The Big Breakfast
Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice offers ideas to fuel the family:
“I realize that bagels are popular and convenient (at Whole Foods I often see babies chewing on bagels as big as their heads...), but the truth is, they aren’t terribly nutritious. The below ideas may lack the on-the-go convenience of bagels, but getting a good start on the day is well worth the extra 10-15 minutes.
Oatmeal - Good For The Whole Family
Oatmeal offers a nutritious base for breakfast that can be dressed up in many ways. Buy organic quick cook oats and follow package instructions. Or if purchasing from the bulk section, combine 2 parts water or milk with 1 part oats. Bring to boil while stirring, then remove from heat. It should take only a few minutes. (Note: babies can have cooked cow’s milk from 8 months.)
Oatmeal is delicious served with:
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Orange juice at breakfast offers a good supplement, and if you can manage it, freshly squeezed OJ contains more vitamin C than store bought varieties – great to help keep winter colds away.
Protein - Keep Your Kids Fueled ‘Til Lunch
One of the reasons that high-sugar cereals or carb-heavy bagels make for a bad breakfast is because they spike up your child’s sugar levels then bring them crashing down around 11 a.m., when kids are meant to be in peak form at school. Many pediatricians recommend some kind of protein for breakfast, which lasts longer and doesn’t produce a sugar ‘high.’
Ideas for a good protein breakfast:
Restriction notes:
Muesli with Yogurt & Fruit
One of the reasons children don’t like muesli is that it can be hard to chew. A way around this, and to give it a natural sweetener (you must buy the unsweetened muesli – Uncle Roy’s Swiss muesli in the bulk section of Whole Foods is a good one) is to soak it in apple juice overnight. The next day just mix it with some natural yogurt and fresh fruit and it’s yummy and easy to chew.
1. Mix the muesli with the apple juice. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. The next morning mix it with some fresh fruit, natural yogurt and honey, or maple syrup.”
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