Wellness guru Maddie Pasquariello took time out of her busy schedule to serve as Lively’s Guest Editor this month. Here, she shares the collagen recipes she loves to make for breakfast.

My favorite breakfast recipes are the ones I can make in 10 minutes or less, can be eaten on the go, at work or leisurely at home, and are adaptable to whatever ingredients I have on hand. I look for recipes that have some sort of functional benefit and I always try to squeeze in some protein. This can be tricky because I love sweet breakfast meals, but they tend to be naturally a bit lower in protein than savory ones.

I like to load up my early-morning meals with a variety of ingredients, ranging from almond milk to frozen cauliflower. I also always make it a point to incorporate Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides into these breakfast recipes because the collagen powder is so versatile! The Collagen Peptides are odorless, flavorless and easily soluble in both hot and cold liquids, so they can be added to savory recipes as well. Check out the below recipes for my go-to glow-producing breakfast recipes. They’re all full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats to help your skin glow.

Skin Glow Smoothie

Yields 2 collagen smoothies 

Ingredients:

• 1 C almond milk
• 2 C frozen mango
• 1 C steamed and frozen cauliflower
• 3 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• 1” piece fresh ginger, peeled
• Pinch of cinnamon

Toppings:

• 2 T toasted coconut flakes
• 1 T chia seeds
• Pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to a blender, starting with the almond milk.
2. Blend everything together on high speed for 2 minutes or until fully combined. Pour into two glasses.
3. Top each smoothie with chia seeds, toasted coconut and an extra pinch of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Berry Chia Pudding Parfait

Yields 2 chia puddings 

Ingredients:

• ¼ C chia seeds
• 1 C almond milk
• ½ fresh banana, mashed
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 C frozen berries, defrosted
• ½ C granola
• ¼ C toasted coconut flakes

Directions:

1. At least 1 hour before you plan to serve it, or up to overnight, place chia seeds, almond milk, banana, and sea salt in a sealable container or jar.
2. Stir thoroughly, place a lid on the jar, and place into the fridge.
3. After 15-20 minutes, give it a stir to loosen any chia seeds that stuck to the sides or bottom.
4. When it’s time to serve, divide chia seeds between two jars or bowls. Add a layer of granola, then berries, then coconut flakes. Enjoy!

Avo-Glow Toast with Spicy Turmeric

Yields 2 avocado toasts 

Ingredients:

• 2-4 slices sourdough or your favorite bread
• 1 whole avocado
• 2 T toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• ½ t turmeric powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you like it!)
• Pinch of black pepper
• 1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• Sea salt

Directions:

1. Toast bread. Smash avocado coarsely in a bowl and add sea salt and black pepper.
2. In a small bowl, mix turmeric, black pepper, and collagen. Add cayenne pepper to taste.
3. Add avocado to the toast, mashing with a fork.
4. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of spicy turmeric. Enjoy!

Shop Collagen Peptides