During colder and wetter months I love nothing more than a warm, nourishing bowl of porridge for breakfast.

And your breakfast choice tends to set the tone for decisions about what to eat or what not to eat later in the day. So, this easy and quick porridge recipe is a fantastic way to start your day on a healthy note.

What I love about this porridge topping is the frosty looking blueberries that twinkle on top of the creamy, warm and nourishing oat, banana and pecan goodness. Let's satiate multiple senses in one meal.

This healthy porridge recipe includes these ingredients:

Porridge oats

It's important to use gluten free oats in this porridge recipe. Use every opportunity you can to eat gluten-free. I can't emphasise this enough, as gluten isn't great for the lining of the gut.

Oats are incredibly nutritious and an amazing source of insoluble and soluble fibre, which is just what you need to stabilise your blood sugar in the morning and keep you feeling satisfied until lunchtime.

I prefer the jumbo ones as they don't stick together when cooking like the fine oatmeal type that you can also buy. You may prefer the smoother consistency though. Choose what you enjoy.

Banana

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits and really give this porridge recipe extra creaminess. They also score highly on the nutrition front. They are however considered high glycaemic so moderate consumption is key and avoid over ripe bananas which will contain more natural sugar.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most antioxidant abundant foods. They're also high in fibre, naturally sweet and low in calories (if you're counting!).

Pecans

Pecans are the perfect nut topping I feel for porridge dishes. They have a sweet nutty and buttery flavour that reminds me of sticky toffee pudding. It's always important to add some crunchy texture to a dish that can seem texture-less. Nutritionally, pecans are also a great source of magnesium, calcium and potassium, which help lower blood pressure.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, an essential mineral that helps the immune system fight bacteria and viruses. I've added teaspoonful of pumpkin seeds to the porridge recipe topping because this is just what the body needs on colder days.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a great medium chain triglyceride (MCT) fat addition to your porridge dish. Healthy fats are an essential macro-nutrient that should be in all meals. Coconut oil is also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.

How to Make this Easy Healthy Homemade Porridge Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

For the main porridge recipe:

• 80g gluten free jumbo oats (organic)
• 1 dessertspoon coconut oil
• 1 dessertspoon almond butter
• 1 banana (sliced)
• 1 dessertspoon blueberries
• 420ml purified water / nut / soy / or rice milk
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger (chopped into small fragments)
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds

For the Topping:

• 1 tablespoon pecan nuts (brake into pieces)
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin seeds
• 1 dessertspoon blueberries
• 1/2 teaspoon maca powder (optional)

RECIPE:

1. Put the oats, water or chosen milk, chia seeds, ginger and the sliced banana in a saucepan and simmer until the water has been absorbed and you have your desired consistency. That's about 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the coconut oil, almond butter and 1 dessertspoon of blueberries until mixed throughout and then cook for another minute before stirring in the maca powder (if using) and serving.
3. Sprinkle over the topping ingredients - (pecans, remaining blueberries and pumpkin seeds) to complete the porridge recipe.
4. Stir everything together if you wish to create a delicious, breakfast that's full of texture and taste.

Click here for more healthy recipes that don't take forever to prepare.

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