For a few years my breakfast of choice was a glass of OJ a cup of coffee and a hardboiled egg.
You could have a slice of ham rolled up with a bit of mustard, bacon and eggs without toast, any meat you can think of.
Apple and a slice of ham for one example.
Linda C

First thought was eggs too.
If you have a good deli you can get some very good quality preservative free natural deli meats.
Fletcher's (not sure if this is regional though) Makes some great natural, nitrate, preservative free sausages. In pork, chicken and turkey. I buy natural, nitrate preservative free bacon. You can find it in turkey or pork. Check out Oscar Meyer products. They've got a line of naturals.

You are doing no grain at all? I don't do wheat but I do other grains. Lots of brown rice products and do alot of gluten free(wheat free) baking.

Eating peanut butter and other nuts, put nut butters on apples or celery.

Keeping some good deli meats around is a good idea. The local Kroger carries the Boar's Head line, which is preservative free and very good (not cheap either!)

The next time my poultry co-op orders, I'll be getting several turkey breasts to roast, slice and freeze in small packages. I just wish I could get a good deal on some grass-fed beef roasts.

As for the no grain thing - some nutrition scientists are of the opinion that many people will be much healthier without grain in their diet. If you google the paleolithic diet or hunter-gatherer diet you'll find some info. One theory is that a grain free, low glycemic diet will prevent or relieve Metabolic Syndrome. This syndrome is also known by other names, but it is the cluster of high blood pressure, high lipids, insulin resistance and high belly fat. It is often a precursor to diabetes and heart disease.

There's a lot more out there about why some people have problems with grain. It has a lot to do with grain being a relative newcomer to the human diet, as we went from a life of hunter-gatherers to agriculturists. Most of the grains that we eat now (like wheat) have been much modified from their original form to improve yield or other desirable characteristics.

I don't have a strong opinion that the eating of grains is problematic, not even for myself, and especially for the general population. I am ready to give it a trial run though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia on metabolic syndrome

I am glad I learned all this. Guess I'll cut out Spaghetti and Ravioli, Pizza,
Waffles with butter and Maple Syrup, Corn on the Cob.
In fact I'll have to stop eating everything.
Liz:
My Grandfather lived to 94 yrs. If he knew this, he might have made to 110 yrs.

I don't think I will be able to keep this diet, because I won't be able to Bake.
Then I can't terrorize the women here !!!

Liz : I'm sorry.
LOU

Lou, LOL! I understand. If I didn't have a myriad health problems and 50 to 70 extra pounds I wouldn't be considering this either. But I plan to live another 50 years, so I need to do something!

In many cultures, soup is consumed for breakfast. If you're looking for protein, Miso soup is good. It is actually quite a filling soup because it does have the protein...and you can add more by putting cubes of tofu in it. It is really quite simple to make, and one can make up a pot of it and just heat up servings in the morning.

I have always loved my good minestrone leftovers in the morning...sort of like cold pizza for breakfast, I guess, although I do heat it. :D Another soup that's easy to make and tastes better as it sits in the fridge. One could easily make it without any pasta, in fact I often omit the pasta anyway. The beans will add protein, and for that matter, I don't think it's illegal to add meat. Lentil soups are also quite good for breakfast.

If you're looking for a grab and take with type of breakfast, you might look into making smoothies with soy milk. I was never crazy about soy milk, but found that if I put a banana, a few strawberries or peaches and some ice in it and whipped it up, the odd taste I associated with soy milk was hidden. If you use frozen fruit, you don't even have to add the ice, really. Again, if you need more protein than what is in the soy, you could always add some protein powder.

Can you use low-carb., gluten-free coconut flour and coconut or nut milk? Personally, I avoid soy at ALL costs. If you can use these ingredients, you can make a good variety of grain- and dairy-free breads, pancakes and goodies using coconut flour. Google the book title of the Honey Muffins recipe as well as going to Bob's Red Mill (www.bobsredmill) for more recipes using coconut flour.

HONEY MUFFINS
(source: Cooking with Coconut Flour - by Bruce Fife, N.D.)

3 eggs
2 T. butter, melt (use coconut oil or vegetable oil to avoid a dairy product)
2 T. coconut milk or whole milk (you can also use nut milk which is easy to make at home - almond milk is very good)
3 T. honey (I use low-glycemic agave nectar)
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. vanilla
1/4 c. sifted coconut flour
1/4 t. baking powder

Blend together eggs, butter, coconut milk, honey, salt, and vanilla. Combine coconut flour with baking powder and thoroughly mix into batter until there are no lumps. Pour batter into greased muffin cups. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes. Makes 6 muffins.

