Generally speaking, I ascribe to the you-don't-comment-on-my-diet, I-won't-comment-on-yours school of How Not To Offend And Potentially Cause Serious Psychological Damage To The People In Your Life. But in this particular case, I'm stumped, and I need expert advice from genius people. Hey, you! You look smart. Tell me what to eat!
Here's the situation: I have always been a breakfast eater. In high school, when the inhumane policies of our local district required me to be at school kicking bum and taking names (I was student council president, you guys. It's not an easy job) by 7:30 every morning, I'd eat breakfast around 5:45 and be starving again by 9:00. (Conveniently, lunch was at 10:30...but that's another story for another day.)
So breakfast itself is an Institution, somewhat comparable to, say, the federal judiciary, or banks always closing half an hour before you get out of work. But I've never quite nailed down what to eat. For a long time, when I lived in the same house as the man who bakes the bread that makes the world's greatest toast, I would eat toast. With butter. Or peanut butter and jelly. Or cinnamon sugar. Or cheese. Sometimes with a grapefruit on the side, or some other kind of fruit, and always with coffee. Because, well, even in high school, I was a little bit of a busy bee, and the coffee helps you stay awake, you know. And lo, it was delicious. But since I no longer live with my parents, the best toast in the world is not really an option anymore.
Ed. note: Let us all pause for a moment to commemorate the moment when I realized that I just spent a hundred words telling the internet what I ate for breakfast in high school. Then I seriously considered shutting down this blog for ever and ever amen.
Okay, I'm over it.
Anyway. The point is: in the past month or so, I've been having some sort of weird thing going on in the mornings wherein I wake up hungry but nauseated, to the point where I feel like I can't eat breakfast, and no kind of food sounds even remotely appetizing, and the only thing that doesn't sound like it would induce immediate puking is cheese. So I eat a couple of pieces of cheese and feel a little better, and then I go to work. And then (spoiler alert!) the cheese wears off after about an hour I feel yucky and tired for the whole morning, and sometimes I get headaches and sometimes I cry (low blood sugar does this to me, my friends. I'm super fun on hikes), and then sometimes I have to talk myself into eating lunch because it just sounds grosss and yeah. Just...no good.
I think that maybe this problem has something to do with drinking/eating a lot of things with high acidity (coffee, carbonated water, grapefruit), but given that my attempt to verify this hypothesis via the scientific method of not drinking any coffee at all was about as successful as you'd expect it to be (i.e., it ended with me drinking a latte in a Starbucks in Dupont Circle at 6:15 on a Friday night), I have no actual evidence to back it up. I've settled on switching to tea with milk in the early morning, and then keeping it to one cup of coffee with lots of milk at some other point during the day.
My best guess is that this is helping some, but not enough. I'm still feeling queasy in the mornings sometimes, and my blood sugar is still making some pretty big swings, and it's just not cool. And it doesn't have to be like this, right? Right?
This is where you come in. I need a Breakfast Strategy, and it must satisfy the following requirements:
1. Balanced. Ish. Right? Like, I'm thinking that I probably need both protein and complex carbs at breakfast. And fruit? Am I supposed to be eating fruit? HOWTODOIT??
2. Quick. Ish. As in, sub-fifteen minutes. Mornings are busy.
3. Filling. I need to find a meal that's substantial enough to keep my blood sugar steady for several hours. I'm not opposed to the concept of the mid-morning snack, but sometimes I forget, or I'm really busy, and then CRASZHBOooOM! and that's no good.
4. Not slimy. I hate slimy things.
Beyond that, I leave myself in your hands. What should I eat for breakfast?!
(And also, if you have other ideas about what could be causing these weird stomachaches/headaches/blood sugar swings, I would love to hear them. Ed. note: The first person to suggest that I might be pregnant will be the recipient of one very, very, very sarcastic facial expression. I'm starting to think that maybe simple carbs are part of the issue? Maybe? But I really don't know.)
Halp!
I'm sorry to laugh at you but this was a hilarious post, the way it was written. Now as far as your plight, the only thing I can think of is that maybe you need to eat a nighttime snack, as in, maybe in the morning you are just famished and I know sometimes when I am super hungry I get nauseous and the very thing I need (food) makes me feel grossed out. I was going to recommend Trader Joe's steel cut oats (can me made in the microwave in six minutes) for breakky. I don't think it's slimy but as I understand it,the general population usually isn't to in to porridge so maybe it's a no go. Good luck. It's a shame to miss breakfast AND quit coffee.
