What is your childs "breakfast of champions"???

[babygrant]

My kids seem to be stuck in the rut of breakfast cereal. My youngest loves kashi and mini wheats, oldest loves all of those crappy cereals that only grandma buys and will eat oatmeal if it has a fair amount of sugar.

I am of the mindset that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I really want to get my kids eating a healthier breakfast. We eat about 3 dozen eggs a week between the four of us (2 kids, hubby and myself). They would eat eggs for breakfast every morning BUT I feel a bit guilty about that because we can't afford the $7.00/dozen for farm eggs so we buy factory farmed from the grocery store.

[ollyoxenfree]

This won't help if you are vegetarian, but most recently, DS has been eating leftover steak or chicken from dinner at breakfast, along with some toast or fruit. I figure it's protein, so I don't mind (too much - usually, I've saved it for lunches!). DD likes to eat leftover pasta for breakfast.

Since we sometimes have breakfast (eggs and pancakes) for dinner, I can't fault them for having dinner for breakfast.

My kids are older and usually get their own breakfasts. If I was making breakfast for them, it would be more traditional - eggs, oatmeal, muffins, French toast, etc.

[puffingirl]

Bacon. DD loves it. We only have it once a week or so but it is her favorite breakfast item.

Smoothies made with Greek yogurt and fruit is the runner-up.

[mumkimum]

Homemade muffins (you can add veggies, up the protein in, do all kinds of things to them undetected ) would probably be an easy step up from cereal that is usually well-liked.
Oatmeal muffin varieties are very tasty & filling and are some of our regular favorites (same with oatmeal pancakes).

Yogurt & fruit + seeds/nuts.

Personally, I love egg sandwiches for breakfast (baby spinach, 1 egg, cheese on bread or toast).

[madskye]

I have a five year old and I make these mini muffin cups of scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon. You just pour the whisked eggs into a greased minimuffin tin (no liners), and top it with shredded cheese and crumbled bacon. Cook at 350 for about 10-15 minutes and you get little eggy "muffins" that you can take to go or just eat one at a time. They are pretty delicious.

For me, breakfast of champs is greek yogurt, honey, raw oatmeal, and walnuts all stirred together. I let it sit for about 10 minutes so the oats soften. Very good!

[JessicaS]

We are big fans of breakfast here and I even make breakfast for dinner now and then.

I do the muffin tin thing but I put a piece of bread in then I crack an egg into it (not beaten) and then a peice of mostly cooked bacon.

Dd loves poached eggs but she gets very picky about her yolk being runny enough. She has even gotten me on the runny yolk team.

She likes breakfast casserole which for me is hashbrowns on the bottom, eggs and milk (or sub) blended together and poured over with cooked sausage then it is baked. Dh and dd get cheese on theirs.

I like poached egg and bacon over grits. I love grits.

Dh and Dd like waffles or pancakes but I prefer savory dishes.

I use farm fresh eggs here they are 3.50-4.00 around here but I can't get them in the winter. (boo)

We like oatmeal with strawberries, raw honey, almonds and milk

Smoothies

[mamakaikai]

Quinoa with fruit (pear, peach,berries) and walnuts.

Oatmeal with yogourt and berries.

Boiled egg, cottage cheese, fresh fruit and muffin

Beans, eggs, tomatoes toast with nut butter

banana, greek yogurt, berries, hemp oil, nut butter smoothies

[goldingoddess]

Polenta with lots of butter is a big hit here.

[Smokering]

We're breakfast-lovers too. DD and I like scrambled or fried eggs with spinach. DH likes sardines on buttered toast. He also loves a big fry-up - sausages, tomatoes, bacon, mushrooms, eggs, fried potato and spinach - but, well, EXPENSIVE. So we don't do it that often. Our eggy breakfasts are still more expensive than grain-based ones, but they sometimes double as lunch (we get up ridiculously late). DH likes porridge, if I can remember to soak the oats... which reminds me, I should go do that.

I also do fish panfried in butter with garlic salt, on occasion. DD and I love it, DH tolerates it for the nutrients.

Oh, and cottage cheese sprinkled with salt, straight out of the container. DH finds this warped and repulsive. I find it delicious. And it's proteiny, so hey.

[Brigio]

Have you looked around to find a better price for eggs? 7 dollars a dozen is a lot for eggs- even farm fresh. I live in Calgary, Alberta and food is NOT cheap but I have found great eggs for 4 dollars a dozen- I was paying 5 previously and i get mine at the farmers market. Have you looked into buying some off someone with backyard chickens?

