15 Oct 6 Easy Breakfast & Lunch Ideas thanks to Christine Waltermyer!
6 Easy Breakfast & Lunch Ideas
thanks to Christine Waltermyer
Christine Waltermyer is a local and renowned Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to subscribe to her email newsletter for new recipes, tips, and FREE access to the Power of Veggies mini-course!
We’re more than halfway through the first half of this school year! 🤓 What better time to switch up your breakfast and lunch routines. Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School have whipped up 6 easy recipes for us – 3 before-school breakfasts to keep them full until lunch 🧇 & 3 school lunch ideas that your kids will look forward to eating! 🥗
Easy Before-School Breakfast Ideas
Carob Smoothie
Servings 1
Ingredients
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup water
- 1 ripe avocado pitted and peeled
- ¼ cup cooked pumpkin puree
- dash sea salt
- 1 heaping tablespoon carob or cacao powder
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla powder
- stevia or honey to taste
Instructions
- Place the shredded coconut and water into a blender. Blend on high for a few minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Strain through a nut milk bag if desired.
- In the blender, place the milk and all remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth.
- Optional: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder or some walnuts to add protein to this smoothie.
- Enjoy!
Carrot Spice Waffles with Maple Almond Butter
Servings 2
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons Lakanto monk fruit sweetener with erythritol
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup avocado oil or melted coconut oil optional
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup shredded carrot
Maple Almond Butter Topping:
- ¼ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, sea salt, baking powder, vanilla powder, pumpkin pie spice, and monk fruit sweetener. Whisk to blend together.
- Add the almond milk and optional avocado oil if using. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, then add them to the almond flour mixture. Stir well. Add the shredded carrot and fold in gently.
- Preheat the waffle iron. Just before adding the batter, lightly brush with a silicone brush or spray the waffle iron with a little avocado oil or coconut oil. Using a spoon or measuring cup, quickly add half of the batter (about 1 cup). Spread it evenly over the waffle iron, then close it.
- If you have the kind of waffle iron you can flip, cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on one side, then flip it. Cook for an additional 2 ½ minutes on the other side. If you have a regular waffle iron that does not flip, just cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Carefully open the waffle iron. Let the cooked waffle cool slightly before removing. Repeat with remaining batter.
- To make the maple almond butter topping: In a small bowl, mix together the almond butter and maple syrup. Serve the waffles warm, spread with the maple almond butter.
- Enjoy!
Egg Muffin Cups
Servings 12 cups
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup diced red onion
- water or cooking oil of your choice
- sea salt
- ⅔ cup carrot finely diced
- 10 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon prepared dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- a few pinches freshly ground black pepper
- coconut oil or avocado oil for the muffin tin
- 1 cup cooked broccoli florets
Instructions
- Heat a medium size cast iron skillet or other skillet of your choice over medium heat. Add the red onion, a small splash of water and a pinch of the sea salt. Cook for a few minutes, until they start to soften. Add the carrots, and another pinch of sea salt and splash of water. Cook for another few minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
- Crack all of the eggs into a large bowl. Beat the eggs. Add the Dijon mustard, sea salt and black pepper. Stir again.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare your muffin tin by generously greasing each muffin cup with some coconut oil or avocado oil. Add a spoonful of the cooked red onion-carrot mixture to each cup, evenly distributing the veggies among the 12 muffin cups.
- Pour some of the egg mixture into each muffin cup, dividing equally. Bake for 25 minutes or until the tops are set and no longer wet. Cool for 15 minutes. Use a knife around the edges to release the egg muffin cups from the muffin tin.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
School Lunch Ideas
Salmon Patties with Dill Sauce
Ingredients
- 15 ounces canned wild-caught salmon (or cooked fresh salmon)
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- ¼ cup minced parsley
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (+ more for sprinkling on the finished patties)
- a few grinds of freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or coconut oil for frying
For the Dill Sauce:
- ½ cup avocado mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Drain the canned salmon and place in a large bowl.
- Add the eggs, almond flour, scallions, parsley, sea salt and pepper. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Form the salmon mixture into 7 or so patties.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado or coconut oil, and quickly add the salmon patties. Depending on the size of your skillet, you can add all of them or just 4 patties at a time.
- Cook for about 4 or 5 minutes on one side. Using a spatula, carefully turn each patty. Fry for another few minutes on the other side.
- To make the dill sauce: In a small bowl, combine all of the dill sauce ingredients. Stir well. Serve the salmon patties warm, drizzled with the dill sauce.
- Enjoy!
Salmon Salad with Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
- 8 ounces frozen wild salmon thawed
- sea salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons celery minced
- 1 tablespoon onion minced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill finely chopped
- ⅓ cup avocado mayonnaise
- To Serve: butter lettuce, radicchio
Instructions
- Pat the salmon dry using a paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado oil, then quickly add the salmon, flesh side-down. Cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes. Use a spatula to turn the salmon. Cook for three more minutes on the other side.
- Once the salmon has cooled to the touch, remove any bones. You can also remove the skin and gray-colored fat if desired. Using a fork, flake the salmon apart. Place the prepared salmon in a large bowl.
- Add the celery, onion, lemon juice, sea salt and pepper to taste, fresh dill and mayonnaise. Stir to combine and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Fill radicchio or butter lettuce leaves with a generous spoonful of the salmon salad per leaf.
- Enjoy!
Broccoli & Carrots with Homemade Guacamole
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrot sticks or flat planks
- 1 cup broccoli – a combination of broccoli florets & peeled stems sliced
- sea salt
- 1 avocado pitted
- 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice or more to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring a few inches of lightly salted water to a boil over medium high heat. Keep a strainer or colander nearby, with a plate underneath. Drop the broccoli florets and peeled stems into the water. Cook for a few minutes.
- Remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon. Place them in the strainer to cool.
- Bring the water back to a boil, then drop in the carrot planks. Cook for a few minutes. Remove the carrot planks with a slotted spoon. Place them in the strainer to cool.
- Make the guacamole: In a large bowl, mash the avocados. Add the sea salt and black pepper to taste. Add the lime juice, cilantro, chopped onion and lime juice. Stir well.
- Serve the cooled vegetables and guacamole, or pack them into a portioned lunch container as a snack on the go.
- Enjoy!
Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!