Looking for a way to make those crazy, busy mornings run a little bit smoother? My Easy Breakfast System for Kids has been a game-changer in our home. Here’s why, and how you can do it too!
I don’t like mornings. Specifically, I don’t like mornings where we are all racing out the door. There is never enough time. And I am tired! Who wants to spend the first hours of a new day nagging at the kids to hurry up while also trying to feed them and dress them. Not me!
So, I dare say, I have found a solution, and it is simply going back to basics. I asked myself “why on earth can’t my kids get their own breakfast?!”. At 4 and 7 years old, they are certainly capable of preparing simple food ingredients to feed themselves! Why have I not been expecting this of them?!
I think the answer was that prior to beginning this Easy Breakfast System, I thought it would be faster if I just ‘did it myself’. I thought it would take them too long to make their breakfast.
The problem was that I was creating a long-term struggle. They weren’t learning how to fend for themselves, how to be independent. And I was setting myself up to be serving them breakfast for years to come.
By having them learn to make their own breakfast, they are learning to solve their own problem of being hungry in the morning.
How the Easy Breakfast System for Kids works
Basically, foods are provided that are healthy and easy for the kids to prepare themselves. Everything they need is easily accessible (more on that later), and suitable for their age. The kids know that they are responsible for preparing their own breakfast each morning before school. They are given a few options of meals they can make. Some are more time-consuming, and great for weekends, while others are quick and easy. Some examples of breakfasts we have in our house are:
‘Mug’ Scrambled Eggs and toast
We like this easy meal for weekends. The kids cook an egg in the microwave, and add it to toast. Voila! Breakfast!
1.Spray the inside of a mug with cooking spray or rub with oil
2. Crack 1 egg into mug
3. Mix with a fork to break up yolk. Scramble it!
4. Set a ziplock bag/piece of paper towel loosely over mug (to keep egg from getting on the microwave!
5. Microwave on high for 1 minute. If egg is still runny, microwave for 20 seconds more.
6. Turn out onto plate. Break up with a fork or butter knife.
7. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with toast, and any toppings like pre-cooked crumbled bacon, chives (they can use scissors to cut them up), fruit etc.
8. Fill mug with water right away to help make clean-up easier 🙂
Quick and Easy Pancakes
(I help with the cooking – more of a weekend meal)
1.Measure 1 mug full of self-rising flour into a bowl.
2. Using the same mug, measure 1 cup of milk. Add to flour.
3. Crack in 1 egg
4. Add 1 pinch of salt
5. Add any flavourings you would like to the batter (like frozen blueberries, 1 mashed banana, or chocolate chips)
6. Stir well, and fry on frying pan set at medium heat with a bit of butter/oil to prevent sticking. Flip pancake when the edges are starting to dry out and bubbles are forming on top.
7. Serve with yogurt, fruit, and maple syrup
Oatmeal with blueberries
1.Scoop 1/4 cup measure of quick/instant/minute oats into bowl (any of these types work well). For reference, 1/4 cup makes about as much as one store-bought packet of instant oatmeal 🙂
2. Carefully stir in hot water (about 3/4 cup depending on how thick you like your oatmeal). We like using our Hot Shot for this. It isn’t currently availiable in the States, but here is one that might suffice.
3. Stir in 1/2 tsp coconut sugar and lots of frozen blueberries! You could also add chopped nuts or seeds here as well.
4. If oatmeal gets too thick, more water can always be added!
Toast with nut butter and jam
The kids are fully capable of making toast (with a little lesson on toaster safety, of course!). They can also make French Toast in the toaster straight from the freezer (either homemade and frozen, or from a box). Add a little nut butter and jam or syrup, and they are good to go!
Cereal, granola, yogurt and milk
Kids can easily scoop out some cereal or granola from a container, as well as pour some milk or yogurt on top and throw in some easily-accessible fruit. A solid breakfast for the win!
Breakfast fruit such as bananas, apples, or clementines
We try to keep a stocked bowl of fruit either on the counter or in the fridge at all times. It is great for breakfast, but also for snacking, especially after school 😉
Water, juice, or milk
Our kids are only allowed one glass of juice at breakfast. After that, it’s milk and water for the day 🙂
Some tips to help an Easy Breakfast System run smoothly
- Keep break-free dishes low enough in your kitchen that your kids can reach them themselves. Same for cutlery. If they can reach it, it is less work for you!
- Have dish towels within arm’s reach for the kids as well. There are bound to be some spills. When there are, have them begin the cleanup themselves, with some help from you if needed 🙂 Don’t worry, spills get less the older they get.
- Put breakfast items in containers that are easy for kids to handle. We keep our cereal in plastic containers that are easy to pour from. Milk can be put in a smaller, easy-pour bottle for kids (we have reused a coffee creamer container with a snap lid). We reuse a large yogurt container to hold frozen blueberries in the freezer so the kids can easily scoop them out with a spoon.
- If I know all the kids are having one specific breakfast, I will sometimes set the needed items out on the table the night before, just to save a few minutes in the morning rush.
- Have the kids clear their dishes as well. Every little bit helps! Some busy mornings the dishes just sit on the table until we all get home in the afternoon, but we can dream, right?!
And there you have it! Sometimes easing up the busy mornings is as simple as asking your kids to look after themselves a bit more! This Easy Breakfast System for Kids is just one of many ways we push for our kids to become more independent and self-sufficient.
The Result
It’s been nothing short of amazing!
First, they can choose what they feel like eating (within reason) that morning. Less fussing about not liking what’s for breakfast!
Secondly, it has freed up my morning significantly. I have replaced (most) of my nagging with thanking them and letting them know how proud I am that they are so grown up. It has relieved so much pressure during our morning rush 🙂 Give it a try and let me know how it goes in the comments below!
Shop this post
Hot Shot Water Dispenser (Canada), Hot Water Dispenser (USA)
Cereal Storage Containers we use
Pin it for later
Looking for more?!
If you’re looking for more tips to help make life with kids easier, check out some of my other posts!
10 Ways to Raise Healthy Eaters
Also, be sure to sign up below to have new posts delivered straight to your inbox!
Leave a Reply