About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Breakfast of Champs
silver spoons canada
(Sep.21.09)
After the frantic rush of getting everyone dressed, pouring the cereal, checking the BlackBerry, getting the shoes on, strapping into car seats... wait. Where was I going with this?
For most parents, mornings are insane. Quite often, I don't remember to eat until someone's having a nap or I'm at the office (and then usually, it's chocolate. Sweetspot's chocolate drawer happens to be in my desk). For as long as I can remember, my easy solution has been making breakfast shakes.
Starting with fruit -- frozen berries and bananas work well -- add any combination of the following: (health benefits in parentheses)
- yogurt (pro-biotics)
- silken tofu or soy milk (high in protein, calcium, magnesium and iron; low on calories and zero cholesterol)
- orange juice (vitamin C)
a teaspoon of flax seed oil (Omega-3 fatty acids)- wheat germ (too many to list: read them all here)
- cinnamon (anti-oxident)
Blend. Drink. Easy. I've even thrown instant coffee in there (when really desperate for caffeine). What you create is up to you. It's a portable, vitamin-rich meal in a glass! Skip the tofu and the flax oil and you should be able to pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Worried the kids will try to steal your meal? Just tell them it's good for them. (Or, you know, give them some too.)
If you're looking for more breakfast ideas, Breakfast for Learning and Dairy Farmers of Canada have just launched an amazing Menu Planner to help families meet the standards set by the Canada Food Guide. It would even be good to share with your daycare provider. You can download your own copy of the Menu Planner HERE.