Healthy & easy-to-prepare breakfast meals for kids, any helpful advice?

processed foods - According to Wikipedia, processed foods or convenience foods are commercially prepared foods designed for ease of consumption. Products designated as convenience foods are often prepared food stuffs that can be sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes; as room temperature, shelf stable products; or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation (typically just heating).
Philippines
July 15, 2012 9:33am CST
Most of the time I cook processed foods (nuggets, hotdog, ham, luncheon meat, etc.) for my kids every morning during school days due to time constraints in preparing them to school. As much as I want to provide them only healthy foods, I find it hard to do especially during the morning rush when every single minute counts. I have been contemplating and researching through other moms for healthier alternatives to processed foods that are easy-to-prepare but they also practice what I do. I am already quite worried about it because it has been this way for several years now. And hearing all the news and precautions about life threatening health diseases that these foods may bring about, it makes me guilty for my own chldren. Lately, just to alleviate the situation, I don't let them eat rice for breakfast. Instead, I only give them cereals such as kellogg's, nestle, etc. But even these, I have learned through the internet, are also considered processed foods. What will I let them eat then? Any good advice, suggestions, recommendations, et al?=)
12 responses
• Philippines
15 Jul 12
i would like to suggest try hard-boiled eggs. I think it would only take you about 5-10 mins to boil them and those are enrich with protein and may be heavy in the stomach too. If you want whole grain oats are good too such as quaker oats. honestly you are doing a great job as a mother and just try to provide them with what tou have and stop thinking too much. some things in the internet are bs as long as you give your children food etc then its good. those have nutrition too.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Jul 12
And who says a hard boiled egg has to be warm? Easter eggs are not eaten warm and kids love them, so boil some eggs one evening, and in the morning they can have a cold boiled egg. What's wrong with that? Even let them color them the night before and then they get a colorful, fun, uplifting surprise in the morning to greet them! Nice way to start the day!
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
Thanks a lot "realbusinesswithyou" for that inspiring comments; really encourages me to be better as a mother. Sure would force them to eat eggs one of these days.:)
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
15 Jul 12
You can give your children a chicken sandwich in an avocado dressing with added cheddar cheese.It is very yummy and easy to prepare.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Jul 12
Good idea...who says a chicken sandwich for breakfast is not appropriate? Healthy, low cal, and filling... sounds good to me!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jul 12
Thank you very much for appreciating my little knowledge of making a nutritious snack for children.How about some carbonara pasta also good for breakfast.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Jul 12
Breakfast is the hardest to do, isn't it? What I used to do...before there were microwaves...instant oatmeal or cream of wheat. One kid like one, the other liked the other so I had to make both. The instant bags are perfect as you just add hot water. However, the instant cream of wheat wasnt that good so I bought the "cooks in 1 minute" box and it does...cook in one minute. SO either way, it is quick, warm meal on cold day, fiber and alone, not so tasty but add some things to it My kids had really good mornings before school cause I would always make the cereals and add things like chocolate chips, fruit, mini marshmallows, colored sprinkles, really just anything "fun"... and the use food coloring to color the cereal..I'd do it for the current holiday or just their fav color. And always... put a birthday candle in it and have it lite when they came to the table. They always loved that. Another thing I did was using my waffle iron, make waffles...then freeze them. Again..before those frozen ones you buy at the store. And mine were so much better tasting! I tried this with pancakes and the worked, but I was never very good at dropping the batter into the proper thickness in the skillet so they never turned out the right way...just to thick or to browned on one side and no the other. But if you are good at that...cook up a bunch and freeze them, then just heat them up in the toaster! Then when they got bigger... I made breakfast sandwiches. Biscuits, sausage patty, cheese slice and salsa. I bought the 2/$1 biscuits of 10 in a pack. A roll of sausage and slice it into 10 patties. Cut 10 small pieces of cheese and a teaspoon of salsa. I cook, assembly and then freeze..wrap tightly with saran wrap and then put them in a gallon freezer bag. Take one out of the saran wrap, wrap it in a paper towel and nuke it for 55 seconds. PERFECT! And you could add egg too, although I a m not sure how that would freeze. I don't like eggs and neither did the kids, so I never tried it. Good luck.. it is hard but not hard to eat healthy these days. Hardest thing is that healthy things cost more and I can't afford "healthy" things! Even fruit is to high!
