Breakfast Tips from Midwest Dairy (+ a Giveaway!)
School has been in session for a couple of months now so you would think we would have our routine down. And some days we do. But other days...
Those other days can be hectic. And cause frazzled nerves (on my part) and a bad start to a long school day (for Brenna). And while I may have the best plans for a good breakfast for Brenna, some days I fail. Sometimes spectacularly.
Because a nutritious breakfast has been linked to sustained energy levels throughout the school day, improved attendance, higher math and reading scores, increased creativity and an improved memory I am taking a few steps to plan breakfast in advance- just like I do with dinner.
I wanted to share these tips from the Midwest Dairy Council which are designed not only to save time, but also help that ensure kids take on the day with a healthy and balanced breakfast:
· Set out cereal boxes and bowls the night before, add milk in the morning, and enjoy
· Divide mini pretzels, nuts, and dried fruit into baggies the night before to sprinkle over yogurt
· Bake a fresh batch of muffins with your kids over the weekend to grab on the way to school
· Stock up on self-serve options such as individual flavored milks and granola bars
· Heat nutrient-rich leftovers for a quick, non-traditional breakfast
· If kids don't have time to eat at home, take advantage of school breakfast programs
One thing I do is make pancakes, waffles or French Toast on Sunday, cool them and freeze individually. They are easy to toss in the toaster or microwave in the morning and top with fruit and yogurt for a quick, warm breakfast.
Win a Cool Touch Griddle Contest is now closed
Congratulations to lucky comment #5!
Congratulations to lucky comment #5!
To help you get your mornings off to a great start Midwest Dairy is letting me give away a Cool Touch Griddle and a bundle of Midwest Dairy goodies- including an insulated shopping tote.
To enter just leave your best school-morning breakfast tip or your favorite eat-on-the-go recipe in the comments. One comment per person.Want more entries?
1) Tweet this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link to your tweet. (copy and paste: Tweet as often as you wish.
2) Share this on your facebook page. Leave a comment with the link. One link per day, please.
Contest ends October 17, 2010 at 11:59pm. Contest open to US residents only.
Bonus!
Pumpkin Pancakes recipe from Midwest Dairy!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup 1% low-fat milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Preparation
In small mixing bowl, briskly combine vanilla yogurt, maple syrup and cinnamon until yogurt becomes looser texture. Reserve.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. In a medium bowl, combine milk, butter, egg, pumpkin and yogurt, mixing well. Add wet ingredients to flour mixture and stir until just moist. Do not overmix. Batter may be lumpy. For thinner batter, add more milk.
Lightly coat a griddle or skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium. Using a quarter-cup measure, pour batter onto hot griddle. Cook until bubbles begin to burst, then flip pancakes and cook until golden. Serve warm with maple yogurt topping.
Disclosure: Midwest Dairy gave me a dairy bundle (but not a griddle). I was not told what to write and all thoughts are my own.
9 comments:
my best tip for morning is to keep pre-portioned cereals and oatmeals ready in a containers so in the morning you choose what you want, put it into a bowl and add water or milk and call it done
I like to make a big batch of muffins or a loaf of cinnamon bread on the weekends, then there's plenty to last through the week. Quick breakfasts to eat at home, or on the go!
Put cereal boxes and bowls on low shelves where kids can reach them by themselves. If the milk jug's not too full, they'll be able to get their breakfast without any help from their parents.
My best tip for breakfast is teach your kids to be self-sufficient. ;) Seriously, my kids have been making their own breakfasts since they were 3 or 4. They like to make Eggos.
We do LOVE pumpkin pancakes for dinner, though! Our old house had a griddle built into the stove; our new house does not. I've been meaning to buy a griddle, but haven't gotten around to it. Maybe I'll win one instead!
I shared your link via FB as well (and tagged you so you'd see it).
for a good one the go breakfast - make ahead break burritos. If you can crave out the time to make a bunch with the fillings that the kids like and then freeze the burritos. Then it's super easy to just pop them in the microwave, grab 'em and go.
Best thing ever is to make a huge batch of pancakes or waffles and package them in baggies in 1s or 2s with a squirt of syrup in the baggie. Freeze them and then all you have to do is either microwave them on a napkin OR Throw them in the toaster! wrap in a napkin and go! Easy, Delish and fast!!!!! I lived on these in High SChool!!!
My favorite eat on the go recipe is a peanut butter sandwhich with sliced bananas and if possible a glass of milk. Keeps my tummy in check till I have time to eat my lunch :)
A quick one for on the go mornings is craisins mixed with almonds in a baggie. Throw in a string cheese stick for some extra staying power! My kids love this!
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