morning

Many people, once they go vegan, can become stuck in a rut of making sweet breakfasts every day, be it through maple syrup-sweetened oatmeal, banana-based green smoothies, or hemp seed

If you find yourself having trouble getting out of bed in the morning without a cup of joe, it might be time to try a new way to get that caffeine fix. There are natural ways to get caffeine that are jam-packed with lots of antioxidants without resorting to coffee.

Until about a month ago, I was working two jobs from home. Now, I work 40 hours per week outside of the home. I went from getting about nine hours of sleep per night to about six and a half; transitioning from waking up at 10:30 A.M. to 6:45 A.M. can be somewhat tough. Truthfully, I’ve never really been a “morning person,” especially now that we’ve sprung forward. Thanks, daylight savings time.

I first came across turmeric in our family kitchen as a child. My mother had printed out a recipe for curry cauliflower, and while the curry powder gave the roasted cauliflower its delicious taste, turmeric was responsible for the subtler taste and stronger hue. Since then, I’ve seen turmeric in everything from egg and tofu scrambles to salad dressings to cookies–I kid you not. Most recently, I stumbled upon a recipe in Meghan Telpner’s The UnDiet CookBook for Jamu Juice. 

Every so often my standard morning oatmeal recipe starts to feel boring and bland; I crave something warm and satisfying, but decidedly not made from oats. Enter breakfast quinoa!

As a vegan, avoiding eggs can be a challenge when it comes to breakfast, but fear not! You can still enjoy your favorite breakfast sandwiches without the eggs. Tofu has always been a great substitute for eggs with its spongy texture and ability to soak up flavors. In this recipe, I use a thin slice of tofu and marinate it in nutritional yeast and spices to achieve an egg-like color and consistency.

Mornings aren’t for everyone, and for some, getting out of bed requires immediate caffeine consumption! However, how you begin the day plays a very important role in how you feel and how you tackle the rest of the day, so hold off on that first cup until you’ve warmed up the body! Ayurvedic philosophy emphasizes the importance of morning rituals in your overall health and wellbeing, and sticking to a few of these rituals can align and cleanse your body, helping you gain energy and release toxins, balance your doshas and commit to a practice that can have a huge impact on your life.