5 Healthy Breakfast Hacks for Busy Parents

Imagine this: You’re already late for work and struggle to find your child’s backpack. They want to help you, so they offer to put on their shoes while you search. Once you find the backpack, you feel a sense of relief until you notice your child’s shoes are on the wrong feet. Oh, and they haven’t eaten breakfast yet.

You need some healthy breakfast hacks.

You’re stressed for a number of reasons, but today, it’s because you have multiple jobs and being a parent is the most important one.

On days like this, a nutritious breakfast can seem nearly impossible. Yet, your child’s backpack and a healthy morning meal carry the same importance when we talk about performance in school. That’s why we’ve come up with five healthy breakfast hacks for busy parents using foods grown by Illinois farmers that pack a nutritional punch.

Healthy Breakfast Hacks

• Stock a kid-friendly breakfast container. Items could include foods like cereal, milk, string cheese, yogurt and fruit. Prepare these items the night before and your child can easily help themselves when hungry.
• Prepare grab and go baked goods. Roll out of the door faster with baked goods that last all week, like these Easy Beef Breakfast Rolls. These bite-sized rolls are packed with protein and provide valuable minerals like iron and zinc – and don’t lack a delicious taste.
• Put together a build-your-own breakfast bar. This is a great idea for picky eaters. Prepare toppings like shredded cheese, ground beef, tomatoes, bacon pieces, spinach and diced ham that your kids can place in tortilla shells. You can scramble eggs in the morning to add to their creations for a healthy, balanced meal.
• Mix things up with yogurt. You can create a variety of parfaits or smoothies that infuse fruit, whole grains and protein into your child’s diet. Some of our favorites are theFruity Splash Smoothie, Fruit Salsa Yogurt Parfait and Peanut Butter Banana Crunch Yogurt Parfait. Try soy-based or Greek yogurt for a nutritional twist.
• Use leftovers. Take already cooked items like steak, corn, chicken, potato and green beans and throw them together to create a hearty skillet. Warm them up in your favorite pan and cook an egg to throw on top – even you will be satisfied before starting your work day.

The next time you struggle to leave the house on time, remember these healthy breakfast hacks to get your day started off on the right foot. Being a parent isn’t always easy, but eating nutritious meals can be thanks to Illinois farmers growing high quality ingredients. Meet some of them here.

For more ideas, follow This Farm Girl Cooks – a farm mom of four who feels your pain and shares her #momhacks for healthy, happy kids!