It’s a simple matter for you to get enough protein in your diet on a daily basis from regular foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women ages 19 to 70 should get 46 grams of protein per day, while a man should consume 56 grams per day. With the average protein powder containing around 20 grams of protein per scoop, you’re getting nearly half of your nutritional needs in a single serving.

A powdered breakfast quickly passes from your stomach into your bloodstream. If you tend to get too much protein in your diet, your body simply gets rid of the excess. It is much better to spread the intake of all your nutritional requirements throughout the day. An adult male who needs just 56 grams of protein per day can get all he needs from the following:

• 1 cup of milk has 8 grams of protein

• A 3-ounce piece of meat has about 21 grams of protein

• 1 cup of dry beans has about 16 grams of protein.

• An 8-ounce container of yogurt has about 11 grams of protein.

Breakfast, like all our other meals, should be balanced and should consist of a protein, a fibrous carbohydrate, and a starchy carbohydrate. The protein is needed to slow the breakdown of starch and the fibrous carbohydrate will keep the metabolism burning steadily and for a longer period of time. This is where our breakfast smoothie recipe becomes a better alternative. This breakfast mix was taught to me by Dr. Cliff Sheats, PhD, a CCN Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist and author of “Lean Bodies for Life” in Dallas, TX.

For a quick breakfast, mix in 1 cup of oatmeal (raw), which meets our requirements for fibrous and starchy carbohydrates because it’s a whole grain that hasn’t been broken down. The second ingredient must be one of the following Proteins: 8oz.yogurt, 10oz. skimmed milk. Then add water and ice cubes and blend for at least 30 seconds. For flavor, you may add your choice of: 1/2 cup berries or Crystal-Light, Tang, Kool-Aid, Nestles Quick Sugar Free, or any other fruit or sugar free syrup.

As you can see for yourself, there are many breakfast smoothie combinations that will keep you from getting bored with your breakfast. I think that’s half the battle when it comes to losing weight. Always remember that real food is all you really need to ever consume. Food is the medicine you give your body to lose weight and stay healthy and strong.