I absolutely love mornings. Especially ones with sunshine and warmth. My two favorite times of day are sunrise and sunset, also know as breakfast and cocktail hour!
My ideal morning involves stumbling into the kitchen and eating something hearty with a steaming mug of coffee. I love the ritual of breakfast. In fact, when I read the word “breakfast” in my novel last night I got excited for the characters. The thought of doing anything else in the morning makes me grumpy.
But…I hadn’t considered that doing other things during my favorite time of day would make them just as exciting as breakfast. Today Matt and I decided to workout first thing since we have a lunchtime engagement and an afternoon meeting. We decided to duathlon it and bike to a new neighborhood to run. We’re tired of running our usual routes.
And it was G L O R I O U S! The hustle & bustle of the morning traffic. The smell of burnt toast wafting from homes. The dew. The sunshine. The weather warm enough for shorts.
We biked 2 miles, parked, ran 4.25 through a new gorgeous neighborhood, and then biked our way home.
There was only about 10 minutes of suffering – the time from when I got out of bed and was overwhelmed with hunger and the urge to scrap the plans and eat breakfast and the moment when I put a date dunked in peanut butter in my mouth. Crisis averted, blood sugar replenished, ready to go!
Once home, we showered and feasted
I wanted to let the homemade Honey Crunch peanut butter do the talking today (and also didn’t want to spoil my lunch appetite with too much oatmeal at 9:30AM!) so I just blobbed a generous portion on and wallowed in it.
The Mix
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp scottish oats
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp ground flax
- Pinch salt
- Lots of Honey Crunch!
This is the last of our spring weather for a while – gotta soak it up!
Have a wonderful day!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
That melty pool of homemade peanut butter looks so delicious!! 😀
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
You’re comment about the smell of “burnt toast wafting from homes” made me laugh!
Johanna B says
I love mornings, too. I find myself looking forward to breakfast when I wake up in the middle of the night.
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
I am so jealous you had shorts weather this morning! We got 12+ inches of snow last night 🙁 No shorts for me for a while.
Have you and Matt ever competed in a duathlon or triathlon?
KathEats says
no, mostly because I haven’t had a bike until now. And it just seems like a much harder race to prepare for.
Christie {Nourishing Eats} says
Yum! That PB looks fantastic. It is supposed to get to 70* here today and I am hoping to savor it as well. My husband is off from work so hopefully we will get out and about for lots of fun!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
I love the idea of biking to a new running route!! I’ll have to do that soon!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
The peanut butter is always the best part! You actually inspired me to eat my oats unstirred…and being able to savor the pool of pb at the end makes me wonder why I hadn’t done so sooner!
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
You are so lucky to have such great weather! It snowed here in MI last nice and there is a lot of ice. Can’t wait for the real spring.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I’m envious of your sunlight! It dreary here in DC.
Have a great day 🙂
Mary (Sisters Running the Kitchen) says
your oatmeal is the perfect texture! looks fantastic!
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
I really enjoy the weekend mornings when I can lounge around eating breakfast and workout a little later, but there is definitely something to be said about starting the day with a great workout first thing!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
I am a total morning person too! This weekend we saw some signs of spring (like snow melting and temperatures above zero) but I woke up this morning to TONS of snow so it looks like we’ll have to wait a little bit longer. Have a great day Kath!
cathyb@brightbakes says
I feel exactly the same way about mornings! And though I’m currently cuddled up with a nice bowl of oats, I have to say “thank you”…your commentary of your morning workout is making me super excited for my upcoming run in a few hours…just what I needed 🙂
love,
cathy b.
Sarah says
Kath, you really encourage me to pay attention to the beauty in life. I so appreciate that.
KathEats says
🙂
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Your simple bowl of oats looks so naked this morning…compared to your usual toppings that is. I’m most definitely NOT a morning person but jet lag has given me a taste of it this week. I like it! If only my body cooperated normally.
