Healthy Breakfast Superfood Vegan Yogurt Bowl

 

Yogurt for breakfast?  Try this superfood yogurt breakfast idea.  Packed with plant-proteins, superfoods and antioxidant rich berries, this vegan yogurt bowl is an incredible way to begin your day and fill your body up with positive energy, keeping you radiant all morning long!  

“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” – John Gunther

For as long as I can remember, breakfast has been by far my least favourite meal of the day. In fact, it’s a meal I have skipped for the last 20 years or so. Recently, while attempting to deal with some of my IBS symptoms, I have stopped eating entirely by about 6pm. This of course means I wake up very hungry and have had to figure out what type of breakfast will appeal to me before my body feels super ready to eat anything substantial. 

Vegan yogurt has always been a fridge staple in our house. Plain, unsweetened coconut yogurt is so versatile and can be a great friend for adding creaminess to sauces and dishes and is also (in my humble opinion) so tangy and good on it’s own.

I figured yogurt for breakfast might be a good idea.  So a vegan yogurt bowl would likely be my best bet for getting the hang of joining the breakfast eaters of the world, I started to put together some amazing plant-protein and superfood dense ingredients to squeeze every ounce of goodness I could from this vegan yogurt bowl. 

 

Healthy Breakfast Superfood Yogurt – Ingredients

Vegan Yogurt – Coconut is most certainly the creamiest and most neutral plant-based option. There are plenty on the market and making your own is also a great option. Yogurt contains live culture (probiotics) that can enhance gut microbiota and help prevent gut and digestive issues. Vegan yogurt will act as the base for this healthy breakfast bowl!

Brand I use: Silk Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt

Wild Blueberries – Blueberries were always one of my least favorite berries. Even the freshest, local options didn’t quite do it for me. That was until I discovered (far too late in life), the magic of wild blueberries. Much smaller and containing less water than their traditional counterpart, wild blueberries have a more intense, sweet and tangy flavour. Wild blueberries also contain antioxidant anthocyanin and have a greater antioxidant capacity per serving than traditionally grown blueberries. During the cold months in Canada, it’s next to impossible to source fresh wild blueberries. Frozen wild blueberries are incredible and dethaw so beautifully. 

Brand I use: Nature’s Touch Organic Wild Blueberries

Goji Berries – An ancient fruit popular in traditional Chinese medicine for it’s seemingly infinite health benefits, goji berries are probably my favourite ingredient in this yogurt bowl. An entire post would be required to fully brag about all the magical properties captured in this tiny, red, heavenly sweet dried fruit, but here is a short list of just SOME of the many benefits offered by this beautiful treat. Goji berries have the highest vitamin C content of any fruit in the entire world. They also contain powerful antioxidants that help improve skin, assist with ageing and help boost your immune system. I like my dried goji berries as is (crunchy!), but you can also soak them in warm water for a few minutes until they reach desired texture.  An absolute must for any superfood breakfast.

Brand I use: Prana Organic Goji Berries

Hemp Hearts – Exceptionally rich in omega-3 and omega-6, with over 25% of the total calories being from high quality plant-protein. Hemp hearts are also an incredible source of vitamin E, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron. Not only are hemp hearts nutritionally dense, they are so tasty! Technically a nut, hemp hearts have a subtle nutty flavour and soft but hearty texture.  Great for any superfood breakfast!

Brand I use: Manitoba Harvest Organic Shelled Hemp Hearts

Protein Powder – Although the hemp hearts provide a good serving of protein into the yogurt bowl, I love adding a tablespoon of vanilla or chocolate protein powder to further boost the overall protein content and this addition also adds a lovely flavour and helps to thicken the viscosity of the yogurt. Because I struggle with gut issues, I do have to be cautious of protein powders disrupting the happiness of my belly. I have found that brown rice and seed based powders with the simplest ingredients work the most in my favour. However, feel free to use whatever protein powder you most love, or have on hand. 

