Feeding Your Inner Child

Food flavors can have the magical ability to transport us back in time. One of the ways I love to nourish my body is by recreating flavors I loved as a child, healthifying dishes from my earlier years. The flavors remind me of a joyous memory, filling me up not just physiologically but mentally too. Whether it is an old family recipe, a dish I tasted while traveling the world, or a holiday staple, I find these recreations to be truly satisfying for my body and my soul.

As a child I remember eating a large portion of Grape-nuts mixed with a little bit of bright pink, sugary strawberry yogurt. A few months ago, I walked past Grape-nuts in the cereal aisle, and just out of curiosity picked up a box to look over the nutrition facts. This familiar food, that I hadn’t had in decades, turned out to be a nutritious mix of whole grain wheat and barley flours, making it a cereal full of fiber and protein with absolutely no added-sugar. I excitedly brought a box home, tasted them plain and remembered instantly how delicious they were mixed with yogurt.

Here is what I came up with to make this a recipe that works for me. It has become my current go-to breakfast. Make it your own by picking your favorite fruit and yogurt!

Grape-nuts Parfait Ingredients

1 cup Greek yogurt (nonfat plain or your favorite low-sugar option) 1 cup berries (blackberries/blueberries/strawberries/raspberries or a mix) ½ cup Grape-nuts 1 tablespoon all-natural peanut butter

Cinnamon to taste

Instructions

This is a very fast recipe to throw together. I place the yogurt, Grape-nuts and peanut butter in my favorite breakfast bowl, mix them together well, and then top the mixture with whatever berries we have in the house. Enjoy!