Take the time to…

If I could give one tip to those struggling with their executive functions, it is to take the time to…

…Eat Breakfast!

Our bodies and our brains rely on the energy we get from food. If we don’t eat right our executive functioning is impaired.  My ADHD clients report the need to eat well and on time.

I’ve found that a nourishing breakfast is the critical start of my day. On weekdays I want it to be fast and still tasty. One of my favorites is the fruit smoothie.

There is a cookbook out there with a title something like 100 Smoothie Recipes. I thought I needed it until my daughter walked me through how she made her breakfast smoothies. Now I’ve loosened up about needing a recipe.

Here’s how to create a great breakfast that supports executive functions:

My smoothies require a minimum of two ingredients and one very useful tool.

Fruit is the first ingredient. I stock my deep freezer with berries during the summer, shopping at the farmer’s market or going to the nearby u-pick farms I’m blessed with here in Portland, Oregon.  However bananas and frozen fruit from the store is just fine.

The second ingredient is plain yogurt. Look at the ingredient label and get the one with the shortest list. In the Pacific Northwest, Nancy’s Yogurt is made with just milk products and cultures – nothing else.  I’ve also made my own yogurt, which saves money.  Check out the Cheese Queen for some great ideas on how to do this. Her business sells a really simple yogurt maker as well as cultures.

The useful tool is my immersion blender. I was very late in discovering this handy little machine.  It’s so great that I haven’t had a traditional blender for years. It is a snap to clean. The blade end can’t go in the dishwasher so I just run it under water and it is clean in seconds, ready to dry on the counter.

Try adding smoothies to your breakfast options. Fruit and yogurt are just the beginning combination. There must be at least a hundred different ways to make a smoothie…!