Let's face it: trying to get out the door in the morning with your kids can be downright chaotic. The kids need to get dressed, brush their teeth, find their backpacks and shoes, while you need to make lunches, iron shirts, curl hair, and apply make-up. Who has time to sit down to eat breakfast? Some days you just need to grab a bowl or bag and eat on the way. Here are 10 suggestions for grabbing a quick breakfast on the go, no matter how crazy your mornings are.
1.
Homemade trail mix can be mixed ahead of time and stored in individual containers or in a jar in the pantry. Be sure to include a mix of healthy nuts (for protein), dried fruit, and dry cereal (preferably not the sugary kind).
2.
Yogurt with healthy cereal. Before you grab those kid-friendly looking yogurts with the mix-ins or green dye, read the labels. You are better off buying plain or vanilla yogurt in a large tub and mixing in a cereal like Grape Nuts for added crunch and nutrition.
3.
Frozen grapes or cherries. Not everyone is a big eater in the mornings, but some frozen fruit to nibble on during the ride is a great way to wake up your child's tummy. Simply put the fresh fruit in the freezer to create a novel approach to getting their fruit intake.
4.
Tortilla roll-ups can be made by filling soft tortillas (preferably whole-wheat) with shredded cheese and thinly sliced apples or ham and microwaved for a few seconds until the cheese melts. It’s tasty, nutritious and fast - great for grabbing on the way out the door.
5. Try an
English muffin with ham and American cheese if you are trying to wean yourself off of a fast food breakfast. If you have time, microwave until the cheese melts. If you have even more time, fry an egg.
6. Make extra
pancakes and waffles on the weekend and store them in the freezer. You can microwave them or put them in the toaster oven to reheat. Serve them with syrup or spread with peanut butter. (I like this brand of
waffle maker.)
7.
Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of nutrition in your body quickly, and they taste great. Use any combination of yogurt, fruit, milk, juice, and a few ice cubes. The
Magic Bullet Blender is very handy when you want to make a single serving. It whips up smoothies easily and is a breeze to clean up.
8.
Oatmeal with all the fixings is a great, quick breakfast. Yes, you can buy instant little packets, but it is cheaper and healthier to make your own. A large canister of instant oatmeal goes a long way, and you can control how much sugar you add. Prepare your own little baggies of different flavors of oatmeal by adding sugar, dried fruit, and/or nuts.
9.
Homemade granola bars are the ultimate grab and go breakfast. Yes, you can buy oodles of varieties of packaged granola bars, but I like to make my own to save money and control the ingredients. Try one of these simple
recipes.
10.
Bake something like banana bread or muffins on Sunday to make your Monday mornings go a little smoother and tastier. You could also freeze them and reheat them in the morning. I like to use a
toaster oven so they don't get soggy.
The key to a smooth morning is to have as many tasks prepared in advance as possible. Do everything you can the night before, down to setting the blender on the counter and taking out the dishes you will need. I know - easier said than done:) However, any prep you bring yourself to do in advance will pay off and send you and your kids out to school and work feeling full, satisfied, and less hurried. Then everyone's off to a great day!
Now that you've got breakfast under control, read about
10 Healthy Snacks for School Lunches.
**For more easy menu planning ideas, check out Menu Planning Central during their annual half-price sale. Try out the 16 monthly menus, shopping lists, custom meal planning software and monthly e-books for less than $10 a month! Sale runs April 11-16, 2013.
What are your shortcuts for making quick breakfasts for your kids? Leave a comment!
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