Brittany's Blueberry Banana Powerbowl

During the initial "gaining" phase of my recovery, I was given a very structured, exchange-based meal plan. Each morning, I needed to consume a certain amount of carbohydrates, protein, dairy, fat, and fruit. To someone caught in the midst of an eating disorder, this was a nightmare.

"How many carbs did you say?"

"Do I really need that much protein?" 

"It should be a crime for that many calories to be consumed in a single sitting."

I started making these "powerbowls" for breakfast because I needed something quick, easy, and most importantly: stress-free. Personally, I found it was much less overwhelming to eat a single bowl full of all my necessary exchanges compared to something more "spread out" (two slices of toast with butter, a yogurt, berries, a glass of milk, and the like). I wanted to share this simple recipe with you because I truly believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day. These little bowls are packed with the perfect amount of protein, carbs, and fats to get you going in the morning.


So without further ado, the recipe for my all-time favorite powerbowl:

Brittany's Blueberry Banana Powerbowl

• 3/4 cup cottage cheese
• 3/4 cup Special K cereal
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter 

To this day, I eat these bowls almost every  morning (yes, I love them that much). The best thing about power bowls, though, is that the flavor can be completely changed simply by making a few substitutions. Some of my favorite ways to mix things up are by using different fruit such as chopped apple or pineapple, use yogurt the base instead of cottage cheese, try out a new cereal or granola, or you can experiment with different nut butters. Of course, it is not necessary to measure each ingredient out before mixing it all together. It is not being cooked or baked, so portions depend soley on personal preference.

That is the beauty of these powerbowls. Simply combine your preferred ingredients into a bowl, give it a stir, and enjoy every scrumptious little bite.


A few tips:

• Do NOT try using oats for the cereal. It will be soggy, gross, and just not a good experience in my opinion.
• DO use frozen banana. There is something about the frozen banana makes my powerbowl taste more like a banana split. Yum. 
• ALWAYS use nut butter. Don't skimp out on this part. The health benefits to nut butters are endless. Give me a spoonful of peanut butter, and you have pretty much won my heart right then and there. 

These bowls were a true life-saver in the beginning of my recovery. Today, they allow me to get to school on time and get and extra ten minutes of sleep in the morning. Whether you are in recovery, recovered, or just want something quick and delicious in the morning, a good powerbowl may just be the answer to your prayers. 

What are your favorite breakfast foods to take on the go?