Today’s guest blogger, Jeni, is a homeschooling mother of 5 with a passion for teaching Moms how to nurture and inspire their children.  She discovered Perricone MD after years of working in the beauty industry as a makeup artist and saw first-hand how Dr. Perricone’s three-tiered approach transforms both skin and health

Even incredibly beneficial foods like oatmeal and fruit can lead to an inflammatory response in the body if eaten without a serving of high quality protein, the key component of an anti-inflammatory meal. Without protein, even plain oatmeal and berries can lead to a blood sugar spike that will leave you dragging by lunchtime and searching for snacks and stimulants.

To start your day the anti inflammatory way, follow Dr. Perricone’s tips:

• Drink 8 ounces of natural spring water upon waking: This is Dr. Perricone’s recommendation to get your systems moving again after sleep. Water wakes you up on the inside, so to speak, and prepares your body for food.
• Choose a high-quality protein (and eat several bites of it first): Build your meal around eggs, salmon, turkey bacon, or low-fat dairy-based proteins like cottage cheese or plain yogurt. Or break out of traditional ideas about breakfast and slice leftover grilled meats.
• Include a low-sugar fruit or vegetable. Berries or melon are favorites, of course. Try broiled tomato, asparagus, or mushrooms to get a head start on your daily vegetable servings.
• Add small amounts of low-glycemic grains: Oatmeal is the classic option. Also try buckwheat, barley, or quinoa as breakfast cereals. Don’t forget your chance to add a dash of cinnamon for a delicious aid in blood sugar stabilization.
• Eat a small breakfast even if you don’t feel hungry in the morning. Your lack of hunger may be a sign of a sluggish metabolism that just needs a jump start!

Tomorrow I’ll share a quick, make-ahead, family-friendly breakfast recipe to help you get started.

What did you eat for breakfast today?