We’ve all heard the saying, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Getting proper nutrition jump starts your metabolism and helps you keep your energy up through the entire day.
Sometimes though, it’s tough to get your little sleepyheads to eat in the morning. But with a little creativity and some healthy ingredients, you can make sure their little bodies are revved up and ready for a good day.
Sunshine Smoothie
The protein from the Greek yogurt and the vitamins and nutrients in the fruit provide a good start to the day. Add a little fiber with some whole grain toast on the side, and your child will be all set to go!
- ½ cup orange juice
- 4 strawberries
- 3 oz low fat Greek yogurt
- ½ banana
- Ice as desired
Blend all the ingredients together, and serve it up with a slice of whole grain toast.
Oatmeal and OJ
According to Men’s Health, the combination of real oats and the Vitamin C in orange juice stabilizes the LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). While this may seem like an adult-only problem, kids today are facing higher cholesterol levels than children of the past. Keep their little hearts healthy with this fiber-tastic combo.
- 1/2 cup of steel cut oats, prepared
- A handful of toasted walnuts
- A handful of raisins
- Brown sugar and butter as desired
Prepare your steel cut oats according to the instructions. You might choose to do this in a crockpot overnight for the best results. Toast chopped walnuts to enhance the flavor. The walnuts add important Omega-3 Fatty Acids to additionally protect their little hearts. The raisins provide a little sweetness to the blend, but brown sugar and butter may make the flavor more agreeable. Pair it with an orange juice made from fresh oranges to heighten the heart-protecting powers of the breakfast.
Yogurt Parfait
Research shows that vitamins are more readily absorbed by the body when paired with fat. For example, the combination of sliced almonds and fruit in low fat (not non-fat) yogurt will help the body to absorb more of the Vitamin D in the yogurt as well as the vitamins in the fruit.
- ½ cup of Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup of sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup sliced strawberries
Layer the yogurt, nuts, and berries in a pretty glass.
The Smiley Face
Eggs and bacon may have come under fire recently as breakfast choices, but the protein in eggs helps to stabilize insulin throughout the day; meaning a sugar crash isn’t likely before lunch.
Research says fat helps the body to absorb the vitamins in good food, so bacon can help your body extract all the good stuff from your orange juice. This triple play breakfast is a fantastic way to start the day.
- 2 eggs, cooked sunny side up (or however you like)
- 1 slice of bacon, properly patted dry of excess grease
- 1 cup of orange juice
Cook up your eggs however you like. Sunny side up provides a good “eye” effect, but in truth an over-medium egg would be just as effective looking. Fry the bacon along the side of the pan to create a curve for the mouth. Assemble the happy face on your child’s plate and serve with a cup of OJ for a complete meal that will get them through the morning. Alternate this with the oatmeal combination to make sure your child’s heart gets the best treatment.
What are some of your kids’ favorite breakfasts?
