Power Breakfast Healthy Balanced Oatmeal

“Achieving one’s healthy body weight is paramount to achieving long term wellness.
Lightening is about dropping the pounds as well as letting go of the emotional weight that goes with them.” – Michelle Swain, Organa Wellness 

Each January Meg and I like to focus on a holistic approach including practical solutions to weight management tecniques. This year we turn to our good friends Michelle Swain and Joel Balasingham of Organa Wellness in Chicago to provide some expert guidance using their program of Lighten, Restore and Build. Their approach is a reflection of their identity: it is holistic, individualized and non judgemental as well as fun.

We focus on Lighten this week and kick off with Step 1 our weekly recipe, followed by Step 2 a printable exercise to follow from Michelle to help strengthen your core*.

Our power breakfast “Everything Oatmeal” is a healthy way to begin the day and combines a household breakfast staple with nourishing ingredients like flax seed and hazelnuts. The intention is to start your day packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals, giving your body the opportunity to perform better, improve strength and endurance in physical activity.

Step 1

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours on LOW overnight or 4 hours on HIGH

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup steel cut oatmeal
• 1/4 cup soft brown sugar
• 1/8 cup flax seed
• 1/3 cup plus 1/8 cup mixed nuts & seeds (hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 4 cups milk or milk substitute – almond, soy, coconut milk, unsweetened
• freeze dried blueberries or strawberries

Place all the ingredients (excluding the additional 1/4 cup mixed nuts) into your slow cooker and stir well to combine.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours (overnight works for us from 10pm – 6am ready in time for early breakfast)

Remove the lid and stir in additional milk if required to obtain your ideal consistency. Top with freeze dried blueberries or raspberries and sprinkle with chopped nuts.

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Step 2

We love that Michelle’s focus with her clients is on “natural body weight” so I asked her to define it.

Next week will focus on the second part of the series Restore during which Michelle will take us through some breathing exercises.

Zen Moment

“Wellness will look so good on you.”

-Michelle Swain

* glossary

Core – Think of your core as a muscular corset that stabilizes your entire body. Core muscles include: abdominals, pelvic, mid and lower back, and hip muscles. All of these muscles work together to support your spine and skull.