Getting kids to eat breakfast before school can sometimes be a challenge. There are days when everyone is running late or maybe they simply don’t have an appetite when they first wake up. Grab-n-go breakfasts are a good way to get them to eat something while they’re in the car or waiting for the bus, so they don’t have to go to school on an empty stomach. You can make breakfast burritos, pancakes (spread peanut butter on them and roll them up) or egg and English muffins breakfast sandwiches ahead of time. Or have foods such as fruit, yogurt and granola handy.
One reader, Palooka from Pennsylvania, shares: “Melt 1 cup of peanut butter in a pan, then pour in a little maple syrup (about 1⁄2 cup or to your taste) and 2 cups of cereal, such as Cheerios or Rice Krispies, and mix. You can add chocolate chips or raisins, too. Roll the mixture into balls or put it in a pan in the fridge until firm and cut as needed.”
The first reader shares another idea:
Breakfast cookies: I like these right out of the freezer, but you can also eat at room temperature or warm them in the microwave:
• 1 stick melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 13⁄4 cups honey
• 4 cups oats
• 4 cups wheat flour
• 2 cups chocolate chips (could also use dried fruit)
I combine everything except the chocolate chips in my mixer, then I fold in the chocolate chips. I use a cookie scoop to put them on the tray. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Fills two gallon-size freezer bags. Enjoy! — Tina H., Washington
Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a website that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO, 64106, or email sara@frugalvillage.com.