I'm trying to wean my kids off cereal and bagels for breakfast and feed them more protein, low carb, low sugar meals, especially before school. Do you have any ideas that aren't too complicated? They are sick of scrambled eggs. I do hard boiled eggs or smoothies sometimes and they will eat them but not every day. They like bacon and sausage, but other than that, I'm out of ideas. I want to avoid sugar and carbs as much as possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
We make french toast sometimes but with sprouted wheat bread which isn't a simple carb and then they get the egg too...
Make a quiche - it'll last a few days. Serve warm or cold, it's good both ways, with a side of fruit.
The kids do need some carbs in the morning or they have no gas in the tank. Think quality and balance instead of elimination.
Plain greek yogurt w/ fresh fruit & granola
Breakfast burrito
home egg mcmuffin (english muffin, egg, candian bacon, cheese)
Oatmeal
Peanut butter and apples
Peanut butter on whole wheat toast ( I add cinnamon too)
I would try steel-cut oats; they are listed as a 'good' carbohydrate and since it is non-processed, they 'stick with' a kid instead of getting the shorter energy burst that some more processed cereals give. You can make them the night before if need be, or on the weekend, as they take about 20 minutes; I make up a big batch and then put them into individual cups, then zap them in the microwave. I serve them with a bit of applesauce, or stir in raisins and vanilla while cooking, and honey for a bit of sweet, and topped with nuts like almonds or walnuts. Add some sausage (we do veggie sausage) and you have a very complete breakfast.
Be aware that your child needs carbs and sugars for their little brains to work at their best. If you are muddling over which carbs will provide more long-lasting energy to sustain your children, consider looking at the lists of "favorable carbs" on Dr. Barry Sears "The Zone" website. You can pick and choose from that. The biggest problem with skipping carbs is that your body needs both the protein and carbs to regulate blood sugar. No carbs and your run the risk of ketosis; less detrimental affects include lack of mental focus, something kids really need in school. That's why including 'favorable' (less-processed, whole grain) carbs is so important.
Also look at other sources of whole foods like quinoa-based breakfast recipes. Quinoa has both carbohydrate and protein values. Add in a little good fat, like some nuts, and you're set.
Breakfast burritos are always great. You can make a big batch, then just heat them up in the morning to make it easy. (My breakfast burritos usually consist of egg, hash browns (you can cut those out if you want), meat, salsa, spinach, cheese, green/red peppers, onion.
Banana pancakes are great too. Just two eggs, one banana, and a healthy dash of cinnamon. (I add about 1/2 cup of oatmeal to mine, because I like the texture better...) mix until it's mostly smooth, then cook just like you would a normal pancake. My 3 yo Dd likes when I add peanut butter or any kind of berry to the mix.
Who says breakfast has to be breakfast-y? I love eating black bean salad for breakfast. :)
That's a tough one...I make breakfast smoothies (milk, yogurt, instant breakfast, banana & protein powder from Sprout's). Last year I made breakfast cookies. They had oatmeal, chocolate chips and peanut butter in them.. The kids loved them with a glass of milk. I need to refine the recipe a bit to get put some of the sugar.
Greek yogurt is also a good choice. As is Boost w/protein and Muscle Milk.
Breakfast doesn't have to be "breakfast" food. Feed your kids whatever they like and will eat, PB & J, tuna, meatballs, whatever. My kids' current favorites are BLTs on wheat toast and fruit smoothies. I had leftover bean soup and cornbread for breakfast this morning and so did my youngest, it was filling, healthy and yummy!
Breakfast burritos are very popular down here..... 1 scrambled egg, meat of your choice (sausage, bacon), a bit of cheese, and some picante sauce/salsa.. all wrapped up in a flour tortilla.
I frequently fix those for my breakfast... I prefer a protein based breakfast, also.
My kid likes chicken nuggets and fruit. Sometimes smoked salmon on crackers and fruit.
Oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, eggs. Really, there isn't anything wrong with French toast or pancakes a couple of times a week.
BLT sandwich. Kids need a good substantial breakfast and this includes some carbs.You have to have a balance. I could not imagine yogurt and a piece of fruit holding any kid over to lunch.
yogurt, apples or banana with peanut butter, breakfast burritos with whole wheat wrap scrambled eggs with cheese, salsa, sausage etc...
We love no bake energy bites! http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/ Sometimes I add more flax meal and a little less oatmeal, but they have peanut butter and flax meal for protein and you can add whatever dried fruit to them. They work great for a quick breakfast or snack!
I agree with Mamazita. Breakfast can be any food you want. I stopped eating wheat products (because my entire day was all eating wheat products and nothing else) so all food became just food. Mornings can be eggs or rice with beans and salsa or cheese and tomato slices rolled in a lettuce leaf. Don't think breakfast, think food.
My kids lvoe breakfast burritos. We scramble eggs with onions, whatever color pepper I have on hand, ham, tomatoes, and some cheese. We top it off with salsa or ketchup and they love it. 3 eggs will make 4 burrito's easily.
We add a piece of fruit and either milk or juice to it (or in the winter coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea) and you're good to go.
They also really like egg muffins, and I like these because we make a batch on Sunday and they are good until Wednesday or Thursday. Just put whatever you want in a muffin tin (we use the same things as above), not cooked, and add scrambled egg mix in there. The recipe says one egg per muffin, but that was too much for us. So I make about 4 eggs for 6 muffins. Bake at 420 for 15-20 minutes and voila! We top with cheese the last 5 mintues or so also. They like to eat these with English muffins.
They will also eat pancakce sausage sticks, cinnamon rolls, cereal, pancakces, french toast, toast with peanut butter, cinnamon raisin toast, pop tarts, nutra grain bars, etc. I figure as long as they are getting something in their bellies, they will be good until lunch time.
Low carb breakfast meals can be very good. Have you tried breakfast burrito's? Tortilla's are pretty low carbs and the filling is all carb free, well mostly, it depends on what you mix with it.
Go to the local library and over view several low carb cookbooks for recipes that fit your likes and foods you eat.
Frozen whole grain waffle smothered in peanut butter.
Apple slices dipping into peanut butter.
Greek yogurt with fruit.
I am on a high fat/protein, no grains/dairy meal plan right now. For breakfast, I rotate among eggs (usually an omelet with eggs and sauteed veggies and a couple pieces of bacon on the side), smoothies (frozen berries, almond milk, chia seeds, spinach, whey protein powder and stevia) and chicken miso soup.
How about things like English muffin pizzas for breakfast? Yes you still have the bread, but you've got some tomato sauce and cheese in there as well. Or half a bagel with peanut butter and some sliced apples and a glass of milk? Yogurt parfaits are good - if you get plain yogurt, you can control how much sweetener to add, if any, and layer it with fruit and nuts.
Chicken sausages in the morning are really yummy - Applegate Farms makes an awesome maple breakfast sausage that is all natural.
How about breakfast burritos? A tortilla with eggs, cheese, meat and maybe some veggies if they eat them can be a way to make scrambled eggs less boring.
How about a crustless quiche?
Veggie frittata?
Both can be prepped the night before and then tossed in the oven in the morning to finish them off.
