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Forum -> Parenting our children -> School age children

School mornings

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amother

OP ↓

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 2:18 pm

Figured I may as well try to get a head start in planning smoother mornings before school starts. I do as much as I can the night before, my main obstacles are breakfast, and dh not being helpful enough (no, minyan is not an issue. He has a minyan that starts after the kids leave and he has a 7 minute commute, so he has no need of an earlier minyan).

Basically, we need a substantial breakfast. Partly due to health needs, partly due to varying food preferences, the classic quick and easy things (cereal, yogurt) are not doable. I actually have to cook in the morning, every morning. And it takes time. Even eggs, unless I'm making a huge pan of scrambled, it has to be done individually. And my kids all have adhd, so while I'm cooking breakfast, somebody needs to be on top of them getting themselves ready, yes, even the older ones. Also a very clingy toddler who makes it hard to get anything done. I wish I could skip the cooked breakfast but I can't. On the mornings where dh gets up and helps, things go alot more smoothly, but he doesn't always. I guess if anyone has ideas for streamlining breakfast when my family does require a substantial, cooked meal would be helpful.

Molly Weasley

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 2:38 pm

What are the options do you have besides scrambled eggs?

How about this:

Make the egg mix before you go to sleep, put it into the fridge

Wake up just five minutes earlier scramble the eggs, put it onto a warmer.

amother

RosePink

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 2:42 pm

Oatmeal topped with fruit is substantial.
Tuna/cream cheese/peanut butter/grilled cheese sandwiches can be prepared the night before.
You can also make a large quantity of pancakes & freeze them, then reward in the morning.

mha3484

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 2:44 pm

We are not cereal eaters so we also have a hot breakfast each morning but I don't make myself crazy. Some things I serve are scrambled eggs, instant oatmeal (trader joes makes an unsweetened one so I add my own maple syrup or honey) frozen blintzes or pancakes in the air fryer. Sometimes toast if they have time to bentch.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 3:12 pm

Isn't there an issue to leave eggs overnight, or is that only peeled boiled eggs? If it's not anproblem, I'd try that. Oatmeal is a phase thing- they'll go awhile wanting it, and then they don't like it for awhile. Sandwiches can also be a phase in the same way. Guess I need to try to rotate everything.

amother

Bronze

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 3:23 pm

amother OP wrote:

We're also not a cereal and milk family and I try not to repeat breakfasts in one week. Our menu includes:

Overnight oats
Chia pudding
Cream of buckwheat
Avocado toast
French toast
Scrambled eggs
Banana and peanut butter
Smoothie
Breakfast muffins or cookies
Pancakes or waffles

The things that need to be made fresh take 5 minutes. If you need to supervise kids, can you get up 15 minutes before you need to wake them, prep breakfast and have it ready for when they're dressed?

mummiedearest

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 3:38 pm

Do your kids have any nut allergies? Afaik, adhd kids do better with high protein breakfasts over high carb. So I’d skip oatmeal and go with nut waffles, which you can easily prep in advance. They freeze beautifully.

3 cups almond flour
12-14 eggs
6 Tbsp honey
A generous splash of vanilla extract
A pinch of baking soda

Cook in a waffle maker or fry as pancakes (they’re better as waffles).

Top with fresh fruit, cream cheese, peanut butter, yogurt, a drizzle of honey, whatever. You can add berries or apples or bananas to the batter for variety.

Another option: make egg muffins in advance and heat them up as needed.

amother

Zinnia

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 3:58 pm

Starting your morning routine 15 minutes earlier might be helpful. Sometimes the pressure is what gets to us more than anything. Have your kids get their bags and everything ready before breakfast. Give them a specific time they have to be all ready, before eating.
I started doing this and it was really helpful.

amother

SandyBrown

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 4:39 pm

Eggs can be made in a microwave if youd like.

amother

Acacia

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 5:17 pm

You can premake eggs in muffin tins in the oven and then just warm them up.

Premake waffles or pancakes and reheat.

My kids love smoothies for breakfast.

Also a cheese sandwich

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 5:17 pm

I already get up way too early because of the toddler. Getting up even earlier is not possible for me.

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 5:18 pm

Muffin tin eggs sounds like a good idea, I will try that!

amother

Peach

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 6:01 pm

Didn’t read all the responses so don’t know if there are issues with certain foods. You can make almost everything the night before, put it in the fridge and heat. Eggs I’d do hard boiled or mashed, serve with crackers and vegetables. All can be prepped before. Pancakes can be prepped before.

amother

Lightcoral

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 6:08 pm

I make a double batch of waffles when I have time and freeze them in individual bags. My kid likes them frozen but you can take out the night before to defrost or heat them in the morning.
For pancakes I freeze a few bag mix of the dry ingredients and add the eggs and milk fresh. You can also bake the pancakes on a sheet pan as a cake instead of frying individuals.

2mother

Wed, Aug 21 2024, 6:09 pm

amother OP wrote:

Muffin tin eggs sounds like a good idea, I will try that!

Those are really good, I like to add tiny chopped veggies to mine. They freeze great.

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