RhodeyGirl says
Do you ever get tired of making breakfast? I LOVE breakfast, but sometimes I just wish it would make itself.
KathEats says
Never! Lunch and dinner, yes
Heather says
I love breakfast just wish I had more time to sit down and savor it….
Enjoy your day!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
Yesterday was our “soak up the last day of nice weather” day, and we complied by checking out a new hiking spot. Today is the rainy, catch up on the all the stuff around the house I didn’t do yesterday day 😉
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
I never used to like early mornings, but now I love them! Early morning is one of my most productive times of day!
Sarah @ The Strength of Faith says
Anybody else singing “Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof now?
Lucy Ingels says
Hi! I’m new to your blog and am enjoying it very much. Love all the pictures of the yummy food. Have a question, though. I usually make steel cut oats and just follow the directions on the can. If I do the microwave version, it usually involves a boil over…if I do stovetop, it takes so long. When you list the ingredients for your oatmeal mix, what is your cooking process? Thanks much!
KathEats says
Lucy,
Welcome! I use rolled oats, not steel cut, because SC take so much longer to cook. Plus rolled oats are creamier and the portion size is bigger for the same nutrition. Check out the Tribute To Oatmeal page for the whole recipe!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
I prefer working out first thing for all of those reasons. Plus, breakfast never tastes as good as it does after a good workout. Enjoy your day!
Jessica says
I’ve never really gotten into oatmeal, but religiously reading your blog has made me give it another shot, and I’ve gotta say I’m converted! Since I’m an oatmeal newbie, i just put some toasted almonds, coconut, and a crumbled Kashi bar into my flaxplus oatmeal, and it was absolutely delicious, I will definitely have to try more of your concoctions! How do you get the banana in there? do you blend it in? (obviously I’m not very experienced with oatmeal!)
KathEats says
Wheee!
You should also pay a visit to the Tribute To Oatmeal page for the whipped banana technique 🙂
JenATX says
yum! welcome to the oatmeal world 🙂
And Kath, great post! I love reading others’ joy in the small things. I also realized I’ve never even thought about what my favorite time of the day is!
I’m glad others look forward to breakfast as much as I do! I always thought I was kind of weird for that haha
Lindsey @ Morningstar Project says
You are speaking my language because mornings are hands down my favorite time. If I could bottle up that morning energy to use all day long I would be one happy lady 🙂
Jil @ Big City, Lil' Kitchen says
Jealous of your ability to wear shorts at this time of yeaaar!
Lisa Fine says
I was just researching what to eat before running early in the morning, and was happy to read your quick bite before exercise. A date with some nut butter sounds good – do you find you ever get way too hungry to keep exercising, or does it fend off the hunger until a full breakfast?
KathEats says
Once I get going I’m usually fine. Dates seem to work really well for me. Even better than I piece of toast, which sometimes I can’t even feel in there.
Anne @ Baking Me says
What a wonderful morning!
Caitlin @the permanent life says
I love to workout first thing, it gets me moving for the day! I want to try some honey crunch PB so bad, it sounds delicious! Glad you had a great morning, have an awesome day!
Nancy~The Wife of a Dairyman says
Sounds like the perfect ‘almost’ spring day to me! I can almost taste that peanut butter through this screen! yum!
Melissa @ Chocolate & Kisses says
I am so jealous you have little green things sprouting!!! We just got snow to cover up what yucky earth was starting to appear… I also love mornings when the sun is out! Through the winter I’ve been staying close to my sun room, on sunny days that may be 20 degrees outside, it gets up to 74 degrees! Ahh, heaven! Have a good day!
Chelsie says
I love mornings tooo!!!! Although they are so much easier when it is beautiful and sunny out. Last Friday it was almost 70 degrees and today I woke up to almost a foot of snow. Oh February how you make the weather so unpredictable.
Marina says
Early morning workouts and a breakfast in the sunshine is a perfect start of the day for me!
Sana says
I love that you have the perfect workout buddy!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I love my morning routines as well! I especially love how quiet things are because my husband is still sleeping.
