Breakfast Recipes for Kids

We have heard it said over and over again 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day'. I am a firm believer in this, and never leave the house without a good wholesome breakfast, to sustain me. While breakfast is important for all of us, it is especially important for growing children, who need the energy through their hectic activity filled days.

Most kids love sweet breakfast foods, such as waffles, pancakes, and muffins. As a parent, one needs to find the balance between the tasty foods kids like and the nutritious ones they need. It is important to get them to consume milk and eggs albeit the form. Another factor that decides the kinds of breakfasts your kids will have is the amount of time you have to prepare it as well as the time they can spare to eat. Luckily, most breakfast can be prepared very quickly. Also, the time-consuming jobs can be completed the previous night. Muffins can be made in bulk and just heated in the morning. The batter for waffles and pancake can be made and kept in the refrigerator. One only has to pour it on the griddle in the morning.

Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced into ½ '' thick slices
• 4 eggs and 4 egg whites
• 4½'' round slices Canadian bacon
• ¼ cup minced chives
• 4 whole-wheat English muffins
• ¼ cup minced parsley

Directions

Break the eggs into a bowl and add the egg whites and whisk. Add the parsley and chives to the eggs. A large nonstick skillet should be perfect for cooking the eggs. Spray it with cooking spray, and pour about ¼ of the egg mixture into the skillet and cook into a fluffy omelet, for about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Place the omelet in a plate and repeat the process with the remaining eggs. Once the eggs are done, add the Canadian bacon and heat it till it turns warm, for about a minute or two per side. Toast the English muffin. To form the sandwich, place the omelet on the lower muffin half, folding it to fit. Place a slice of bacon over it, and then the tomato, and close with the top muffin half.

Whole-Wheat Pancakes

Ingredients for Pancakes

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 medium apple, cored and diced (about 2 cups)
• 2 teaspoons honey
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• ¾ cup low fat milk
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup low fat buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Topping

• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• ¼ cup real maple syrup, plus more for serving
• ¼ cup hulled (green) pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup toasted wheat germ
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• Pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (preferably unhulled)

Directions

To prepare the pancakes, place the apple in a microwavable bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and microwave for about 2 minutes on high. You will have a soft mushy apple ready.

Whisk the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, ½ cup of the milk and honey. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients slowly, and keep whisking, till you have smooth light batter. If the batter gets too thick, add some milk to lighten it.

Spray a large non-stick griddle with cooking spray, keep over medium heat, and pour about ¼ cup batter per pancake into the pan. Place a tablespoon of cooked apple on each pancake. After about 2 minutes, once the pancake tops have small bubbles and the edges seem cooked, flip them over. Remove when they turn golden brown and are completely cooked. Serve with topping or maple syrup.

To prepare the topping, toast the almonds and pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium-high heat, for about 1 minute. Add the sunflower seeds and sesame seeds consecutively, leaving a gap of a minute between each addition. Roast all together for about 30 seconds more. Put the toasted nuts and seeds into a bowl, and add the wheat germ and the syrup. Your healthy topping is ready to be served.

Fresh Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients

• ½ cup soy milk (or other milk)
• ½ lemon, squeezed (for tartness if desired)
• ½ cup white grape juice
• Small handful fresh seedless grapes
• 1 cup strawberries, stemmed
• ¼ teaspoon Vitamin C powder (1 capsule)
• ½ cup pineapple chunks

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and ready for serving. Add ice, if desired while serving.

These breakfast food items for kids are healthy versions of their favorite foods. Your kids are sure to love them, and their skipping out on breakfast is likely to become a thing of the past.