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Mornings are hectic when it is just you, but add kids to the mix and it can get downright chaotic. Basically, we are a DISASTER in the morning. The margin for error is pretty slim in our house and four out of five days we miss the bus. Thank gawd we live 2 miles from the school. 🙁
Most families need to get dressed, find backpacks and shoes, make lunches, iron shirts, curl hair, apply make-up and everyone is jockeying for a position in front of that mirror. While I can’t help you with the mirror problem, I do have suggestions for grabbing a quick breakfast on the go. The 15 ideas below should get you pointed in the right nutritional direction, 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) and dried fruit.
2. Pre-packaged nut packets are also a quick solution when you are short on time on week day mornings.
3. 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 mixing in a cereal like Grape Nuts for added crunch and nutrition.
4. 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 their tummy.
5. A tortilla can be filled with shredded cheese, thinly sliced apples and microwaved for a few seconds until the cheese melts. It’s tasty, nutritious and fast. (This is one of my 10 year-old’s favorites. He called them “food pockets”).
6. If you are trying to wean yourself off of a fast food breakfast, try an English muffin with ham and American cheese. If you have time, microwave until the cheese melts. If you have even more time, fry an egg.
7. A great way to use up leftovers from last night’s dinner is to add a piece of leftover chicken to a dinner roll with some cheese. Heat and eat.
8. If your family is big on Saturday morning pancakes, make extra and stash them in the freezer. You can microwave them or eat them frozen (kid friendly). You can serve them with syrup or spread them peanut butter.
9. Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of nutrition in your body quickly, and they taste great. Try vanilla soy milk, a banana, a handful of strawberries and ½ cup of uncooked oatmeal. Give it a spin and grab a straw.
10. Another version is the chocolate smoothie. What kid wouldn’t want a chocolate shake for breakfast? Mix chocolate almond milk, a banana and 2 tablespoons of natural peanut or almond butter.
11. Oatmeal with all the fixings is a great, quick breakfast. Prep all the add-ins, nuts, raisins, brown sugar, and have them handy at all times. This breakfast works best for kids that are driven to school. It’s a little tricky to walk to the bus stop while eating out of a bowl. Not impossible, but tricky.
12. Homemade granola and milk is another great to go breakfast for the car ride.
13. Better yet, turn that homemade granola into homemade granola bars.
14. Leftover mostacholi is a healthier alternative to cold pizza and quite popular with kids. Plus, there is nothing easier than cold, leftover noodles to serve for a breakfast on the go.
15. Bake banana bread or zucchini bread on Sunday to make your Monday mornings go a little smoother and tastier.
Whichever tips you take, have everything prepped in a drawer or section of the fridge for easy access. Better yet, make sure everyone can get their own breakfast by putting everything in easy reach.
