7 Days of Paleo Breakfasts

Because it's the most important meal of the day...

If you're like the majority of people, you've probably tried lots'o'diets attempting to get healthy or lose weight. If you're all will-powery, you might be able to stick to it for a while, but soon you feel like you're on a scavenger hunt in your refrigerator and pantry to find a clue that will lead you to the glorious prize (a decent meal) that is NOT another kale salad, or seaweed fritter.

One diet option is the Paleo Diet, so-called because it is meant to mimic the type of diet our ancestors would have (probably) consumed before we got all grain-y, legume-y and lactose-y. That means that it is based on lean proteins (preferably grass-fed animals or wild animals if you have access to them), fruits and vegetables and certain seeds and natural oils. If you are interested in the Paleo Diet, do some research! Proponents of this way of eating say it can lead to a longer, healthier, more active life. If a nutritionist recommended that you try Paleo, or if you just think you want to get in touch with your inner "Og", it's always nice to have some meal ideas to help you stay on track!

Here are seven days of Paleo-inspired breakfast ideas to get your day started right:

1. Monday Morning Paleo Smoothie (this means quick and easy because it is most likely, ‘just another manic Monday) Blend coconut milk, a couple handfuls of your fruit of choice (preferably berries for their high antioxidant content), a banana, a good-sized spoonful of your favorite nut butter (for added protein and fat content), and you can finish it off with a splash of natural vanilla extract to sweeten it up a bit. Add ice if you like your smoothie cold! 2. Tuesday Veggie Omelet (prep time 5 minutes, cook time 5 minutes) Slice 4 fresh mushrooms, dice 1/3 of a small onion, half a tomato, and 1/4 of a bell pepper and fold into 2 or 3 eggs (depending on how much you eat), and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of coconut milk (to make it fluffy), add sea salt and pepper to taste, cook over medium heat with coconut oil (if needed) until set. This can be ready even more quickly if you chop the veggies the night before you make it! 3. Wednesday Blueberry Cucumber Smoothie Peel and dice one medium-sized cucumber (preferably organic, cucumbers have lots of chemicals on them) and toss it in the blender, add about a half a cup of blueberries (frozen if you must), the juice from half of a small lime or lemon, and 1/2 cup of coconut milk, add ice if you used fresh blueberries and blend. Enjoy! 4. Thursday Ham-Wrapped Breakfast Burrito (prep time 10 minutes, cook time 5 minutes) To get our motor running and keep it going all morning on Thursday, we are going to make a flour-less breakfast burrito! Lightly brown two thick slices of ham on both sides using coconut oil so they don't stick to the pan, set aside. Dice 1/2 a tomato and 1/4 of a small onion and fold into 2 or 3 eggs, add sea salt and pepper to taste and scramble the eggs until cooked. When the ham is cool enough to touch, put half of the scrambled egg mixture on each slice and roll them up like burritos! 5. Friday Rocky Smoothie "Rocky" because it has egg yolks in it. This is really just another smoothie, but the egg yolks add good fat and protein! Blend coconut or almond milk (to mix it up a little), a handful of strawberries or blackberries, 2 egg yolks, a tablespoon of almond butter, and sweeten it with a tablespoon of raw honey, delicious! 6. Saturday Breakfast Casserole (a little more involved because it's the weekend) You can make this on Saturday morning and easily save portions in the refrigerator or freezer for busy days during the week! Make the whole batch so you have left-overs! Preheat your oven to 375 F, and begin to cook 1lb. of Italian sausage in a skillet with about a tablespoon of coconut oil, when cooked through, set aside. Dice 1 medium white onion, and one bell pepper, and cook in the same skillet for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Mince 3 cloves of garlic. Place the sausage, vegetables and garlic in an oven-safe casserole dish. Mix 8 eggs with 1/3 cup almond milk and sea salt and pepper to taste, pour over the vegetables and sausage. Bake for 20 minutes and serve with minced chives on top. 7. Sunday Egg, Salmon and Apple Sandwich Heat a small amount of coconut oil in a frying pan, mince 2 tablespoons of chives and fold into 2 or three eggs, add salt and pepper to taste, and cook about five minutes until set. Core a large green apple and cut it into at least two thick slices. Place the apple slices on a plate, put a couple of pieces of smoked salmon on top, and then put the eggs on top of the salmon. Enjoy a lighter breakfast sandwich!