Choose Your Breakfast: Healthy or Hedonistic?

Take your pick: A breakfast to fuel your plans for the day, or a post-party brunch that’ll make you feel human again

written by Margo True  – December 14, 2009
1 of 7 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; styling by Randy Mon

Energy-blast breakfast

You’re up at dawn with big plans for your new year. Dig into this:

Menu (recipes on following pages):

  • Five-Grain Buttermilk Pancakes with Raspberry Honey
  • Francie's Fruit Salad
  • Green tea

What you'll get:

  • Carbs from pancakes and fruit to fuel a run or bike ride
  • Antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium from green tea and fruit salad
  • Fiber from whole grains and fruit
2 of 7 Photography by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon

Five-Grain Buttermilk Pancakes with Raspberry Honey

Beating the egg whites and folding them into the batter makes these hearty, nutritious pancakes surprisingly light in texture.

Recipe: Five-Grain Buttermilk Pancakes with Raspberry Honey

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3 of 7 Photography by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon

Francie's Fruit Salad

"I love the way my cousin Francie Van Zile made fruit salad. She chose from whatever was in season, cut it up perfectly, and added a little bit of candied ginger syrup." – Margo True, Food Editor

Simmer 1 tbsp. chopped candied ginger in 1/4 cup water, covered, 2 minutes; purée in a blender. In a bowl, mix segments cut from 3 oranges, 3 sliced peeled kiwi fruits, 11/2 cups fresh pineapple wedges, and 2 sliced bananas. Gently stir in syrup. Serves 4.

4 of 7 Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Back-on-your-feet brunch

It's 1 p.m. and you've just crawled out of bed. Here's what to eat, fast:

Menu (recipes follow):

  • Speedy Huevos Rancheros
  • Hair-of-the-dog Pineapple Soda
  • Coffee & plenty of water

What you'll get from this breakfast:

  • Calories 709
  • Bold flavors (but not too spicy) to burn through the fog
  • Protein (37 grams), which breaks down into amino acids that help rid you of toxins
  • Vitamins to replenish what the party ripped out of you
  • Rehydration after a boozy evening (have water on top of soda)
5 of 7 Photography by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon

Speedy Huevos Rancheros

You can make these in minutes if you use store-bought salsa and canned refried beans.

You must, however, buy all of the groceries ahead of time. Then you’ll be ready to go on New Year’s afternoon, when you wake up and need your huevos.

Recipe: Speedy Huevos Rancheros

6 of 7 Photography by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon

Hair-of-the-dog Pineapple Soda

You can leave the liquor out if you like, of course.

Recipe: Hair-of-the-dog Pineapple Soda

7 of 7 Photography by Annabelle Breakey; food styling by Randy Mon

Mexican side dishes

Still not satiated? Try any of our homemade Mexican side dishes to fill out your meal.

More: Mexican sides

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