7 Ways to Make Breakfast Fun

Originally posted here.

We all know that a healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The problem is getting kids to eat it. Some kids aren’t morning people; some want nothing but sugary cereal. Some kids want to eat the same thing every day, and others need some variety. I’ve come up with some creative and healthy new breakfast ideas so my own don’t get tired of the same old things.

These ideas are even more fun if you have your kids help you make them; they’ll enjoy helping in the kitchen, and they’ll be more than happy to eat their own creations.

1. Fruit Pizza
Make a pizza crust and let it cool, or use flatbread. Spread it with a favorite flavor of yogurt, then top with sliced fruits. Bananas, strawberries, grapes… almost any fruit will work.

2. Parfaits
In a parfait cup or a juice glass, alternate layers of yogurt with fruit, and top with granola or cereal. For a rainbow effect, use different flavors of yogurt and different fruits for each layer.

3. Fruit Kabobs
This is as easy as it gets. All you need is some bowls of various sliced up fruits and some skewers. Supervise the kids while they create the fruit combinations they prefer. Have some yogurt on hand for dipping.

4. Make-Your-Own McMuffins
Scramble an egg, and layer it with cheese and a slice of ham on a toasted whole wheat English muffin. For something different, try using Swiss, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese, or use turkey sausage or Canadian bacon instead of ham.

5. Strawberry Pinwheels
Start with a small whole grain tortilla. Spread it with low fat cream cheese – regular is fine, but you can also use cream cheese that comes in flavors like strawberry or blueberry. Top it off with sliced strawberries, then roll up the tortilla and slice it into pinwheels.

6. Put Peanut Butter On It
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and most kids love it. It’s good for so much more than sandwiches and actually makes a great breakfast food. Spread it on toast or English muffins, or even pancakes or waffles, then top with banana slices, preserves, or raisins. Or make ants on a log by slicing a banana lengthwise, spreading the flat sides with peanut butter, and sprinkling with raisin or dried cranberry “ants.”

7. Breakfast Smoothies
Throw some milk, yogurt, and protein powder in a blender, and then add some frozen fruit, like strawberries or blueberries, and a sliced banana. Blend, pour, and go.

When all else fails, forget the rules. Some people, kids included, simply don’t care for “breakfast food.” And that’s okay. What matters is that they get a healthy meal in the morning. A turkey and cheese wrap or an English muffin pizza made with tomato sauce and low fat mozzarella is healthy too. Include a piece of fruit and a glass of milk, and you have a healthy lunch for breakfast.

Tags: breakfast, Family, fun, ideas, nanny