With busy mornings and kids headed back to school, it can be difficult to serve a nutrient-packed breakfast every day and easier to grab a sugary cereal or skip breakfast altogether! Breakfast is an important meal that gives your body and mind the boost they need to get going in the morning. Studies show that eating breakfast has great cognitive benefits, including improved memory recall time, improved grades, and higher test scores – meaning a healthful breakfast is not only important for your kids’ bodies to grow, but also important for their brains to grow. Help your kids start the school year off right by beginning their days with a high-quality protein breakfast to provide them with the energy and nourishment they need to make the grade!

Sugary Cereal Facts

Many kids’ breakfast cereals contain over 60% of the recommended daily amount of sugar in one serving, and some contain as many as six different types of sweeteners!

Breakfast cereals are one of the biggest sources of added sugars in young kids’ diets – ranking 5th – just after sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, candy, and ice cream. Cereals with cartoon characters on the box usually contain the most added sugars, with a typical serving containing as much sugar as three chocolate chip cookies!

Eggs to the Rescue!

Stop that morning sugar high and prevent the afternoon crash by selecting a high-protein breakfast, like eggs, over cereals and yogurts that contain added sugar.

Eggs are naturally sugar-free and provide one of the highest quality proteins of any food available! A single egg has more than 6 grams of protein, with almost half of the protein found in the yolk. Not only is protein an important nutrient that is necessary for muscle growth and body repair, high-protein meals have been shown to keep you feeling fuller for longer than low-protein meals.

Quick and Easy Recipes

Get your daily dose of high-protein eggs with these delicious, simple recipes by Cricket Azima:

Breakfast Cake

Breakfast Pizza

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Click on each link below for the complete recipe.  For more family-friendly recipe ideas, please visit The Creative Kitchen and follow us on Facebook to receive frequent updates on wholesome family-friendly recipes, tips, and events.

Monday: 

Scrambled Eggs w/ Almond Milk & Stracchino

Recipe By: Sam Talbot, SamTalbot.com

Start the week packed with protein to give the family the post-weekend jump-start they need to get back into the weekly groove!  Try Sam Talbot’s quick and easy Scrambled Eggs w/ Almond Milk & Stracchino.  This twist on a classic breakfast will certainly impress the palate!

Tuesday: 

Kewlest Blueberry Muffins

Recipe By: Reed Alexander, KewlBites

Blueberries are a kid-favorite super-food, loaded with antioxidants to feed the brain! Make a batch of Reed Alexander’s Kewlest Blueberry Muffins for a sweet breakfast treat that can be eaten at home or on-the-go.  Pair it with yogurt and a hard boiled egg for a heartier meal. Think ahead and bake this recipe over the weekend – and, if you have extra, freeze some to defrost and eat another day when you’re in a pinch for time!

Wednesday: 

Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits

Recipe from: CookingLight.com

These Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits from Cooking Light are tender and low in fat and sodium. The best part is kids can help make them!

Young Chefs Can:
• Help cut dough with biscuit cutter
• Place biscuits on baking sheet
• Help cut butter into small pieces
• Knead dough and measure dimensions

Thursday:

Breakfast Pizza

Recipe By: Cricket Azima, The Creative Kitchen

Pizza for breakfast?!  Have a fun-filled morning with Cricket Azima’s Breakfast Pizza recipe from FoodNetwork.com!  Ensure that each member of the family will adore their breakfast by getting everyone involved in the preparation.  Set up a buffet of possible toppings with a variety of vegetables and/or meats and each person can make them to taste (younger family members can point to their choices and parents can put on top). Ask kids to choose from broccoli, peas or peppers…whichever they choose, you’ll be satisfied knowing a vegetable was included!

Friday:

Breakfast Cookies

Recipe By: Ellie Krieger, Healthy Living 

It’s FRIDAY! Celebrate with cookies for breakfast!  Ellie Krieger’s Breakfast Cookies, from FoodNetwork.com are loaded with fiber and protein, keeping your family feeling full longer. Pair with a glass of milk, and some fresh fruit for a oh-so-satisfying meal.

The content of this post is courtesy of the Kids Food Festival, LLC. The Kids Food Festival is dedicated to educating families about making balanced food choices through fun and flavorful activities. Learn more at www.KidsFoodFestival.com.