Quick Healthy Breakfast Ideas For Kids

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and is vital to your child's health and growth. A nutritious, healthy breakfast is also an excellent start to your child's school day. It's the brain food they need to be alert and active for the day's studies.

Most often, it's hard to get children to sit down in the morning to a full-course meal. But there are other quick, healthy alternatives if you find your child too sleepy for a full meal or if time is an issue. Breakfast may be more encouraged if you get your little one involved in actually preparing the morning meal. Try it once and see what comes of it. Let them know how important their help in the kitchen really is to you. This may also be a good time to get your whole family gathered around the table. It all depends on your family's schedules and activities.

If you find getting your children interested in a full meal in the morning to be challenging...don't panic. It is very important to at least get them to eat some other quick healthful choices. There are various quick, healthy options for you to choose from. Let's explore...

Below are some food choices to get your kids moving in the morning

Smoothies

Drinking a refreshing smoothie makes it a lot easier to add more fruits and veggies to your diet, and kids love them. Smoothies give you a colorful variety of fruits and veggies. They are also easy and fun to make.

Banana Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup cubed fresh pineapple
2 bananas sliced
1 cup unsweetened soy milk
1 cup non-fat yogurt (any flavor)
Ice cubes
Sweetener if desired

Directions

Combine fresh pineapples, bananas, soy milk, yogurt, and ice cubes in a blender.
Blend until smooth. Serves about 4.

Carrot Apple Juice Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup peeled and diced carrots
1 1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup cold water
Ice cubes

Directions

Toss all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth

Muffins and Bagels

For healthier muffins or bagels of course, you need to bake the homemade type. It is best to make them with whole wheat flour. Homemade bran muffins are excellent with some low fat butter and low sugar jelly or jam and are also a good source of fiber. Apple or pear butter on top will also give you some added variety.

Below is a nutritious recipe I think your kids will take a liking to. Who says you can't have pizza for breakfast?

Muffin Pizza

Ingredients

2 english muffins
pizza sauce
grated mozzarella cheese
1 slice low-fat deli chopped ham
2 scrambled eggs (may substitute egg beaters)

Directions

Cut the 2 muffins in half. Top with pizza sauce, grated cheese, chopped ham, and eggs. Place under toaster oven for a minute or two. Adjust settings to your liking. Offer your child a piece of fruit on the side.

Fruit Salads

There are many variations of fruit salads and really, they are great anytime of the day...not just for breakfast. Fruit salads are excellent with some non-fat yogurt dip.

Breakfast Casseroles

There are many types of casseroles for breakfast. And to make them healthy, you can add any kind of veggies you like and is highly recommended to add to your daily intake of vegetables. Using turkey bacon or sausage and low fat cheeses is ideal when it comes to healthy casseroles. Also using an egg substitute such as egg beaters will give you less fat and cholesterol. With casseroles, you can make them ahead the night before and pop them in the oven in the morning.

Last Minute Breakfast

Always have dried fruits, nuts, dates, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and trail mixes on hand to toss into sealed plastic bags for those mornings when time just doesn't permit for a breakfast meal. Make for sure each child gets one of these bags before leaving the house.

There you have it...just a few ideas to keep breakfast healthy for your little ones. Also...don't forget to eat a good breakfast yourself.

Eating Healthy at Disney

For many people, eating well while on a vacation or on a road trip seems quite difficult. Especially for parents, a trip more than 30 minutes from home means feeding the family in the quickest most convenient way possible. Disney parks are known for their fun attractions as well as their multiple food kiosks and restaurants. At first glance your food options might just seem like chicken fingers and french fries. That can certainly be true if you don't take the time to look past the first choices that come to your eyes. Here are a few pointers to keep you and your family happy and on a healthier track. We'll also include a few ideas of where to eat at some of the parks.

1. Take your time. Everyone wants to rush to the next attraction of course. When you take your time to eat it gives everyone a chance to get centered and to plan your attack on the next section of the park. The lines for attractions can be long and frustrating. Plan your meals and use them as strategy sessions, as well as a chance to rest your feet!

2. Get fast passes in advance. This one ties in well with tip 1. If you're planning on going to some of the busiest rides in the parks you'll see very quickly that the lines quickly grow to a 1.5 hour to 2 hour wait. Not only that but early in the day the fast passes run out. When you get a pass to one busy ride, then skip on to another, you'll have time to go back to the first and not wait in any line. Then go off to another attraction, get a fast pass, then plan your meal.

Here's an example:

You show up to the park around opening and get yourselves a fruit cup, coffee, juices, etc... Then get a fast pass to a busy ride at 9am (that might have you come back to the ride at 10am). You then head off to a smaller attraction or two. Then head off to the ride you have your first fast pass for. On your way there get a fast pass to another big thing. That one will likely have you returning after lunch sometime. Ah ha! Now, go to some smaller attractions as well as to the second fast pass ride and head to a lunch right after that. Use that time to sit quietly making some healthy food choices. After a healthy lunch, go to the third fast pass ride that you picked up just before lunch. Using this technique will give you a sense of relaxation and less of a need to feed yourselves with fast, unhealthy choices.

3. Pick a few healthy snacks throughout the day (and even pack your own in advance).

Walking around all day takes a lot of energy. If you have granola bars in your bag or you stop at a kiosk and grab a piece of fruit and some water you'll have more energy to keep going and you'll be less hungry when meal time hits. This can give you the peace of mind to make smart choices. Remember, making these good food choices will give you the energy and attention span you'll need for a full day(s) adventure. Here are a few places we tried. This is certainly not a complete list, but it should get you started. Happy eating!

Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World, Florida.

Downtown Disney is a typical first stop for travelers to Orlando's Walt Disney World. There is so much fun shopping and dining that I highly recommend getting there on the front or back end of your visit. The Downtown area features places like Planet Hollywood and the House of Blues. For our last trip we chose a faster, cheaper option, The Earl of Sandwich. At The Earl of Sandwich you can find some yummy, and many healthy choices. They have hot sandwiches (some healthier than others), healthy wraps, salads, smoothies and plenty of sides to choose from.

Magic Kingdom

As soon as you walk through the gates at opening (and of course you will get there for the opening show, right?), you are walking down Main Street. I suggest that you beat the crowds and get in line at the coffees shop, breakfast spot on the right side of the road as you are walking toward the castle. On our last trip I got a coffee and a banana. There are plenty of other great choices. Don't weigh yourself down with a meaty, bready breakfast sandwich so early, I say. Use this as an opportunity to jump start your morning.

Epcot

Where to start here?! The World Showcase features food, rides and other sights from many places around the world. We started somewhere close to the middle at Japan on our last trip and then worked our way around trying a little from a lot of spots. In Japan they have sushi, noodle soups and curries. There is plenty to choose from and many pretty healthy picks depending on your tastes. They have a faster, seat yourself restaurant called The Yakitori House and a fine dining spot called Teppan Edo.

There are plenty of ways to blow your diet in Epcot, so stay grounded.

Animal Kingdom

What a fun place! Why ruin your day by getting sick after Everest because you ate an 1,136 calorie turkey leg (1) in one of the parks? Keep it light and have some fun. The Harambe Fruit Market has stuff for anyone for a quick snack. For a larger meal, try The Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney. Enjoy your trip. Have fun and stay healthy!

By Ethan Time.