HONEY NUT MUFFINS
Make recipe above and add 1/2 c. chopped pecans and 1/8 t. almond extract.
---------------------------
PEANUT BUTTER MUFFINS

3 eggs
1 T. coconut oil or butter, melted
5 T. sucanat or brown sugar
1/4 c. natural peanut butter
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. vanilla
1/4 c. sifted coconut flour
1/4 t. baking powder

Blend together eggs, oil, sugar, peanut butter, salt and vanilla. Combine coconut flour with baking powder and whisk into batter until there are no lumps. Pour into greased muffin cups. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Makes 6 muffins.
-----------------
-Grainlady

What are your plans for expending the same amount of daily body activity as a paleolithic or hunter-gatherer female did?

rachellen - the soups aren't a bad idea, particularly for cold mornings. As for the soy milk, that might be a good idea at my age!

grainlady - the muffins look good! I've never cooked/baked with coconut flour, but will give it a try. Is the 1/4 cup really correct? Do you think soy is a problem because it's been so overused? Or just a problem in general. I know it's not a good idea for everyone because of the estrogenic effect, but I'm at an age where I could use an estrogen boost.

ruthanna - I only wish I could do that much physical activity. Defective mitochondria and other health issues preclude that. But that really is a separate issue from whether or not my particular digestive system handles grain well. The only way to find out is to compare eating grain with not eating it.

Coconut flour is incredibly high in fiber (61% fiber, while wheat bran is 27% and oat bran is 16%) and it absorbs hydration like a sponge. That's why it takes so little coconut flour in the muffin recipe. You'll also be glad it doesn't take very much because it's not cheap. I just paid $7.79 for 1-lb. of Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour from the health food store. You can find it cheaper on-line (especially if you order it in larger amounts), but when you live in a one-horse town (and the horse is almost dead), you try to support the locals...

You'll find information about coconut flour, the book "Cooking With Coconut Flour", and more recipes at the link below.

Have you been checked for a lectin intolerance?

I think soy is a great cash crop and it has lots of uses, but NOT as a food. It's very high on the list of common allergens - right along with grains, eggs, and dairy. I've collected a huge file of information for over a decade about some of the problems with soy as a food. For more information and documentation, check out the book "The Whole Soy Story" by Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN.

-Grainlady

Liz:
Wish I could help you but you have Grainlady now and Rachel.
They have come up with some things in the past, that I have used.
I will keep you in my Minds Computer. Not much storage there but who knows.
Lou

In 1979, Supertramp asked for kippers for breakfast, which I think is a good idea, since I love kippers. You could also have lox (without the bagel). I always have kippers with crackers, but I guess they might be okay plain.

Lars

Liz, I've been wheat free(also soy and corn~although I put corn back only if Organic) since October, and what a difference living without that grain(wheat mostly because I already avoided soy) makes!!! Some things I noticed almost immediately(within a day or two): no cravings..no desire for anything baked, sweet or otherwise. No light headedness. (I was having a bit of trouble with that.) The feeling of lightness.~kinda odd to explain..but really I didn't feel so "bogged" down and blah. I lost a few pounds too.
The reason I started.. I was hoping that it would help with excess fluid retention in my ankles and feet (specialy left side)..It makes it more controlable, but didn't stop the issue. ~It's heriditary unfortunatly...so it's something several generations have had to live with both male and female. ~I'm also trying to figure out what might be triggers. It's not salt..that actually helps.
About the weight loss .... it all seems to be in my belly/hip area. I'd like to loose another 20-30lbs...but I'm being lazy right now. LOL I need to do some cardio..I know that..I know that's the key for me..but....I can find so many other things to do with that 45-60 minutes a day. LOL

I refuse to add chemicals to my body in an answer to "health issues".

So I'm attempting it with foods, and healthier choices.

I couldn't live without dairy. LOL So I don't but most of it's Organic.

If you don't get much calcium in your diet..my new favorite "supplement" choice is Herbal Calcium or chelated Calcium. I take just one at night.

Liz, having come from a farming family, our breakfasts were substantial and often had little to do with what we perceive today as "breakfast food".

My daughter hated all things breakfast and would have chicken noodle soup or grilled cheese or cold chicken or leftover pot roast for breakfast. My Grandpa had pie every single day of his life that I remember, saying it was no different than toast with jelly. We often had fish for breakfast, or chipped beef on toast or any number of substantial foods that would last the men until lunchtime while they were working hard in the fields and barns.

Think outside the box, and have whatever you like for breakfast. Like many others, my first thought was "have an egg", but there are far more choices than that. Roll a spear of asparagus in a slice of turkey, a dill pickle in a slice of ham. Make salmon patties at night and have them for breakfast the next day. Sausage can be bratwurst or sweet italian or any number of things esides that stuff that Bob Evans peddles. It can even be low fat and high in protein!

My favorite breakfast is a big ole' spoonful of peanut butter, eaten right off the spoon. if I'm feeling like a splurge, I'll have a dish of fruit or berries topped with a spoonful of my homemade yogurt, but you could skip the yogurt.

If you do decide to use soy, a "smoothie" made of soymilk, peanut butter, a banana and chocolate syrup is one of Ashley's favorite breakfasts.

Good luck, I hope it makes you feel as well as you hope it does. I found that ext4reme diets never seemed to make me feel as good as I expected them too, I now practice "moderation in everything". I had my old family doc tell me 80/20. 80% healthy stuff and 20% bad stuff and I'd be OK, no one is perfect and no one can be expected to be that strict with their diets forever. It has to be a lifelong commitment.

