Start your day off by doing right: choose Fair Trade sugar, chocolate, bananas and pecans for this recipe.

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp quality vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
2 large “spotty special” bananas, mashed
2 eggs, room temp
1/2 cup milk
1 dark chocolate bar, finely chopped
3/4 cup Equal Exchange pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a muffin tin with canola oil. In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon.

Agave nectar is naturally low-glycemic, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar levels and won’t cause ups and downs in your mood and energy like sugar does. Feel free to get creative with this recipe; use fresh, seasonal and local combinations of fruit whenever possible.

2 cups Cultural Revolution Yogurt
3 tbsp amaretto or original agave nectar (aisle 3)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 pound slivered almonds
3 oranges, peeled & segmented
3 bananas, peeled & thinly sliced
3 red pears, peeled & sliced
2 grapefruits, peeled & segmented

From Better Eating For Life, Step One: Eat Whole Grains

Makes 1 dozen

• 2½ cups whole-wheat flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 cup powdered milk
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 mashed ripe bananas
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 1½ cups water

Makes three to four waffles

• 1/4 cup buckwheat flour (one quarter)
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour (one quarter)
• 1/4 cup oats (one quarter)
• 1/4 cup oat bran (one quarter)
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (one quarter)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (one quarter)
• 3/4 cup milk (three quarters)
• 1 banana, mashed
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg, separated, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Preheat waffle iron.

Meyer lemons were first developed in China. They are believed to be a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. Meyer Lemons have a sweeter, more complex flavor than ordinary lemons. Replace regular lemons with Meyer lemons in any dish—sweet or savory—wherever you’d like the lemon flavor to shine.

1 cup Whole Grain Milling Harvest Grains Pancake Mix
1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
3/4 cup blueberries
1 Meyer lemon, zested and juiced
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Sugar to taste

From Better Eating For Life, Step Five: Fabulous Fruit.

Serves 6

Salad:

• 6 cups torn Boston or other delicate lettuce or fresh baby spinach leaves
• 6 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
• 4 11-oz. cans Mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced

Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing:

• 1 Tbs. honey
• 2 tsp. walnut oil
• 2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice

To make the salad: Divide the lettuce among six small plates. Top each lettuce plate with kiwi slices, then a layer of Mandarin oranges. Top with diced avocado.

This is something even the littlest kids can help prepare, since somebody has to tear up the bread.

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups torn fresh bread
• 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
• Fresh herbs for garnish.

Beat eggs, milk butter, mustard, paprika and salt in a large bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Add bread and cheese; mix well. Pour into lightly greased 12 × 8 baking dish; cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Serve in parfait glasses for a festive touch.

• 1 papaya or mango
• 1 cup strawberries
• 2 kiwis
• 1 banana
• 2 navel oranges
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 to 5 sprigs fresh mint
• 1 cup fresh raspberries or blueberries

Peel and dice the mango or papaya and put in a medium bowl. Trim the strawberries’ stems and cut them in halves or quarters. Add to the bowl of fruit. Peel and slice the kiwis and bananas and add to bowl. Cut the tops and bottoms off the oranges—just deep enough to expose the fruit.

From Better Eating For Life, Step One: Eat Whole Grains

Serves 6

• 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup millet
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup dried apricots, snipped into small
  pieces
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts

From Better Eating For Life, Step Five: Fabulous Fruit.

Serves 4

You can serve this for dessert or breakfast!

• 2 cups orange juice
• 2 Tbs. cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbs. firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. lemon or orange extract(optional)
• cups cooked brown rice
• 1/4 cup raisins

In a saucepan, whisk together orange juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and brown sugar until cornstarch dissolves. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.