The Breakfast of Champions

Tomorrow the boys are heading back to school which means back to swim training. This means that I have to supply breakfast to my gluten free son. A breakfast that will give him all the nutrients that he needs, that will fill him before a day of school and is transportable.
So, I decided to make some breakfast calzones for him. These calzones are filled with sausage, bacon, cheese and an egg. Delicious! So each calzone is about 6 inches in length and 3 inches at its widest point. Plenty of food I think - until Daniel comes in today after his two hour afternoon swim session and devours a large bowl of cheese and broccoli soup and TWO calzones and is eying a third!
I have eight calzones left. Obviously, it will do for four mornings this week along with a black bean and chocolate smoothie AND THAT IS JUST BREAKFAST!!!


This is the problem with having a celiac kid. You can't just give them money and tell them to go and get breakfast bagels or pancakes. You have to supply all the food they need and you have to make sure that they are getting all the fibre and nutrients that they need to fuel their activities.
I have become an expert on snacks that appear to be just tasty but contain extra nutrients. I have "energy bars" made with koala krispies, nuts, chocolate, flaxseed, craisins and almond butter. I have gf oatmeal granola bars which include nuts, honey and flax and I have a delicious chocolate pudding that I saw on a Giada At Home programme which is made of bittersweet chocolate and avocados. The boys don't know about that ingredient!
After school smoothies contain vegetables and fruit, and the morning smoothie is made of black beans, banana, spinach and chocolate almond milk.

Its all about being inventive. Figure out what doesn't change the taste of an item and stick it in there. Daniel needs to eat about 4,000 calories a day to support his exercise programme and everything needs to be gluten free.
I like to take it as a personal challenge and an opportunity to try out new gluten free recipes!!

Here is the black bean and chocolate smoothie that Daniel has for breakfast. It really does taste very good!

Black Bean and Chocolate Smoothie Recipe
(Makes 2 average smoothies or 1 Daniel smoothie)

1 1/2 cups chocolate almond milk (or soy, or coconut or rice milk)
1/4 cup cooked black beans
1 banana, peeled
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant coffee (I use decaffeinated but it does help the flavor)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup baby spinach
3/4 cup ice cubes

Pour all the ingredients except the ice into the blender and blend on high until smooth. Add the ice cubes and blend again for about 45 seconds.