Breakfast is the first meal of the day and sets the mood for how the rest of your day will unfold. We know kids can spiral out of control quickly, and something as simple as the “wrong” breakfast can set them off. In our house, breakfast is one of the most important meals for the kids because there is no guarantee they are going to actually eat dinner when we get home. So I try to squeeze some solid meals in for breakfast and lunch. So I thought I would share some of the breakfast classics that are hits in our house in hopes you will find some new ideas to add into your rotation this school year.
Keep it Simple Stupid: Cereal
Cereal and milk is as classic as it gets but can get BORING, so I try to save it for the days when we are really crunched on time; which some weeks is every day. Some good, low-sugar ones that I currently have on rotation are Kix, Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Honey Bunches of Oats. Sometimes we will throw some fresh blueberries, bananas, or strawberries in the bowl to change it up. Other favorites with a 
little more sugar are Honey Nut Cheerios and Annie’s Chocolate Bunnies. In the colder months my kids love oatmeal. We will make enough for 4 servings so on day two we just need to warm it up. Try adding mashed up banana, brown sugar, and a little cinnamon to spice it up.
Toast
Toast is another easy, yet satisfying breakfast. I always think of cheese toast as the morning version of a grilled cheese and my kids never turn down a grilled cheese. We also love to put peanut butter or Nutella on toast and top with sliced bananas. Cinnamon toast is a hit and all you need is bread, butter, and cinnamon/sugar mixture; pop it in the oven for a few minutes and you will have a real treat!
Eggs
My kids just recently started eating eggs so this has opened up our options some in the morning. A ham and cheese omelet is a real treat for them in the morning and something that Dad usually makes (Mom does not want to wash dishes in the morning). Pop a piece of bread in the toaster and add your favorite jelly and they will be full until lunch. Put some scrambled eggs with cheese on a piece of bread and you have a killer egg sandwich. Just add whatever fresh fruit you have on hand and you have a somewhat balanced meal.
Leftovers
Meal prep can be a thing for every meal and member of the family; make sure to include the 
kiddos and breakfast into your meal preps. On the weekends we usually cook a big breakfast at least one day, sometimes both. I always double the recipe so we will have enough left over for one or two breakfasts during the week. What is more extra than pancakes or biscuits during the week??? If we have pancakes or waffles leftover, we just have to pop them in the toaster to warm them up and serve with syrup. Sometimes the kids like to eat them without syrup, so this makes them a good “eat in the car” meal. We spice up our pancakes with mashed up bananas and chocolate chips.
Smoothies
The only place I don’t have to hide vegetables is in their smoothies. At this point they help me make them and know that they have spinach and carrots in the blender. I don’t really have a recipe but I usually put a cup of yogurt, a handful of spinach and carrots, frozen banana (all my brown bananas go in the freezer), and mixed frozen berries. Costco sells prepackaged bags that you can just throw in the blender if you don’t have time or the ingredients you need in the freezer. I normally put the yogurt, water, spinach, and carrots in the blender the night before and just leave it in the fridge. In the morning I can add the frozen bananas and berries and blend. Once blended add a little honey to sweeten it. Make sure you use blueberries or black berries to hide the green if you think your little one will be turned off. Normally makes enough for three smoothies and is another good option for breakfast on the go.
I hope some these breakfast ideas help you transition back into school mode! I know my kids are going to be dragging the first week but hopefully they will get all of the energy they need from breakfast to start their day.