I hope yours leads you to better health, and that you enjoy it enough to make it a lifelong commitment.

Annie

I also try to limit wheat and other grains in my diet. I do find my moods more stable and upbeat when I'm not on my "drug of choice".

Since you are also restricting dairy, this is hard, but some of the breakfasts I enjoy are: crustless quiche; salmon patties; a bowl of black beans cuban style; or sausage, peppers & onions all fried up with mustard on top.

Good luck!

In response to the original poster's statement: you do not *need* an enormous amount of protein to start your day. In fact, one does not require a large amount of protein per day at all. Rather, this is a gross exaggeration on the part of various "how to get fit" diet books.

What you need to kick start your day is a lot of vitamins and micronutrients with some good sugars. To do this, I usually mix about 1/3 of a pineapple with 1/2 a mango in some orange juice, then embellish with a variety of other fruits or berries such as banana, cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, kiwi, or really any fruit that would taste good with the pineapple/mango base.

The fruits are a good kick start (especially the banana and pineapple) because they are natural "feel good" fruits that contain a little bit of caffeine (*dramatically* less than in coffee, and far far less than even in green tea, but present and functional!). They will literally make you feel awake, aware, and alert.

If you are a busy-body and don't get around to lunch often, it's important to add some healthy fats in with this shake either in the form of a splash of olive oil, or more ideally, a heaped tablespoon of coconut milk (preferably with no preservatives, but that's a rare find these days). Mix this all up in a blender until smooth (or you could eat it all raw, but that takes a long time and you're looking for a quick fix).

"But what about protein?" Well, first of all, fruit has more protein per calorie than meat or beans do. That's because a lot of what's in a fruit is water or calorie-free minerals and the like. As such, your body is packing on fewer pounds per unit of protein it is extracting. Secondly, you don't WANT a bunch of *excess* protein, because this negatively impacts your overall health and has been linked with heart disease, early stage diabetes, and a variety of dermatological pathologies, most notably acne and cellulite.

Moreover, you can add a raw egg yolk or two (be sure to mix the min with a fork rather than the blender as the friction with the blades is sufficient to cause heat denaturation of the fragile amino acids in an egg yolk) to your drink. Egg yolks are loaded with natural amino acids as well as good HEALTHY cholesterol (as opposed to 7-ketocholesterol). On days when I do not work out and have a light schedule, I have found that this one meal keeps me full for basically the full day without making me feel bloated or 'stuffed.'

For a creamy alternative to coconut milk or olive oil, try peeling and pitting an avocado and sticking it in with all the other fruit. It sounds gross, probably, since avocados have such a thick texture on their own, but blended in with fruit it makes the whole smoothie taste like you added a shot of cream or ice cream to thicken it, and is one of the most pleasant add-ons to a recipe I've ever tried!

In closing, let me say that I have drawn all this information from an authoritative source which is available online at www.freeacnebook.com. The first link on the page takes you directly to the book which is a few hundred pages of information about dermatopathologies and their link to diet as well as an explanation of why the diet this book recommends will work. It is well-researched, and cites all the major assertions the author makes. As a research biologist, I loved that this work cited its sources, since many diets are content to say "The FDA said so," and leave it at that!

Finally, I have been on this diet for around 2/3 of a year and have lost 60 pounds (I'm convinced I would have lost more if I had been more overweight, but I'm now at an ideal weight for my height, build, age, etc.). More importantly, my level of energy has increased, my attention span (which was not bad to begin with) has improved, my IQ is measurably higher, and I feel more alert and oriented than I ever have in my life. I should note that when I was younger I was an athlete, and I feel more fit than I did as an NCAA division 1 rower. As such, I can't see any draw backs to this diet, as it has done nothing but make me healthier, happier, and keener. It's done the same for friends and family who have tried it.

Up to you what you want to do with it, but either way I applaud you on your decision to eschew grains or dairy as they are addictive, noxious substances that cause you to eat 10% extra calories, resulting in obesity or chronic health conditions.

Sincerely,

Dave Stratton

My favorite breakfast is a sliced apple (Pink Lady!!!) smeared with almond or peanut butter. I also like crustless pumpkin pie filling baked in custard cups in a water bath. You could substitute a milk replacement such as almond or soy milk, if you don't want to use the regular milk.

Unfortunately, there isn't really a magic diet -- eat this! avoid that! -- that will confer health on those who partake of it. It's really a calories in versus calories out equation. If you are that heavy, you need to come up with some sort of tolerable exercise and decrease your total caloric intake to less than what you are putting out. It's not easy, that's for sure.

Fruit and nut trail mix would be a quick, on-the-go breakfast. Make your own from bulk products, much cheaper!
I often take a banana and little container of nuts for breakfast. I eat at my desk, so the less messy the better! I like smoothies, but don't take the time at home to make them. And...I like the 'chewing, crunching' action.

You could also make a potato based patty with any variety of meats and veggies tossed in.

Deanna