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
Thanks for that very detailed food instructions. Really appreciate them.:) Will try some of them these days.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
15 Jul 12
To make breakfast healthier, try to include fruit, fruit juice and whole grain toast. Do a little research on healthy cereals. They do exist. Eggs are easy to cook as an alternative to cereal. If your kids eat hard boiled eggs, you could boil them the night before. You might try turkey sausage or bacon as an alternative to beef or pork. Try brown rice rather than white rice. I have recently begun eating medium grain brown rice and am really enjoying it. If your kids will eat soy, there are some good soy breakfast products. Some are better than others.
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
Thank you "bostonphil" for your food ideas. They're just not into eggs and fruits.:( But I'll try to force them to eat those kinds of foods eventually.=)
• United States
15 Jul 12
what i make for my daughter in the morning is hot oatmeal with fruit. it is healthy and quick so there is no time crunch. also the night before i make the items that i plan to prepare in the morning( like take skinless chicken, cut into chunks and roll into egg whites and either bread crumbs or crunch cereal) so that i can cook them quick in the morning noon or night.
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
thank you for those quick food suggestions. would try one of them one of these days.=)
• Singapore
16 Jul 12
Oatmeal with cocoa powder sweetened by honey. my kid likes it because it's like champorado but easier to cook peanut butter and jelly always works and is good. swap it with nutella sometimes cheese sandwich (not the cheese wiz type but the real cheddar cheese) and then put it in pan like grilled cheese. Tofu (shake it in blender) sprinkle with chocolate rice or chips. my daughter likes it and feels she's eating ice cream
@Ixodoi (445)
• Israel
15 Jul 12
I like to make eggs for breakfast, it is health and easy to make. So I make them an omelet with cheese and in the evening before I cut vegetable for salad (but I don't put the spices till the morning, and I keep it in the fridge). Or that I make boil eggs with vegetable and bread. If I'm in a real hurry in the morning I give them bread with Dates spread - it is sweet so they like it. Yet, it is much healthy then all the spread in the market. I allow them to each Cereals once in a while - I don't think it is such a bad thing if you don't overdo (If you are afraid make sure they contain whole grains & use milk with 3.6% fat - it will be a rich in Calcium and dietary fiber meal). Another good solution for breakfast is fishes. I make them the evening before and just warm them in the morning (although my kids like to each them cold in a sandwich as well).
@Ixodoi (445)
• Israel
16 Jul 12
One of the finds my mom insisted in was that as son as my kids started to eat food - I gave them vegetables - not fruits. And once they started to like it I added only healthy food. I'm not saying they aren't eating junk (they are). However, thanks to my mom they also each vegetables, eggs and fished, So I guess I should thank her. We really should listen to our parents they have experience that makes them give good advices.
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
Thank you "ixodoi" for those helpful food advice. Would really want them to eat fishes and veggies but they just don't feel like eating them and so with omelet. But I would really force them to eat those healthy foods eventually.:) Thank you again...
@fantabulus (4000)
• India
22 Aug 12
I not make breakfast for my child because their school timing is long 9am to 6pm so I made directly meals and say at least one or two chapati eat in the morning.
• Malaysia
15 Jul 12
Anything with oatmeal for breakfast is good. Oatmeal contains fibre which is good for digestion, also good for the heart where studies says it lowers cholesterol. You can add some boiled eggs and honey with the oatmeal or just mix with milk. Also add some fruits like banana or berries. Lastly, it is not wrong to worry about disease and health situation, but it does complicate life. Just go with your instinct and look around for fresher and healthier method. Search on the net on how to prepare simple yet nutritious breakfast. There's tonnes of them on the net.
@cagq80 (9)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
create a dish that children love, put a different shape veggies into you food like star, heart shape etc. to make it more fun and appetizing let the kid help you in making their food. add some tomatoes and lettuce in their sandwiches, also try to make some fresh fruit shake.
@myklops (180)
15 Jul 12
I just saw an article over the internet that can help you prepare healthy food without any hassle: www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/everydaycooking/family/backtoschoolquickeasyhealthybreakfast
@lovcie (116)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
You may create a weekly meal plan so to attain a balanced meal menu. That is what I do so to be sure that my children will have a balanced diet. Not only you get to check the nutrition but also check on your budget. This also saves you time and energy. You may try checking internet sites that provides sample menu weekly plan as your guide. Happy cooking!
• China
15 Jul 12
I think teenage physical development is faster,often the muscles and bones together long , special needs adequate nutrients such as calcium,vitamin c ,a, to help the body's growth and development. Therefore, youth appropriate breakfast is a cup of milk,a fresh fruit ,an egg and two dry points (mainly carbohydrates, such as steamed buns , bread, biscuits).