ReplyDeleteI usually feel the best if I eat peanut butter on some sort of whole wheat bread/bagel/english muffin with a banana and a glass of water or milk. But that's me! Scrambled eggs in place of the peanut butter also works, but it's a lot more effort.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better. If you're waking up with an upset stomach, have you looked at what you're eating/drinking in the evenings up until bed?
Do you like cold cereal? Yogurt? I need some protein in the mornings and I really like Kashi GoLean cereal with dried fruit and almonds on it. For yogurt, I like mine plain with a bit of sugar or honey and some fruit or nuts. I'm also a fan of hard boiled eggs. I make enough in advance to get me through the week so that I don't have to do any cooking in the AM. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!
ReplyDeleteI second peanut butter on toast, even if it is not the world's most perfect toast. You could buy fancy bread and toast it, or you could but "Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day" and make the bread, but I'll be honest. It probably won't be as good as bakery fancy bread. Unless you are more skilled than I at the bread-making, which is quite possibly the case.
ReplyDeleteAT ANY RATE. Peanut butter on toast.
Or oatmeal! With brown sugar and raisins and milk! Complex carbs, quick and easy. Possibly too slimy for you? Quickest way to make it: 1/2 c regular oatmeal (not quick oats), 1 c water, microwave 2 min. Add brown sugar (lots), raisins, milk.
You need protein. I have experienced the feeling you describe and I have found that this is the Best. Breakfast. Ever: Natural peanut butter on whole wheat toast with a tall glass of skim milk. God meant for us to eat this way. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI second what Danielle said. Peanut butter toast is my go to breakfast. I drink a glass of milk before bed to stave off morning low blood sugar nausea as well
ReplyDeleteOMG!! Victoria and I get this feeling all the time! She's much better about breakfast than I am, though. I think her quickest breakfast is the sugar-free Carnation instant breakfast (chocolate), but she tends to make herself really fancy breakfasts with eggs and rolls and such. Did she make you breakfast in Germany, too? I swear, I have never eaten so well!! Left on my own, I admit that I am really awful about this, and I find that if I put enough 1/2 and 1/2 in my coffee in the morning, it's enough calories to overcome the nausea. Some mornings, it's really the ONLY thing that I can even think of putting in my stomach. Unfortunately, some mornings that's all I end up eating, and then I often have moments later where I feel like passing out. I've been trying to make myself eat something (anything!) after my coffee, and I find that either cereal with fruit (I LOVE Kashi cereals, and you can find ones with little to no sugar) or oatmeal (with fruit and/or allspice with a little Splenda) are easy enough that I make them at least some mornings. Otherwise, I stash my cabinet at work with Kashi bars, individual-sized no sugar added Mott's applesauce cups (I like the strawberry), and Juicy Juice boxes. When I start to feel hungry or nauseous, I grab one of those things to at least take the edge off the hunger. Even if I'm busy, it's easy to grab a box of juice, and I find it's just enough of a sugar boost to tide me over to a real meal. That's not really very good advice for you, though, so I'm sorry! I do know that feeling of being so hungry you feel sick, so the last thing you want to do is eat, and I know how awful that feels!! Good luck finding a solution! :)
ReplyDeleteMiriel, just a thought, are you pregnant?
ReplyDelete;-) Anyhow, I think (and don't forget, I AM infallible - a little differently than the Pope though, because, unlike the Holy Father, my personal opinions are without error) that oatmeal is your best option. Now, for its preparation here are the steps: for speed in the morning, but primarily for taste, soak the oats in milk over night, full fat, it must be full fat, and on the weekends even a little cream; in the morning heat it very gently over the stove, adding just a pinch of salt to draw out the flavour; at the very end of the cooking process add your favorite fruit--which is obviously banana, the highest of fruits--and stir in some honey to taste; remove from heat and pour lovingly into your favourite bowl, extra large; garnish with coconut and natural yoghurt; finally, go sit by a bright window, take your time, and enJOY dawn with her rose red fingers!
Oats plus peanut butter plus (dried) fruit in an on-the-go package: Here's what I eat every a.m., immediately after my workout for a boost. I follow it with scrambled eggs after I'm all cleaned up, but I imagine eggs fall into your "slimy" category: http://theanticipatedbestsummerever.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-post-workout-power-bar-or-cookie.html
ReplyDeleteSo more suggestions following Katherine's comment, because this seems to be a problem all of us share. I've always found that the best way to keep the morning queasiness under control is to make sure my allergies are under control. Maybe you've developed some seasonal allergies living in a new part of the country? I'd second Katherine's suggestion of sugar free carnation instant breakfast, or some other high protein shake.
