Ingredients AKA a Recipe For a Healthy French Toast Breakfast

Food/Cooking - Cooking

By: Thorgrym 09-Mar-2011

Introduction:

This recipe is a part of my Five Ingredients series - an ever-growing resource.

Yes, french toast can be a healthy breakfast! The problems with french toast start with white flour and are compounded with how we doctor it with powdered sugar and how much of it we eat. Throw in a side of bacon or sausage and we are looking at a slow death sentence.
Check this recipe out for a tasty and healthy version!

Ezekiel Bread

Ezekiel bread is made from sprouted grains. Soaking and/or sprouting grains is a traditional way of preparing them for consumption. Doing so helps to make the nutrients more bio-available through the neutralization of phytic acid. Food for Life, Inc., the bakers of Ezekiel 4:9 bread states that:
"Sprouting is the only way to release all the vital nutrients stored in whole grains. The sprouting process activates beneficial enzymes which cause the grains to sprout and become living and nutrient-rich. Stores of vitamins and minerals dramatically increase over the amount available in flour. Sprouting also converts the carbohydrates in grains into maltose, which is ordinarily done by the body during digestion, thereby predigesting nutrients for you. The enzymatic action enables the body to assimilate the vitamins and minerals more efficiently. Plus, the sprouting process naturally increases the protein content and decreases the calories and carbohydrates found in the original grain."

Use 2 slices of Ezekiel bread per serving.

Cage Free Eggs

Hens that are allowed to roam free in a pasture are much healthier than their caged counterparts. Not only are they healthier, the eggs that they lay are more nutritious as well. Birds, including chickens, eat insects and worms. This is a natural part of their diet.

Use 1 cage free egg per serving.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that offers excellent health benefits including reduced LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Cinnamon adds a great flavor and aroma to the french toast.

Use 1/2 tsp. per serving.

Grade B Maple Syrup

Grade B maple syrup has a higher mineral content than grade A maple syrup. I also think that it has a much richer flavor. Whether you choose grade A or B, be sure that you are using 100% pure maple syrup. If you are fortunate enough to live near a sugar shack, get your maple syrup locally!

No measurement here, just don't overdo it.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a great option for cooking french toast. It is more suited to high heat cooking than most other commonly used cooking oils. It also adds a subtle flavor to the french toast.

Final Thoughts

I recommend using a cast iron skillet. Preheat the skillet and season it with the coconut oil.
Beat the egg(s) and cinnamon together.
Dip the bread in the egg/cinnamon mixture making sure the bread is well covered. If it is allowed to sit in the egg, the bread will absorb too much egg and potentially fall apart.
Place the coated bread in the skillet and cook on both sides.
Serve with maple syrup! Skip the bacon or sausage - garnish with fresh cantaloupe.