If you have school-aged children then you know how difficult mornings can be, especially preparing breakfast. It’s been proven that having breakfast sets the kids up for a better day in school, but sometimes I just don’t have it in me to make a big breakfast. If your kids are anything like mine a bowl of cereal will last them 30 minutes before they are hungry again.
Here are some quick and easy breakfast options that I’ve developed to make the morning a little easier.
Slowcooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal Custard
The prep time on this is under a minute. It cooks overnight in your crock pot, ready when you wake, hearty and high in protein. Follow this link to my complete recipe for slowcooker steel-cut oatmeal custard.
Overnight Oats
Simply mix rolled oats with an equal amount of your liquid of choice. You can use any combination of dairy or non-dairy milk, yogurt, or even juice; just stick with the same basic 1:1 ratio. Mix any spices, sweeteners, or dried fruit you like into the oats and milk. Store in a glass jar or another airtight container and let the mixture soak for at least three hours, ideally overnight. In the morning, you can add fresh fruit, nuts, and other favorite toppings to your oatmeal. You can eat it cold or warm, as desired.
Frozen Waffles (or pancakes)
Make a batch of waffles or pancakes and keep them in the freezer for heating in the toaster, just like Eggos (but much tastier and less expensive).
First make the waffles or pancakes as usual (your favorite recipe). Completely cool on wire racks and place them on parchment lined cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen (about 2 hours). Transfer to freezer bags marked with the date. They can be kept up to 3 months if you do a good job squeezing the air out before placing in the freezer.
Yogurt Parfaits
Use greek yogurt for added protein. Add any fresh or dried fruit, nuts, or sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. Store in the fridge in small tupperware containers with lids. Grab a spoon and eat on the go.
Protein Smoothies
Don’t get spooked at the thought of it, but liquid egg whites* is a fantastic secret. Its not slimy and goopy like raw egg whites are, and its been pasteurized to make it safe. Its tasteless, pours like milk, can be mixed with any liquid without changing the texture, and nobody will be the wiser (just don’t let them see you do it). Buy it at your local grocer, in the egg section.
All you need is milk or juice, liquid egg whites , and any frozen or fresh fruit (or veggies) that you like. Blend will, and don’t tell them that they just drank 3 eggs!
Here are some examples:
Chocolate Banana Milk Shake
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup liquid egg whites
2 tablespoons Hershey’s Chocolate Sauce (or similar)
Blend well.
Very Berry Smoothie
1/2 frozen mixed frozen
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup liquid egg whites
1 tablespoon honey (or other sweetener to taste)
Blend well.
Chocolate Milk
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup liquid egg whites
2 tablespoons Hershey’s Chocolate Sauce (or similar)
This is the best trick ever: You can make the chocolate milk in larger quantities too, just stick with the one part liquid egg whites to one part milk (1:1 ratio). Add Hershey’s chocolate sauce (or similar) and shake well. Make this in advance in an empty half-gallon plastic jug of store bought chocolate milk (Nesquik, etc) and your kids will never know they are drinking 3 eggs with every cup of chocolate milk. (Shake well before serving.)
*Please note that raw eggs should not be used in this manner due to the risk of bacterial illness.
Half-cup of liquid egg whites is equal to about 3 eggs and provides 15 grams of protein.
I hope this helps all you non-morning mommies like me.
Related: How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Update: I’ve come up a with a high protein buttermilk pancake recipe that I call Power Pancakes which I promise are worth trying. Your kids and your husband won’t know that they’re healthy. Check it out!
