There are few things worse than getting on your bike and feeling shaky or realizing that your breakfast isn't going to sustain the long ride ahead. 

Sara Elise, private chef and owner of Harvest & Revel, shared two of her go-to recipes that are easy to make and packed with nutrition to give you the energy you need to start your ride positively.

Savory Oat Bowl with Soft-Boiled Eggs

Ingredients:

Quick-cook oats

Two organic, cage-free eggs

Can of organic black beans (no additives), rinsed and drained

1 organic sweet potato, cut into cubes with skin on

Sea salt

Paprika (if desired for extra smokiness)

Extra virgin olive oil

Optional ingredients: roasted mushrooms and/or carrots, sliced raw avocado and/or radish, chickpeas, lentils, sauteed kale and/or spinach

• When you wake up, preheat your oven to 425 and cut your sweet potato. Put in a bowl, toss with olive oil and sea salt, and set on a baking sheet. Put in the oven for 25 minutes, or until fork tender, turning them about half way through.  As the sweet potatoes are cooking, bring two cups of water to boil in a separate pot. Once boiling, add 1 cup of oats.
   
• After 5 minutes (or when the oatmeal is at desired consistency), remove the oats from the heat source. Stir in sea salt and paprika to taste. Add in the rinsed and drained black beans.
   
• Add the sweet potatoes when they come out of the oven.
   
• Heat another pot of two cups of water to boil. Once boiling, add both eggs. Boil for 8 minutes and then submerge under cold water. Once cool, peel the eggs and place them on top of the bowl.

Feel free to add other toppings such as sliced avocado, roasted mushrooms or carrots (roasting them the same way you did the sweet potatoes), chickpeas, and lentils. You can customize the bowl however you'd like! 

Another great thing about the bowl is that you can make a large enough serving with all of the toppings, except for the egg, and save it to heat up and eat for breakfast for the week.

Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

Quick-cook or regular oats

3 cups of loose, organic spinach

1 organic orange (or 3 scoops of peanut butter, or 1 cup of cantaloupe)

1 organic banana

1 cup of organic almond milk

1/2 cup of water

1 cup of ice

Pure and local honey, to taste

• Put all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 2 minutes. Taste. If the smoothie needs sweetener, add a small amount of honey (honey is the best natural sweetener, agave is the next best option).
   
• Pour in your container of choice and enjoy!

Remember, skewings your pre-workout meals or snacks to be heavier in carbs (vegetables, fruits and some whole grains) and lower in fats will help you to fuel up properly and avoid cramps

Look out for more nutritional, tasty, energy-boosting treats from Harvest & Revel- our favorite local and organically sourced private event catering company.

Have any pre-ride nutrition tips that work for you? Share them below!

 

All photos courtesy of Harvest & Revel. Check out their mouth watering IG- @harvestandrevel