Warm Breakfasts during busy holidays?

[escrafano]

We wrestle a bit with how to get warm breakfasts in the boys bellies all the time but particularly during holidays when 1) we're busier and 2) it's getting colder and we want them heading to school or out to play full of decent warm food. wondering what others do to make it work? here's our list of options:

1) Oatmeal (although all won't eat)
2) Pancakes (although we can't make from scratch every time so we use batter blaster the organics ones from a can on school days or when we want them to help)
3) Waffles (same as pancakes/we can't make them from scratch on all days so we use frozen/eggo's or the healthier buckwheat kind or batter blaster when we don't have time)
4) toast or toasted bagels (this feels like a cheat)

can always use more options or ways to get it done quicker/better etc.

thanks,

eliz

[fruitfulmomma]

Eggs are always an easy and relatively inexpensive option. (And of course my son won't touch them!) If you get your pan hot first, they cook up in under five minutes. You can shred cheese into them or add leftover meat and veggies.

[lil_earthmomma]

Some suggestions that work for us:

On a slower day, cook up a huge batch of nutritious waffles and freeze. Now you have eggos that cost you WAY less and you can feel really good about serving.

Mini frittatas. (Pretty much eggs, meat, cheese, veggies, a bit of mayo or cream cheese *I* like the cream cheese better mixed together and poured into lined muffin tins. Bake until set and serve. Super easy and last in the fridge so they can be reheated!

Muffins. Bake on a slower day, enough for the week.

Baked stuffed french toast (great for guests too!)

Thick sliced bread layed into a greased baking dish. Berries, jam, preserves (whatever you like to serve your kids. I usually use a bit of homemade jam mixed with frozen berries) poured over the bread. Another layer of bread with plain cream cheese thickly spread face down over the fruit. Pour 8 eggs over the mixture. This can be done night before. Bake at 350 for 40 min.

I've done this with left over banana bread, and instead of berries and cream cheese, I've done sliced bananas, chocolate chips and spread peanut butter on the top slices! OMG good.

[cristeen]

Pancake/waffle/muffin batter can be made the night before and just cooked that morning. No need to resort to batter blaster or premade frozen. Oatmeal or cooked cereals can be crockpotted the night before - don't restrict yourself to just oats... barley, buckwheat, all sorts of grains even mixed with dried fruit to sweeten are lovely as hot cereal. French toast, pancakes or waffles can be cooked in a big batch on the weekend, popped into the freezer, and then into the toaster each morning. You can also make a breakfast casserole (search breakfast casserole or baked french toast or bread pudding)... with everything from nuts and fruits to sausage/ham/bacon, there's a wide range of things you can put in it. It's assembled the night before and popped in the oven in the morning.

But honestly, eating that much grain every morning would have me falling asleep long before lunch. I'm big on sausage and eggs, with or without toast/biscuit/fry bread. You can make up biscuit sandwiches or breakfast burritos and freeze them - wrapped in foil and popped in the toaster oven, or microwaved in the morning and you have a hot breakfast with plenty of protein.

[tanyalynn]

Non-traditional breakfasts work best for us. Something like a bit batch of chili or stew that I heat up as leftovers for breakfast creates fewer dishes, is fast, and warm.

Lately I've been cooking (because I haven't been organized enough to cook ahead on the weekends), but sausage cooked up with some chopped up veggies and maybe potatoes is warm, pretty fast, and tasty without me having to actually break out any herbs or spices.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by cristeen

But honestly, eating that much grain every morning would have me falling asleep long before lunch. I'm big on sausage and eggs, with or without toast/biscuit/fry bread. You can make up biscuit sandwiches or breakfast burritos and freeze them - wrapped in foil and popped in the toaster oven, or microwaved in the morning and you have a hot breakfast with plenty of protein.

I have to agree. Our waffles are grain free and a sunday brunch treat, and coconut flour muffins are more of a snack in our house than breakfast.

Eggs are so versatile and quick to cook!

[columbusmomma]

DS likes a toated english muffin with a sausage patty and melted cheese between it. I'm not saying mcmuffin, lol

[chattyprincess]

Originally Posted by cristeen

But honestly, eating that much grain every morning would have me falling asleep long before lunch. I'm big on sausage and eggs, with or without toast/biscuit/fry bread. You can make up biscuit sandwiches or breakfast burritos and freeze them - wrapped in foil and popped in the toaster oven, or microwaved in the morning and you have a hot breakfast with plenty of protein.

