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Great Ideas for Planning a Quick and Easy Breakfast for Your Children

Most of us have heard the saying “Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day” and it’s certainly true when it comes to children. Studies have shown that children who eat a balanced breakfast are more alert in school, perform better and in many cases are less prone to bad behavior than children who skip breakfast. So it's important to provide your child with a healthy breakfast before sending them off to school.

Following are some breakfast ideas that are simple and quick, not to mention tasty:

Let Them Eat Eggs – Eggs are versatile and nutritious, plus most kids like them. Start their day with simple scrambled eggs. You can add a little chopped ham, cheese, chopped tomatoes or mushrooms. Boiled eggs with slices of toast will be well received too. Or place scrambled eggs on a toasted bagel or English muffin. Then add a little cheese and their breakfast meat of choice for a yummy breakfast sandwich. They are just as delicious when made at home and you don't have to wait in the drive thru line to get them!

Do You Know the Muffin Man - Muffins aren’t always the most nutritious meal when you purchase them at a store or bakery. But when you bake your own muffins you can use mashed banana and a little honey for a naturally sweet breakfast muffin. Essentially you can control how healthy you make them. You can also replace half of the amount of white flour for healthier whole wheat flour. And don’t just stick to sweet muffins; try a savory bacon and chive muffin or cheese and ham. Bake them the night before for a quick and healthy breakfast. Your kids might even like them so much they ask if they can take one in their lunch box, too.

Don’t forget the Fruit – Try a fresh fruit salad with a yogurt and cheerio dip. Using a rolling pin mash a handful or two of whole grain Cheerios in a plastic bag and than transfer them to a bowl. Fill another bowl with yogurt and let your kids dip the fruit pieces in yogurt then in the cheerio mixture. Whole grain Cheerios have a lower sugar content then many of the cereals on the supermarket shelves. And this is a great well rounded option as it provides fruit, dairy, and whole grains all in one meal. A breakfast smoothie made with plain yogurt, milk, honey, and fruit is another great way to give your children a healthy breakfast.

Pancakes in a flash – Prepare a basic pancake batter the night before, cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning all you need to do is heat the grill and your whole family can enjoy delicious homemade pancakes. Serve with a little maple syrup or jam and some fresh fruit on the side. Or stir fruit such as blueberries or bananas into the pancake mixture before pouring on the griddle. Adding fruit to pancakes can be a great treat and an awesome way to ensure your children are getting a healthy dose of fruit.

Pizza for Breakfast? Yes! - Split a couple of bagels in half, top with a little pizza sauce, grated cheese and some chopped ham. Place under the broiler for a few minutes and you have a nutritious breakfast pizza. You can also use English muffins or pita bread. Kids will love this option because they can choose what they want to put on their breakfast pizza masterpiece.

Breakfast Burrito – Wraps are a great alternative to the standard toast and cereal. You can make a scrambled egg breakfast wrap with a little bit of ham and cheese added to it. You can also add a little cream cheese and turkey or even make a breakfast pizza burrito. This is a great option as it offers variety in food choices. Wraps are also just plain fun to eat.

Keep in mind that breakfast doesn’t have to always consist of the traditional toast, cereal, and eggs. Experiment a little to keep things interesting and fun for your kids. It's also a good way to discover what things they like and how they like them prepared. They may not like plain scrambled eggs. However, they might devour a bagel sandwich with scrambled eggs, ham, and cheese without even realizing it had scrambled eggs in it. And don’t put too much pressure on yourself to always make the perfect family breakfast. If your kids really aren’t hungry at breakfast time a simple banana and a glass of orange juice will give them an instant boost.

Don't necessarily rule something out just because it doesn't seem like your typical breakfast fare. The most important thing is that your child starts the day with one or two nutritious foods. Having a little healthy food in their stomach as they set out for school will ensure they are more alert and in a better mood. It will also help sustain their energy throughout the morning.