One of the best perks about recipe developing is working with great brands like Quaker® Oats. I get to test the product and create some pretty amazing results I get to share with you.  Many people have asked me how the transition from my 9 to 5 to working from home is going.  It’s been a rough ride.
What I didn’t realize was that by becoming my own boss, I had lost my routine and my sense of time management had completely disappeared. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time in the kitchen and doing what I love all day every day. But I had to get my act together before this change took a toll on me.

Trying to keep up with my new job, I began skipping breakfast, staying up to odd hours of the night and putting off being active. I began feeling sluggish, counter-productive and moody.

Changes had to be made and fast! I first tackled my sleeping pattern. I had to be in bed at a decent time. Lights-out, no excuses. I began to get my internal clock used to going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day. It only took a few tries and I felt more energetic throughout the day. I was so happy with my new sleeping pattern that I decided to add short power naps in the middle of the day. This made me more productive and energized enough to tackle the second half of my day.

Next, I had to move! Walks around my neighborhood and stretching exercises on my living room floor made me feel taller, and the nagging pain in my lower back is now gone. To keep me in check, I use my handy-dandy egg timer and set it every hour to alert me to get up and do something. Whether it is the laundry or watering the plants, it’s a good way to keep you from sitting for hours and hours at a time.

Last, but certainly not least, my eating habits had to change. Being short on time, sometimes I skipped breakfast or ate something completely non-nutritious just to satisfy my hunger.

I began to eat smart and often. Now that I am working with Quaker Oats, they provided samples of their delicious products. Convenient breakfasts such as Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola are easy to prepare, helps fill me up and can be combined with various fresh and dried fruits and milk or yogurt for a nice breakfast variety. My current favorite is Honey Almond Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola which I mix with mango, blueberries and warm milk. If I’m on the go, this tasty breakfast comes in small pouches to take with me. It easily fits in my purse or in my son’s lunchbox for his midday snack. Give it a try and discover your favorite flavor. If you’re not a breakfast eater, I guarantee Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola will get the most important meal of the day back in your daily routine.

It’s important to mix up your routine. Try mixing things up with Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola, with the satisfying crunch of granola. Visit quakeroats.com to find the Warm & Crunchy Granola flavor that you want to mix into your morning. Reply below for your chance to win Official Sweepstakes Rules

What a great opportunity. I was provided a free box of Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola so I could provide my honest opinion about this new product. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker. The opinions and text are all mine.