A good breakfast starts with a good source of protein ~PLUS~ a fitbit giveaway!

This post was sponsored by Milk Life on behalf of Influence Central.

When I was a child, one of my favorite things to eat was PB&J sandwiches. Thank god that peanut butter provides a good source of protein because I was a picky little eater. Still to this day, PB&J is a quick and satisfying go-to snack when I’m hungry. Pair it with a tall glass of milk and I’m one happy camper!

Do you think that you get the 25-30 grams of protein each morning that many experts recommend? I wondered if I was getting the right amount and I quickly realized that my meager breakfast of coffee, whole wheat toast, fruit & yogurt wasn’t really cutting it nutrition-wise, reaching only about 12 grams of protein. Morning is an important time to consume the recommended amount of protein because as the day progresses, your body will use it differently.

Footnote: [1] What We Eat in America, NHANES 2009-2010. 2 Layman D. Dietary guidelines should reflect new understandings about adult protein needs. Nutr Metab. 2009; 6: 12.

I never wake up starving to death, so I’ve never been one to prepare a huge breakfast. I’m up pretty early, so it’s safe to say that I eat my first breakfast between 6-6:30am and a second one at about 9:30-10am.

Mid-morning is about the same time I feed Melody and I usually enjoy eating something with her while I spoon food into her mouth. PB&J crackers, made with 2tbsp of peanut butter with an 8oz glass of milk is easy to make & eat while I take care of her. When paired with my morning slice of whole wheat toast and yogurt this helps me reach my morning protein requirement. When you power up your mornings with a protein-rich breakfast including milk, not only will it help energize your morning, but you will also feel fuller longer with 25-30 grams of protein – so you can focus on the important things you need to get accomplished.

Milk is also a good source of protein and I always pair it with my favorite snack – PB&J crackers. It’s a twist on my childhood favorite and always hits the spot when I’m hungry. I spread a little PB on each cracker, topped it with jelly and a big glass of milk.

OK – so who wants a Fitbit Flex? I know I do! It’s got a nifty little vibrating alarm to wake you up gently along with a host of other cool features that allow you to track your activity. So what is your favorite thing to pair with milk? Enter your answer in the comments below and I will pick 2 lucky winners. Contest ends March 4th at 12AM EST. Winners will be announced on March 5th.

Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as a part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central and must reside in the United States