Breakfast for children

[**Jubes**]

We're always hearing that our children should all eat breakfast- but why is it so important?

After sleeping all night, food is the fuel for our bodies to get it started in the morning. By breakfast time, most children have not eaten for 8 to 12 hours. Our brain and muscles need food to function.

It is believed that children are able to concentrate, be more alert, have better mental performance and better memory if they have eaten breakfast.

Children are generally happy to do whatever they see their parents doing....so have some breakfast yourself. Breakfast need not be a big affair- it can be as easy as having a breakfast smoothie, some cereal, yogurt, fruit or toast.

Breakfast can even be prepared ahead of time. Cook up a batch of pancakes or waffles and just reaheat them in the morning(you can freeze them too). Put out your bowls, cereal and spoons the night before- all set-up for breakfast. Cut up a whole heap of fruit and place in a container in the fridge- grab a bowl of fruit and add in some yogurt.

Breakfast can even be on the go. My kids actually like eating some cereals dry and will take a container to go. Place some chopped fruit in small containers for your children to munch on in the car. Or grab a banana or apple on your way out the door.

For babies or toddlers, breakfast ideas include rice cereal, milk, fruit, boiled egg, toast or porridge.

Breakfast need not be difficult.

Please share your ideas or recipes for child-friendly breakfasts

[Liza at Food.com]

We are always down to the wire my kids eat a lot of cereal! On Valentine's Day I let them have Rice Krispies with chocolate milk. On other mornings we do cinnamon swirl bread or peanut butter toast and I ADORE Trader Joe's shortcut bacon...all you have to do is put it in the microwave for a minute and you've got crispy bacon for the kiddos so they get a little protein! Fruit is lacking for us in the a.m...but I try to make up for it the rest of the day.

[duonyte]

I don't have kids but have some of the same struggles that you do in the morning. I make pancakes and freeze them in two or three pancake stacks - a minute in the freezer and you have breakfast. I keep a 1/3 cup measure in the steel cut oat container and have written the recipe (Creamy Breakfast Oatmeal (Rice Cooker)) right on the container - I use a dry-erase marker which will come off right away if you need to use the container for something else. That way I can throw everything in without having to look for the recipe and have my oatmeal ready by the time I'm out of the shower etc. I like the organic whole milk yogurt from Trader Joes - plain or vanilla - and I just throw in a little fruit or honey to flavor it. If I feel organized I'll make up several containers of it so that I can grab and go.

I also like to bake lašiniečiai which are a Lithuanian bun with a tender dough and filled with bacon/onion traditionally but I usually add some ham. These I freeze two to a plastic bag and they are another one that I can either microwave and eat at home or take to the office to heat up there and have with my coffee as I wait for the computer to boot up.

[**Jubes**]

Liza at Food.com wrote:
We are always down to the wire my kids eat a lot of cereal! On Valentine's Day I let them have Rice Krispies with chocolate milk. On other mornings we do cinnamon swirl bread or peanut butter toast and I ADORE Trader Joe's shortcut bacon...all you have to do is put it in the microwave for a minute and you've got crispy bacon for the kiddos so they get a little protein! Fruit is lacking for us in the a.m...but I try to make up for it the rest of the day.

Hi Liza
My daughters do have a lot of cereal or toast breakfasts too. Some weekends my husband cooks bacon and eggs on the BBQ...but my youngest daughter Holly only ever has bacon on her plate

[**Jubes**]

duonyte wrote:
I don't have kids but have some of the same struggles that you do in the morning. I make pancakes and freeze them in two or three pancake stacks - a minute in the freezer and you have breakfast. I keep a 1/3 cup measure in the steel cut oat container and have written the recipe (Creamy Breakfast Oatmeal (Rice Cooker)) right on the container - I use a dry-erase marker which will come off right away if you need to use the container for something else. That way I can throw everything in without having to look for the recipe and have my oatmeal ready by the time I'm out of the shower etc. I like the organic whole milk yogurt from Trader Joes - plain or vanilla - and I just throw in a little fruit or honey to flavor it. If I feel organized I'll make up several containers of it so that I can grab and go.

I also like to bake lašiniečiai which are a Lithuanian bun with a tender dough and filled with bacon/onion traditionally but I usually add some ham. These I freeze two to a plastic bag and they are another one that I can either microwave and eat at home or take to the office to heat up there and have with my coffee as I wait for the computer to boot up.

Hi duonyte

Great ideas for some quick put-togethers for breakfast on the run

[Liza at Food.com]

recipe for the Lithuanian bun please!

[**Jubes**]

I think my husband would love the Lithuanian buns too

[duonyte]

There is one posted here, Lithuanian Bacon Buns, which I think should work out quite well. I would add some finely chopped ham, just to lighten up the bacon filling. A friend of mine adds cooked duck or dark meat turkey also, which is quite nice. I make mine quite small - the finished/baked buns are about three inches across. I like them better that way - easier to justify eating more.

[Liza at Food.com]

saved to try, tx!