I love the idea of biking to a new running spot. I’ve often thought about driving but feel guilty for wasting gas that isn’t necessary. I’ll have to try that once the snow melts. . . which isn’t going to be for a while. 🙁
Maegan @ thetwotables says
…recent banana oatmeal convert here! Thanks for making breakfast something to look forward to, Kath! I’m in no way a morning person, but if I get to get up and make a tasty and filling breakfast to start my day, somehow I’ve started to enjoy waking up just a little bit more!
So here’s the deal, when making this in the morning, I’m conflicted as to how much to make. I’ve been doing a half cup of rolled oats per person, and honestly, my SO thinks I need to up the portion size. Is this reasonable? I’m concerned because in your recipe above you’re using just a bit over 1/4 C per person. I don’t want to get out of control with portion sizes here–even if our breakfasts are super-nutritious. Advice?
Thanks!
KathEats says
When I write “The Mix” it’s always for ONE person – unless indicated. So that 1/4 cup was in addition to 2 tbsp scottish oats, which is half a portion, so two halves make a whole! I know it’s a bit confusing. I normally have the equiv. of 1/3 cup rolled oats and then I put more toppings on top, so the total equiv. of 1/2 a cup.
I think over 1/2 a cup is totally fine if your SO needs more heft or is more active. You could split the whole pot 1/3 to 2/3 and then add toppings to yours.
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
I really love the writing style in this post- so descriptive. Breakfast is almost always first on my agenda too, but if I had beautiful weather it would definitely be easier to coax myself into a pre-breakfast run! Enjoy the warm temps- it’s FREEZING up here again 🙁
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Have a great day Kath! Good luck with all you have going on today!
kate says
I love the idea of breaking up the normal run with a stretch of biking! Happy Monday!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
I think that’s the simplest bowl of KERF oatmeal I’ve ever seen 🙂
I love mornings more than anything… enjoy the remainder of your day!
Alaina says
What a wonderfully active morning! I love mornings like that. It’s making me pine for spring. 🙂
Kelly says
I agree with you — it’s hard to go workout first thing in the morning when my usual inspiration for getting up is breakfast.
Natalia - a side of simple says
I absolutely love how your favorite times of day coincide with breakfast and happy hour. I have to say, sunset is really the perfect time to kick back and enjoy life a bit. Have a great day, Kath!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Yum! That bowl looks delicious- so simple but delicious. Glad you were able to spike your blood sugar up with a quick peanut butter dipped date, too. I don’t have dates around here..but I do the same thing with bananas. 😛
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
My favorite time of day is first thing in the morning too and I loved reading your description of it as you biked and ran outside this morning.
Laura @ prettylittlewords says
Breakfast really is such a wonderful part of the day. I wish I woke up early enough to enjoy it more often! Unfortunately, breakfast for me is usually a banana wolfed down on the bus…. =/
Cati @ crave and create says
Mmmm! That’s pretty much how I do my oatmeal every time…look at that melty pool of PB! Love how you say it, though: “I just blobbed a generous portion on and wallowed in it.”
Jenn from Much to My Delight says
I would like to swim in that perfect little pool of honey butter. Is that wrong?
PS: I lurve your blog. I gave it a little shout out in my post today on healthy eating.
Emily G says
Kath honestly a big smile came onto my face when I saw you write your two favorite times of the day are breakfast and cocktail hour… I could NOT agree more!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
What a lovely morning 🙂
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I love breakfast! I think every meal should be breakfast. 😉
Rachel @ Healthy Teacher says
I love mornings, too. When I was a kid, hearing my parents rustle around the house, the news blaring in the family room, and Dad cooking breakfast downstairs, I felt so happy. Mornings of my childhood are probably my fondest memories, especially now that Dad’s gone.
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I am not a morning person AT ALL, but that PB could probably convince me otherwise!