ReplyDeleteBack in high school and college, when I had to get up really early or if I was overly stressed about an early meeting or test or event, I would wake up queasy but famished. I usually couldn't eat for about an hour, when my body adjusted/coped with the stressor. Knowing (now) how I react to highly stressful situations, it makes sense. Are you more stressed or not relaxed in the mornings than you used to be? Anxiety about the job? I never used to think that I was overly stressed, but looking back now (in my currently low-stress lifestyle) I realize that I was living in a constant state of "go" and subsequently managed to burn out my adrenal gland (for which there is clinical evidence, in my case). I no longer have the early morning queasy problem. So maybe it's stress?
ReplyDeleteHi Miriel! Found you via Arwen. I also agree with the previous comments about protein and complex carbs being the key. I've had luck with: whole wheat toast and peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs, fruit (already cut up, or something that you can just bite into), and whole-grain cereals. Smoothies are also a good option (not sure if they're "slimy" in your book); if you do all the prep the night before, you can just plop everything in the blender and GO! Also, do you car pool? If you brought a non-messy breakfast into the car, could you eat it in your way to work? Or is that just not an option?
ReplyDeleteI also found you via Arwen and I have to delurk here and weigh in because I love me some breakfast! If you like eggs, breakfast burritos are another great choice. Make them up at night (2 or 3 days worth) and wrap them in saran wrap. That way you can throw them in the microwave in the morning and you're all set! They are portable and delicious, plus you can add whatever you like-- meat, cheese, veggies. Yummy stuff.
ReplyDeleteOMGGGGG YOUR PREGGERS OOOOHHH SO EXCITING I JUST HAVE TO TELLL EVERYYYONEEEEE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMiriel!!! I have a super perfect breakfast which fulfills 75% of your criteria!! in that it is quick, filling, and not slimy! AND I eat it for breakfast all the time!!
ReplyDeleteSo what I do is buy a bag of peanut M&M's - but not a regular bag; one of the family sized bags! - then also buy a box of monsters which if you buy them at meijer it is only $12 for 8 cans!
So as soon as you wake up you chug a 16oz monster and you don't have to worry about the taste cause your mouth is still all drooly from the sleep.
Then you can grab a handful of M&Ms and eat them while you are getting your clothes together! Super breakfast in less than 5 minutes!! There is the caffeine so you don't need coffee! and also protein in the peanut M&Ms! Victoryyyy!
Wow. Ask and ye shall receive. All my advice has been posted repeatedly, so I will simply offer you my prayers, dear. I know how frustrating it can be to wake up like that and have crashes later. Totally stinks.
ReplyDeleteSo *is* oatmeal too slimey? Because I would join the chorus of "Ooooatmeal!" if I knew the thought wouldn't set your stomach joggling. Also, add ground flaxseed to it: protein and omega 3s.
ReplyDeleteOr greek yogurt (slimey) with granola and ground flaxseed or with honey and almonds.
I will make you breakfast while I am there. I will bring the bread.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you are having an insulin issue. You could contact Dr. Pierce's nutrition clinic for a free consult. I know the founder and medical director kind of well. :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, I don't know you, but Lauren said your blog was GOOD when I asked the Facebook world what blogs to read out there. And I almost snorted bottled spring water out of my nose upon reading this. So your friend Lauren is a talented blog connoisseur.
ReplyDeleteLike all of your friends stated, I too, was about to recommend protein (my personal drug of choice being peanut butter on a toasted waffle). But if that doesn't work, have you considered the possibility that you might be gluten-intolerant? I have no scientific basis for suggesting this except that it's quite trendy to be gluten-intolerant and ALL of my friends claim this very handicap. Truth be told, I often succumb to the peer pressure and the aforementioned peanut-butter-laden waffle is a Van's Gluten-Free frozen waffle (delish! BTW). Perhaps your body is in revolt against gluten since you so cruelly have deprived it of the best toast ever (how dare you!). Anyway, it's always worth a shot to deprive yourself of pasta, bread, pizza crust, cereal and ordinary waffles to test the arbitrary hypothesis of a nutritional non-expert stranger.
Perhaps you have a food intolerance or allergy?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ilt.co.za/the-role-of-food/