddle pan lightly with cooking spray, heat to medium and start cooking the egg, fry-style (I add some salt/pepper for more flavor).

2. Cut muffin in half, sprinkle the cheese on one side, then place both halves plus the canadian bacon on a small baking sheet and into the oven for no more than 2-3 minutes.

3. Microwave bacon for 10 seconds (but if it's raw, then start cooking it earlier in the process).

4. Once egg is done, muffin is slightly toasted, and cheese melted, put it all together with some salsa/hot sauce for a kick and voila!

IHOP's Breakfast Sampler: 1,180 calories
74g fat, 82g carbs, 6g fiber, 49g protein.

VS.

Your OWN Breakfast Sampler (sortof...): 230 calories
11g fat, 26g carbs, 4g fiber, 20g protein.

* Pancakes! These are very low-carb, high protein pancakes... the ingredients may sound weird, but I promise they're good!

~Makes 1 big pancake or 2 mini ones for a little under 100 calories:

- 1 Egg White

- 2 TBSP + 2 tsp. Cottage Cheese, 1%
- 2 TBSP + 2 tsp. Rolled Oats

- 1/8 tsp. Salt

- 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

- 1/2 packet of Splenda

* 4 Strawberries, cut up small

* 2 TBSP. Maple Syrup, sugar-free (CLiCK HERE)

* 1 Large Egg, (cooked exactly the same as above)

* 1 Bacon Strip (torn in half)

1. Blend the oats in a blender or food processor until the texture is finely crumbled.  Pour out into a small bowl and add the salt, cinnamon, and splenda in.

2. Combine with the egg white and cottage cheese, then pour back into the blender and mix until the batter is smooth (and the cottage cheese is less lumpy).

3. Heat a lightly greased small pan over medium-low for a few minutes, pour batter into pan and cook for a couple minutes until small bubbles form at the top, then flip and cook a minute or two more. Enjoy with syrup and topped strawberries (or other fruit), and an egg + bacon!

With Love,

Camille