This, I do alot of this. plus its great when dh is leaving the house at 3:30 am for work I throw one in his lunch box the night before (left in fridge all night) and he micros it at work. Way better than caving into the mcdonalds bfast!

[JessicaS]

We freeze breakfast burritos.

I do make pancakes or waffles from scratch but I make big batches and I put them in the fridge. We can just microwave as we need them. I need to stop doing it cause dd and I keep having pancakes for lunch.

[elmh23]

Just so you guys know, this thread is not helping a hungry pregnant woman at all. I have none of the ingredients needed for a Sausage McMuffin (YUM!) and no time to make pancakes at 9:30pm.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by elmh23

Just so you guys know, this thread is not helping a hungry pregnant woman at all. I have none of the ingredients needed for a Sausage McMuffin (YUM!) and no time to make pancakes at 9:30pm.

Aw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LizzieB]

pancakes!

Pancakes are the only thing all of mine will eat. It may not be the perfect breakfast (especially w/ the amount of syrup they use!) but it is definitely better than nothing.

I hear the complaints about a shortcut like Batter Blaster and I might even agree. But as far as "parenting shortcuts" go I feel ok about this one. Organic ready-made pancakes w/ almost no mess? Count me in. And YES! THe kids will EAT them!!

I do use it as a personal challenge to do better at other meals though. We have been better lately w/ doing family cooking. I hope this continues through the holidays.

Take care all.

--LBH

[treemom2]

egg cups are good and can be warmed up pretty quickly. I think these look tasty (Maybe you could find an alternative for the refrigerated biscuit dough that is healthier--perhaps buttered sliced bread would work?). I have a recipe for muffin mix that can last up to 3 weeks in the fridge and all you have to do is heat up the oven and toss in a batch in the mornings. My kids love it when I cut a hole out of bread, toss it in a pan and crack an egg in the hole. Baked oatmeal is yummy and you can make it the night before. . .then just bake in the morning (I have problems with oatmeal texture but I like baked oatmeal). We make our own bread so I'll slice it really thick, toast it, then slather it with peanut (or almond) butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon (this might be the kids fav breakfast). Sometimes we'll have a grilled sandwich--peanut butter/apple or grilled cheese. We have a rice cooker that usually has rice in it. . .sometimes my kids just like something called omurice (rice mixed with ketchup then an omelet on top with a drizzle of ketchup). We also can make quick fried rice in the mornings. Some mornings they like a fried egg on rice with a drizzle of light soy sauce.

We personally don't do waffles or pancakes for breakfast. . .in our home these are special occasion dessert foods (can't handle that much sugar first thing in the morning). However, you can make up a large batch of pancakes then freeze them. I've re-heated them in the toaster or in the microwave (back when we had one). My DH has fond memories of pancake peanut butter sandwiches when he was a kid.

[ollyoxenfree]

DS sometimes heats up leftovers from dinner the night before and has them for breakfast. Leftover meatloaf, chicken, pasta and sauce. It's a good change from his usual, which is peanut butter and jam on toast. I actually prefer it when he does it, because it gets rid of the leftovers and the protein is healthy start to the day and his go-to afterschool snack is PB&J, so this adds a little variety to his diet, since he's otherwise eating PB&J at least 2 or 3 times a day.

[*bejeweled*]

Grits and eggs.

[JoyMC]

lots of good ideas already posted. one thing i did for my DH who has to leave for work at 5 am is i made a huge batch of calzones (if you like soaked grains, i like this recipe for the dough: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/...zza-crust.html

anyway, i stuffed them w/eggs and sausage and peppers and whatever else i had laying around - voila healthy hot pockets! we keep them in the freezer. he usually pulls one out the night before to defrost in the fridge and pops it in the toaster oven as soon as he gets up.

[rosie29]

Ditto the baked oatmeal suggestion. Here's a starting point:

Baked Oatmeal
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups oats (quick or rolled)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Add-ins: fruit and chopped nuts (my favorites are pecans with frozen raspberries, dried cranberries, and/or or peaches)
Whisk together vegetable oil and sugar. Beat in two eggs, and then stir in milk, salt, vanilla, baking powder, and oats. Stir in the fruit and/or nuts. Pour into greased casserole dish. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top. May be assembled in the evening, refrigerated, and baked the next morning, or bake immediately after assembling (use quick oats if assembling and baking right away). Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Serve with butter, maple syrup, and/or milk if desired.