Running late for school yet again? Just give the kids a Pop Tart
on the way out the door and they'll be fine. If you're all out of those
delicious morsels, drive through Tim Horton's on the way to school and
have donuts - fast and great. Right? Wrong! Wrong! And
Wrong.
It's not
even close to a healthy breakfast... sorry... it just isn't. In addition to
lacking any nutritional value, the sugar buzz will quickly wear off
and then your little one will fall asleep right before morning recess.
So what
about a bowl of cereal and a bagel? It's certainly better;
although some cold cereals are clearly better than others. You want to
feed your children a nutritionally sound breakfast, complete with a
source of protein - that's the key as it will stay with them longer.
Quick
and convenient does not have to equate to a boatload of carbs and
sugar. How many times have you heard, "breakfast is the most
important meal of the day"? It's true; it sets the tone for the
whole day. Children need to be able to focus, and they need to be
awake.
So
what is fast and healthy?
Eggs
are a great source of protein. You can scramble them in the
microwave in a minute and a half. If you don't have time to cook
in the morning, then make some hard boiled eggs the night before -
quick and easy. You can also make fruit smoothies with yogurt
and your children's favorite fruit. Add a little cinnamon and
vanilla, and then pour it all in the blender.
How many
years has Carnation Instant Breakfast been around? There
is good reason for their longevity. It's chock full of
antioxidants (as much as a cup of green tea) and it has twice the
protein of an egg and twice as much calcium as a 6 oz. container of
fruited yogurt. It tastes like chocolate milk, but it's oh so
much better (my kids LOVE it!)
Maybe
your child just isn't a breakfast person. Who says you have to
eat typical breakfast food in the morning? Leftover casseroles and
chicken on a bun is just fine for breakfast.
There's no rule against it and it's a nutritionally sound breakfast,
complete with a source of protein.
Leftover pizza is fine too and most kids
love it. Pop it in the microwave and you're ready to go quickly.
You can
also put a small baggie of nuts (walnuts are tasty) in your child's
school bag (unless your school is nut-free of course). Nuts are also a
great convenient, energy boosting addition to breakfast.
A little
extra effort can make a big difference in everyone's day - yay
Breakfast :)