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
It’s 73 here today! That sounds like an awesome workout 🙂 I miss bike riding SOOOO MUCH. Especially the rides that go through SC and into Kings Mtn State Park!
Love the “leafy” mug collection 😀 Have a great lunch meeting!
Eliz@The Sweet Life says
Sounds like such a beautiful, crisp morning!
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
I am loving the colorful place settings – It keeps reminding me that spring WILL be around the corner 🙂
Kristina says
Mornings are my favorite time of day, too… so peaceful, especially before everyone wakes up it feels like you have the world to yourself.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I feel the same! I’m a morning person and I look forward to making breakfast every day. I am also my most productive in the early hours 🙂
Annette @ enjoyyourhealthylife says
I am ALL about working out first thing the morning- it is THE way to go 🙂 As you saw, best thing ever is gettin’ ‘er done in the early, pretty morn!! Have a great lunch
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I love leisurely mornings where I can sit down, eat breakfast, and catch up on some blogs. This morning was a great morning forthat – it was drizzley and my bowl of oatbran with peanut butter was the perfect start to my day!
Ellie@fitforthesoul says
Ahhh I love sunset too and mornings too 🙂 Appreciating the little things in life is such a treasure.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
I love mornings too! I love taking my time with breakfast with a big cup of coffee or tea. It’s my favorite time of day 🙂
Meagan says
I like mornings too 🙂 It feels so good to get up and exercise and then go about the day. Nice spoon, btw 🙂
Baking 'n' Books says
Does Matt eat oatmeal every morning as well? Or do you do your own things?
Awesome workout.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
love the design on the spoon…and that cute frog 🙂
Kori says
Breakfast is my favorite meal and time of the day because I love fruit, yogurt, etc. Also it feels like a fresh start, so no matter what the previous day was like, it’s as if I’m given a clean slate. Lastly, it also feels like the “calm before the storm”-the dark makes everything feel less rushed. I loved this post!
Anne @ butter and bear says
I love to work-out first thing in the morning. It gives me a lift for the whole day, and breakfast tastes that much better after a hard work-out.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
What a glorious start to the day! I think you captured the essence of morning perfectly 🙂
Karis (Karis' Kitchen) says
Ha, love the comment about cocktail hour! I knew there was a reason I liked sunsets 🙂
Kristen, Sweetly says
The ritual of breakfast. 🙂 I’m glad I’m not alone in that one! When I start off with a big, fun breakfast, the whole day just seems so much better.
Heidi - apples under my bed says
I completely agree – breakfast is such a lovely time, my favourite too. I love going out – either for exercise or dashing to the shops (this morning I walked my man to the train station) & smelling the morning – toast and coffee coming from houses, fresh air – love it!
Heidi xo
Katie @ peacebeme says
My two favorite times of day are also sunrise and sunset, absolutely. I say that all the time!
Hannah says
Ohhhh… what brand is the honey crunch peanut butter? I must investigate so I can reverse engineer it 😉
rebecca lustig says
I love mornings. There’s nothing like starting the day with the best meal of the day.
stacey-healthylife says
I love mornings and morning workouts. But I always gotta eat breakfast first. I wake up hungry and need replenishment.
Ella says
I am curious – what did Matt eat post-bike/run? I know he eats oatmeals sometimes too but when he doesn’t, what does he usually go for?
KathEats says
We almost always have the same breakfast. He does different toppings, but the base is the same.
notyet100 says
luved all the pics
Kimberly says
I couldn’t agree more about how crucial breakfast is. It totally sets the tone for the rest of the day, and eating is usually the first thing on my mind when I wake up.
Kelly - meatlesswithaman.blogspot.com says
I’m SO READY for some nice spring time weather!!
Megan says
I have to say I just love your description of the excitement of breakfast. Few things make me happier than the days when I have a late start at work and I’m able to have a leisurely, healthy, hearty breakfast + a delicious mug of coffee/tea. I thought I was the only one who had such an attachment to breakfast…. thank goodness I’m not alone! 😉