Simon’s Protein Power Porridge Recipe
I eat my protein power porridge pretty much everyday! I do vary the ingredients a little from time to time, but generally I like to keep things simple.
Every decision takes some mental energy. If you’ve got things to do, it’s better to save that decision making energy for growing your business.
Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs famously had wardrobes full of exact copies of the same outfit – they didn’t want to waste precious neurons deciding what to wear each morning. For the same reason, many effective doers and thinkers have fixed morning routines – no unnecessary decisions necessary!
Why porridge?
Oats are a great source of slow release energy. They’ll keep feeding your brain and body a slow and steady supply of glucose throughout the morning, keeping your creative juices flowing, and fueling any workout you might have planned.
Porridge is also an amazing source of soluble fibre. This not only helps keep you feeling full, but has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
There are lots of different types of oat – Steel cut, milled, rolled (regular and quick) – They are all the same nutritionally, but will change the texture of the porridge. I like quick rolled oats personally (copos finos in Spanish).
Why the egg!?
The usual response when people here that I put an egg in my porridge is “What? Yuck!” – But believe me, it’s actually delicious, as well as nutritious.
Eggs are packed full of protein, and not just any protein, they contain all 9 of the essential amino acids in just the right quantities. They are also jam packed with vitamins, minerals and essential omega fatty acids. Everything necessary to grow a baby chicken! But you can eat it and use it to keep your entrepreneurial mind and muscle in tip top condition…
Go nuts every morning
Nuts and seeds are also powerhouses of nutrition, jam packed with the raw materials to sprout a new plant.
People that eat a handful of (raw, unseasoned) nuts and seeds on a daily basis live longer healthier lives, and have a lower risk of obesity.
Get fruity
Most of us have been conditioned to a sweet breakfast thanks to the mountains of sugar that get put into kid’s breakfast cereals.
After cutting out sugary drinks, cutting out breakfast cereals is one of the best things that you can do for your health.
Fruit is a great addition to a healthy breakfast, as it gives us this sweet sensation to which we’ve become accustomed, but with less sugar and more vitamins, minerals and fiber.
So without further ado, here is my go to breakfast:
Protein Power Porridge Recipe
3/4-1.5 Cups of Oats (depending on your energy needs)
Water
1 Egg (free rage/organic) OR 1 tablespoon nut butter or tahini for vegan version
1 Dessertspoon crushed nuts / seeds
1 Dessertspoon raisins (optional)
1 Piece fruit or handful of berries, chopped
1 tsp honey (optional)
Method
- Pre-Soak – (Optional)
Soak the oats, raisins and crushed nuts and seeds in the water overnight. I do this in the pan in which I’m going to cook the oats so it’s ready to go on the hob when I wake up in the morning. If you don’t have chance or forget though, it doesn’t matter.
- Add egg and fruit
In the morning, I crack and egg into the mixture and add the chopped fruit or berries. If the mixture is very thick (the oats can soak up a lot of water) I add some more water. Depending on your preference you can make the porridge thicker or thinner by adding more or less water.
- Cook over low heat
Cook the porridge slowly over a low heat, stirring continuously. If you forget to stir, you’ll end up with lumps of egg white! You’ll be able to see when the porridge is cooked by the change in consistency.
- Add a teaspoon of honey (optional)
I like to add a teaspoon of honey as I know I’m going to burn it. Remember though that honey is pretty much pure sugar, and very calorific. If your goal is fat loss, better to skip the honey and raisins. The fruit and berries will add sweetness on their own.
So hopefully you like my Protein Power Porridge recipe! If you give it a go, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.