![\"bowl](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Bowl-of-fruit.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI\u2019ve been out of it \u2013 focus, sleep, the internet, even the country. \u00a0Hopefully, it didn\u2019t really seem like I was gone. \u00a0But, I was\u2026.to the farthest reaches of China near the Mongolian, Russian, and Kazakh borders. \u00a0It was an amazing trip, that I will be sharing \u00a0over the next couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
The only thing that\u2019s been consistent while coping with jet lag these last few days is that I make sure to eat a solid breakfast each day \u2013 leftover pork carnitas, a beet\/pumpkin\/spinach smoothie, or a big bowl of fruit or scrambled eggs with avocado chunks. \u00a0Of course, a stiff cup of coffee with thick, rich coconut milk has been a constant, as well.<\/p>\n
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Breakfast is a very important meal for me.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t eat a good breakfast, my day is basically shot.<\/p>\n
When I started removing more and more grains from my diet \u2013 not just the gluten-free ones \u2013 and limited beans to once every couple of months, though I had to scramble (literally and metaphorically) to find more breakfast options.<\/p>\n
As was reinforced very clearly in China, a number of cultures around the world don\u2019t eat the way that we do in the west. \u00a0They eat a lot more soup, vegetables, fish, and fruit instead of cereal, pancakes, or even bacon and eggs.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve taken a cue from other cultures and have broadened my idea of breakfast considerably over the last couple of years.\u00a0 This means thinking about leftovers as breakfast options and incorporating foods traditionally eaten at lunch or dinner into my morning meals.<\/p>\n
And, so, on our trip, I indulged in broth with fresh herbs and vegetables (something I am going to do more often now), brined eggs, slices of steamed pumpkin, fresh fruit, and chili pepper-spiced cabbage for my breakfasts. \u00a0It was pretty darned good. \u00a0And, it was a nice, fresh complement to many of the heavier foods we ate during lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n
![\"Breakfast](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Breakfast-in-China.jpg\")
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Here are some grain and dairy-free breakfast ideas that you can draw on and mix and match throughout the year without ever getting bored. \u00a0Some are more traditional and include eggs; others go beyond the average breakfast. \u00a0While some of the dishes are best left for the weekend \u2013 like hashes \u2013 most are easy to pull together in a matter of minutes for a sit-down meal or to take to work.<\/em><\/p>\n Poached salmon and eggs<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Banana slices sprinkled with cocoa powder and served with a dollop of almond butter.<\/p>\n Fresh, sliced fruit and avocado with mint leaves.<\/p>\n Fruit and veggie smoothies<\/a> or juices \u2013 beets, pumpkin<\/a>, kale, celery, cucumber and spinach make great vegetable additions.<\/p>\n Next-day frittata<\/a> using whatever you have on hand.<\/p>\n Steamed or roasted sugar pumpkin (kabocha, kuri, or butternut squash are delicious alternatives) with chopped almonds, cinnamon, and minced ginger sprinkled on top.<\/p>\n Slice of leftover roast with a side of sauerkraut.<\/p>\n Bone broth reheated with the addition of egg, sliced mushrooms, and\/or leftover meat and topped with fresh-chopped green onions, cilantro, and chilies.<\/p>\n Poached shrimp served cold with a chopped avocado and handful of tomato chunks (add a squeeze of lime for zing).<\/p>\n Greens and mushrooms saut\u00e9ed in your favorite fat (bacon fat and ghee are delicious) with fresh ginger and slivered almonds or sesame seeds.\u00a0 Top the greens with a fried egg if you like.<\/p>\n Scrambled chorizo (particularly home-made) and eggs with fresh salsa roja.<\/p>\n Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with olives and a hardboiled egg, drizzle tahini over the top<\/p>\n Breakfast salad: crumble bacon and\/or add saut\u00e9ed veggies (think sweet peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc.) over fresh greens; add avocado, fresh herbs or tomato chunks; drizzle with olive oil. \u00a0Add grapefruit or pomelo pieces for a different flavor.<\/p>\n Saut\u00e9ed cabbage and ground pork with garlic and chilies.<\/p>\n Breakfast veggie and leftover meat scramble.<\/p>\n GraNOla using slivered almonds, chopped walnuts, raw pepitas, shredded unsweetened coconut and fresh berries topped with coconut milk.<\/p>\n![\"sauteed](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/breakfast-4-26-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"breakfast](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/breakfast-scramble.jpg\")
Sweet potato hash using pre-cooked sweet potatoes, onions, leftover roasted chicken, and fresh apple chunks. \u00a0This spicy sweet potato and walnut hash<\/a> is pretty good, too!<\/p>\n