Brand I use: Botanica Perfect Protein in Vanilla

Maca – Another ingredient that would require me to focus an entire blog post exclusively on its many benefits, is maca root powder. If you are not familiar, I strongly encourage you to give it an internet search and discover the seemingly limitless benefits of this incredible plant. Maca root is an adaptogen. Adaptogens help the body adapt and deal with different stressors, and assist in creating a well-balanced life. It is also believed to balance hormone levels, maintain energy/stamina and supports a healthy libido (woohoo!). Maca root also contains all 8 essential amino acids (great for plant-based diets) and contains over 10% protein. 

***Note*** It is important to opt for gelatinized maca root powder. This process makes it easily digestible and is aligned with the way this root has been traditionally consumed by the indigenous people of the Andes. It also prevents the maca root from acquiring mold. This process does not involve the use of animal gelatin.

Brand I use: Organic Traditions Maca X-6

Ashwagandha – A powerful adaptogen herb, used in Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine to increase stamina and calm the mind and body, ashwagandha is a root making its way to the mainstream.  Extensively researched throughout the years, ashwagandha is loved for its ability to assist with combating adrenal fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression while also improving memory, overall strength, blood sugar levels and sexual vigor and fertility. However, the only downside is the bitter and rather unpleasant taste. On its own, it’s pretty painful to endure. However, when combined with the other ingredients in the yogurt bowl, it goes totally unnoticed. 

Brand I use: Organic Traditions Ashwagandha Powder

Shredded Coconut – I just so love dried shredded coconut (unsweetened, of course!). We go through a tremendous amount of it, because it always seems to add the perfect flavour and texture to a variety or raw treats, baked goods (try our energy balls with shredded coconut), oatmeal bowls, smoothies and yogurt bowls. Subtle in flavour and so commonly used, it’s easy to forget that coconut has plenty to offer in the realm of nutrients. Coconut offers a solid serving of fiber, iron, magnesium, copper and zinc, while also providing a hearty dose of super healthy fats. 

Brand I use: Edward and Sons, Let’s Do Organic Shredded Coconut

Maple Syrup – As a Canadian and plant-enthusiast, it comes as no surprise that my absolute go-to natural sweetener is maple syrup. It is REALLY hard to believe that something so sweet, sugary and delicious could have so many health benefits, but thank the Goddess, it certainly does! It was recently revealed in a medical journal that pure maple syrup contains up to 24 different antioxidants. These antioxidants are wonderfully helpful for reducing free radical damage, that can cause inflammation and contribute to various chronic diseases. Maple syrup also contains zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium. 

***Note*** Seek out dark, grade A Canadian syrup to ensure you are getting the most out of your maple syrup. 

Brand I use: Now Foods Organic Maple Syrup

Breakfast Blessing 

(Repeat 3X before eating yogurt bowl)

Blessings to Earth , who gives to me this food

Blessings to Sun, who makes it ripe & good

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Breakfast Superfood Yogurt Bowl

Packed with plant-proteins, superfoods and antioxidant rich berries, this yogurt bowl is an incredible way to begin your day and fill your body up with positive energy, keeping you radiant all morning long!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine BREAKFAST, MAINS, RECIPES
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut yogurt
  • 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tsp maca powder
  • 3/4 tsp ashwagandha powder
  • 1/3 cup wild blueberries
  • 1 tbsp goji berries
  • 1 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 2 tsp dark maple syrup (or more to taste)

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine yogurt with maca, protein powder and ashwagandha. Top with all other ingredients.

Notes

  • If you are new to ashwagandha, you might want to up the maple syrup by another tsp or so. The taste is quite bitter and slightly unpleasant. The maple syrup does a great job of hiding this. 
  • Feel free to use any other berry you might have on hand. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and Saskatoon berries, all pair very well with the other ingredients. 
  • Some folks are not into having crunchy goji berries in their yogurt bowl. No prob! Simply soak the dried berries in very warm water for about 5 minutes and drain. This will moisten the berries and plump them up.
  • To make this picky eater friendly, I usually leave out the ashwagandha and maca and add a touch more maple syrup. 
Keyword gluten-free food, vegan food

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