We know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but sometimes finding the time to make a protein power packed breakfast for our kids in the scramble of the morning seems impossible. If you are feeling like you are the only parent lost in the morning rush, don't! According to a recent study done by Share our Strength, 62% of teachers find kids coming to school still hungry each week. As a result, students show a range of physical and behavioral symptoms, including lack of concentration, lethargy and stomach aches.Eating protein foods, like eggs, for breakfast supplies the mind and body energy kids need to stay active throughout the school day. In fact, new research in adolescents shows that a protein-rich breakfast improves appetite control and leads to increased feelings of fullness, making it easier to focus and learn in school.
Breakfast Time Savers
While we as parents recognize the importance of protein at breakfast, making dishes like eggs for our kids during the week is not the norm for most of us. In fact, Seventy-six percent of moms cited lack of time as the main factor prohibiting them from making eggs for breakfast on weekdays.
If you fall into the 76% category, then Jeffrey Saad, chef and father of two, has a treat for you. He has a couple quick and easy ideas for serving up a high-quality protein breakfast for time-crunched families:
Whip it Up: Scrambled eggs are a cinch to prepare and can be eaten in so many different ways. A Coffee Cup Scramble can be prepared in the microwave in 1-minute flat! Just top eggs with cheese or your favorite veggies. Or, try a Cereal Bowl Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burrito with your favorite salsa, for breakfast on-the-go.
Make Ahead: Don't forget about delicious options that can be prepared ahead of time, like casseroles, stratas and frittatas. Mini Italian Breakfast Casseroles are a great make-ahead option that can be made the night before or frozen for a later date. Warm them in the oven while the family gets ready for the day!
Grab and go: There's nothing easier than cooking up a dozen Hard-cooked Eggs on Sunday for a great grab-and-go option all-week long. Little side note: We do this on a weekly basis. My kids will grab this as an afterschool snack or a pre-work out energy boost as well!
A protein packed breakfast starts at just $0.15
"The importance of a protein breakfast can't be underestimated - along with feeling fuller longer, research shows that the benefits of breakfast include improved memory recall time, improved grades and higher test scores," says Elizabeth Ward, M.S., R.D., nutrition consultant and author of Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During and After Pregnancy. "Compared to sugary cereals and processed foods, eggs are all-natural and provide one of the highest-quality proteins of any food available. At less than 15 cents apiece, eggs are one of the most affordable sources of high-quality protein for just 70 calories, making them a great choice to start the day."
No comments:
Post a Comment