[karne]

In a total pinch, frozen Kashi pizza for breakfast-when they're on sale 1/2 of a pizza is about $2.75 for that size serving (small pizzas!). DD is fond of the mushroom/spinich combo, and has a side of fruit.

[Aubergine68]

Haroset/Charoset, which is a traditional Jewish Passover dish (I'm not Jewish, btw), and imo, the best breakfast ever. It is basically finely chopped apples mixed with nuts, cinnamon, a splash of wine (or grape juice) and a drizzle of honey. Here are a few recipes - there are tons on the internet.

I am making this regularly right now. My recipe is

1 part chopped/crushed toasted walnuts (almonds or pecans are good)
1-2 parts chopped apples
splash of pineapple juice or grape juice
drizzle of honey or molasses
1 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice


You can add raisins, etc. and there are recipes that use dates, too

I make it fresh in the morning and serve it with milk overtop, sorta like a raw cereal. If you pulsed it in the food processor, it'd be a great spread for toast.

Caveat - make it fresh and use it up, not so good the next day, though you can cook leftovers with oatmeal

My children attend nut free schools, so pb is out for lunches. I like to base the morning meal around nuts or nut butter for protein several days a week. Then we have a hot meal at noon or meat/egg based packed lunch.

ETA I also want to mention that my one child has a lot of trouble eating first thing in the morning. I did too, so I sympathize. With him, I am happy if I can get a glass of raw milk and a banana into him before he leaves for school. He always has a mid- morning snack of champions, though!

ETA again - I love the eggy muffin recipe. I am so doing that one day this week!

[staceychev]

DD pretty much eats the same thing every day: a slice of Ezekiel bread, no crusts, almond butter, and a smidge of honey. If I'm cooking bacon, she'll eat that on the side.

[koru]

$7/dozen for eggs?? Yowsa! I pay $3.50 for my farm fresh eggs. Consider me spoiled.

How about quiche? Lots of variations but you don't have to use so many eggs!

[ShadowMoon]

My son's favorite breakfasts are:

oatmeal with a variety of fresh berries, quinoa and molasses

whole grain blueberry pancakes

waffles with a fresh fruit spread and maple syrup

[KimL]

my son is picky. he gets stuck on something and keeps it forever! Luckily, he has pretty healthy tastes! Lately he eats a homemade organic pumpkin muffin (with chocolate chips) and a hard boiled egg. every day. quick easy healthy.

[laohaire]

I don't consider oatmeal to be the ULTIMATE but it's a feasible switch for cereal addicts. And it has protein. I notice when DD has oatmeal for breakfast, she usually has a good day (stable mood). I add seasonal fruit to it - these days I chop up apples and cook them in the oatmeal, then add a bit of butter and just 1/4 tsp honey and some ground cinnamon - mmmmm.

[blueridgewoman]

She's like me and needs a LOT of protein and nearly no carbs in the morning, so she typically eats bacon, fried eggs, or (if we're really rushed) full fat greek yogurt. Sometimes a combination of these things.
She also drinks a large glass of raw milk and will occasionally have a few berries or something. She eats plenty of fruits and veggies for lunch, dinner, and snacks, but it's all about protein in the morning.

[theatermom]

We make what we call Super Oatmeal:

~Steel cut oats
~Chopped seasonal fruit (right now, we're doing apples, peaches and raisins, usually one Granny Smith and one local variety, depending on fridge contents)
~Chopped nuts (usually almonds, walnuts, pecans)
~2 eggs, whisked lightly
~Raw honey
~Whole milk
~1-2 tablespoons homemade butter
~1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
~1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Make the oats as normal. While they're cooking, in a small saucepan, melt the butter. Add spices. Add honey to taste. Stir in fruit and nuts and stir to cover. Let simmer. When the oatmeal is nearly done, gently but thoroughly whisk the eggs into the still cooking oatmeal. Add a bit of milk until desired thickness, then stir in fruit/nut mixture. If desired, you can sprinkle a bit of brown sugar on top.

I always have all of those ingredients on hand, and there's never been a morning when I've actually made enough. :-) My oldest doesn't even like oatmeal, but he'll eat 3 bowls of this.

[CookiePie]

theaterrmom~ that sounds sooo good! I'm going to try that but can you tell me about how much fruit? Are your add on's for making 1 C of steel cut oats? Thanks!