Kick start your day with a nutritious breakfast. It will help you to perform better at work & give you the energy you need to get through the morning.
Growing bodies & developing brains need regular, healthy meals.
Try to give a child breakfast that includes protein, fat & carbohydrates to keep children feeling full & able to focus till lunch. Protein choices are an egg, some nuts, a slice of cheese, sprouts, a bowl of curd or a glass of milk.
A hungry child can lose concentration in class, have no energy for playtime & tend to snack on unhealthy food.
A calm & healthy breakfast every day is the best defense against this happening. It also helps the children to get into good habits that they can carry through life.
Breakfast is the fuel that gets you going so you can hit the road. You need to provide enough new energy for your body to get started & to keep you functioning until lunch.
When compared to those kids ate breakfast, the kids who did not,.. became less efficient as the day went on. Their productivity improved after eating lunch, but by the end of the day, their work completion was slower than those who had eaten breakfast.
Breakfast helps improve mental performance & concentration during morning activities. Kids who skip breakfast will be more sluggish, less attentive, & have less energy to carry out their morning tasks.
Breakfast eaters are active in their work, show extra energy in physical & mental tasks. Breakfast has a positive effect on alertness, attention, performance on standardized achievement tests & other skills important for academic success are enhanced for those who eat breakfast on a daily basis.
So, what are some “power” breakfasts that you can serve to your hungry kiddos?
Your kids will think you slaved over the stove making a hot breakfast, but it will be our little secret. Get these eggs done in less than two minutes while knowing you’re helping your child get a great start to the day.
This is such a great breakfast. We use a whole-wheat English muffin. My kids love it, and the eggs can be made in advance and warmed. You can add any desired topping too. Two of my kids love cheese on their eggs, and one child just wants the egg without the muffin. You can serve it so many ways, and you can add a side of fruit. And it doubles as a great lunch. My kids like it cold and sent to school for a special lunch!
It’s another make-ahead nutrition-packed item that you can grab and go.
Oatmeal is such a versatile breakfast because there are so many options. One way that we recently discovered cooking it is in the oven. That way, I can start it when I wake up and not have to hover over it to make sure it isn’t boiling over in the microwave or on the stove, which has happened to me way too many times! I combine 1 cup of oatmeal, 2.5 cups of water, and a pinch of salt in a microwave-safe bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. I usually give it a stir midway through. When I take it out of the oven, I stir in about a teaspoon of butter, then I let the kids add their own toppings. Raisins, walnuts, and pecans are the favorites in our house. Another option is an oatmeal bar. You may not have time to provide as many options, but pick one or two new options for your kids to experiment with different flavors when you can.
Muffins can be made ahead and frozen to use whenever you need them. Whether they are the focal point of the breakfast or you serve a mini muffin as a side, muffins can definitely be packed with great nutrition for your family.
The opportunities for creating a healthy breakfast starting with a slice of whole-wheat toast are practically endless.
Is a drink the only thing your child has the time or tolerance for in the morning? No worries. There are tons of combinations you could try, but a few are listed below.
A breakfast burrito can be anything you want it to be. How about eggs, cubed ham, spinach, and salsa? Or maybe eggs, homemade bacon bits, cheese and chopped up peppers? Let your on-hand ingredients inspire you.
And add other ingredients to change it up, like maybe a tiny bit of honey, or a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips, or some granola.
Pancakes can be made in advance and frozen to defrost as needed.
Don’t forget about getting your child involved too. Depending on his age, he can make his own peanut butter wrap, warm up his own egg muffin, toast his own bread, whisk the eggs, etc. And if getting involved with the cooking is too much for a school morning, maybe he can help with the make-ahead foods, such as overnight oats and muffins. This saves some time for you, and he’ll be more likely to eat a good breakfast if he is part of the delicious creation.
So, what are some “power” breakfasts that you can serve to your hungry kiddos?
Quick scrambled eggs with a side of toast and fruit.
Your kids will think you slaved over the stove making a hot breakfast, but it will be our little secret. Get these eggs done in less than two minutes while knowing you’re helping your child get a great start to the day.
Egg on an English muffin.
This is such a great breakfast. We use a whole-wheat English muffin. My kids love it, and the eggs can be made in advance and warmed. You can add any desired topping too. Two of my kids love cheese on their eggs, and one child just wants the egg without the muffin. You can serve it so many ways, and you can add a side of fruit. And it doubles as a great lunch. My kids like it cold and sent to school for a special lunch!
Another similar egg breakfast is a veggie egg muffin.
It’s another make-ahead nutrition-packed item that you can grab and go.
Oatmeal.
Oatmeal is such a versatile breakfast because there are so many options. One way that we recently discovered cooking it is in the oven. That way, I can start it when I wake up and not have to hover over it to make sure it isn’t boiling over in the microwave or on the stove, which has happened to me way too many times! I combine 1 cup of oatmeal, 2.5 cups of water, and a pinch of salt in a microwave-safe bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. I usually give it a stir midway through. When I take it out of the oven, I stir in about a teaspoon of butter, then I let the kids add their own toppings. Raisins, walnuts, and pecans are the favorites in our house. Another option is an oatmeal bar. You may not have time to provide as many options, but pick one or two new options for your kids to experiment with different flavors when you can.
Muffins.
Muffins can be made ahead and frozen to use whenever you need them. Whether they are the focal point of the breakfast or you serve a mini muffin as a side, muffins can definitely be packed with great nutrition for your family.
Toast.
The opportunities for creating a healthy breakfast starting with a slice of whole-wheat toast are practically endless.
Smoothie
Is a drink the only thing your child has the time or tolerance for in the morning? No worries. There are tons of combinations you could try, but a few are listed below.
- Strawberry oatmeal breakfast smoothie
- Pineapple Coconut smoothie
Breakfast burrito
A breakfast burrito can be anything you want it to be. How about eggs, cubed ham, spinach, and salsa? Or maybe eggs, homemade bacon bits, cheese and chopped up peppers? Let your on-hand ingredients inspire you.
Nut butter and banana roll up on a whole wheat tortilla.
And add other ingredients to change it up, like maybe a tiny bit of honey, or a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips, or some granola.
Whole wheat pancakes served up with walnuts and fruit on top.
Pancakes can be made in advance and frozen to defrost as needed.
Don’t forget about getting your child involved too. Depending on his age, he can make his own peanut butter wrap, warm up his own egg muffin, toast his own bread, whisk the eggs, etc. And if getting involved with the cooking is too much for a school morning, maybe he can help with the make-ahead foods, such as overnight oats and muffins. This saves some time for you, and he’ll be more likely to eat a good breakfast if he is part of the delicious creation.