Easiest Breakfast Ever: Sunny Fruit Parfait

We all know that breakfast is important. But you shouldn't have just anything for this vital meal - and neither should your kids. Processed foods full of refined sugars and artificial colors don't provide a good kick-start to your day. This easy breakfast (or anytime snack) gives you just what you need, whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding or getting ready to head off to school. 


The nutritional rewards you'll reap from this crunchy, creamy, chewy dish are great: loads of calcium and protein, fiber, antioxidants, iron, probiotics. And the balance of carbs and protein will help you feel satiated for a long while. 


This was a standard breakfast for me when I was growing up (it was the seventies, hence the sunflower seeds!). My mom worked full-time and went to school at night; she didn't have the time or energy to cook us a hot breakfast every day. But she did want to ensure that we had a nutritious start to the day and this certainly fit the bill. 


It takes maybe five minutes of prep time, and that includes taking the yogurt out of the fridge. Here's the recipe (if you can call it that; it's more a "technique"):

• plain yogurt, unsweetened (regular or greek)
• chopped organic apple, unpeeled (grated instead of chopped for very small children)
• organic raisins 
• sunflower seeds

Put all in a bowl, mix together and dig in! Try other dried fruit, like cranberries or blueberries; try different nuts or seeds, such as walnuts, almonds, chia, or pecans. You can even set out different fruits and nuts and each family member can make their own customized parfait. 

Viva hippie breakfasts!