Here are some ideas to making school day breakfast quicker – with little arguing!
1) Set up a calendar with a breakfast plan. Having a schedule makes it easier to plan ahead, and not repeat the same meal morning after morning. We like to do muffins on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday is smoothie or yogurt. Thursday is frozen waffles. Friday is cereal or oatmeal. Add some pieces of fresh fruit and a glass of milk for each child, and we are all set. This way, the kids know exactly what to expect each day and if someone doesn’t like what is served for breakfast that day, I can gently remind them that something they do like is coming later in the week.
You could even fill out a printed menu template from somewhere like the Organized Home and leave it where everyone can see it.
2) Muffins are easy to make, and the kids love them. A friend gave me a recipe book filled with healthy muffin recipes, 750 Best Muffin Recipes. I found a great recipes that uses bran cereal that the kids actually love. They also have recipes that can be frozen or refrigerated and baked later. If I make a batch of muffins on a Sunday afternoon, they will last all week for breakfast and snacks.
3) You can make anything into a smoothie. On Pinterest, I have more smoothie recipes saved then I could ever make in a lifetime. I have tried all sorts of combinations of fruits and vegetables, with dairy and non-dairy options. I have added flax seed, protein powders, and wheat germ. I really love my Vitamix blender. It is so fast, easy to blend anything into a smoothie, and a pinch to clean.
Having a breakfast plan has dramatically changed the family routine, when I used to make three different meals for each child. I still get mornings with some whines about the breakfast choice, but I am hopeful that as I keep the schedule constant throughout the school year, the whining will decrease.
