I'm having a hard time thinking of good/filling/nutritious breakfasts for my two year old daughter. That doesn't sound hard, but she won't eat anything bready (pancakes, waffles, poptarts, toaster strudel, toast, etc.) Also, she goes to work with me every day, so I need things that require little or no preparation (we do have a microwave). I would make her breakfast at home, but she does not get hungry for the first two hours she is awake (she just refuses to eat until she is fully awake and going). Fresh and frozen fruit has been our primary staple, but she is starting to get tired of that too. So, I've run out of ideas, and I know there are usually some really creative solutions when all the moms come together on here. Thanks!
Wow! So many ideas. I had never been to pinterest before, but I really like the egg muffins idea. (I can sneak in some finely diced veggies for my little protein eater.) We'll also be trying drinkable yogurts & smoothies. She tends to lotion her face and hair with regular yogurt. LOL. I liked the rice idea, too. My step mom used to make sweet rice for breakfast all the time (can't believe I forgot). I put granola on the grocery list to mix in with frozen fruit. I also liked the suggestion of just giving her whatever she will eat, but if I did that she would live on hot dogs alone, LOL.
My kids also like to be awake awhile before eating, and on school days that would mean getting up really early. I give them Carnation Breakfast Essentials. They call it "Special Chocolate Milk." I give it to them when they first wake up. It usually takes them 15 minutes or so to drink it. Then we get dressed and get ready to go. It's been a lifesaver for me!
Think outside the "breakfast" box. She can eat whatever she likes, sandwich, soup, pasta, cheese/crackers, veges/dip, granola/energy bars, trail mix, yogurt (watch the sugar content) leftovers, etc. You get the idea!
MY kids love rice for breakfast. Make it ahead and then just microwave it for about 30 seconds at work.
We also do a lot of "non traditional" breakfast foods. My kids had left over taquitos for breakfast this morning. And yesterday both of my kids had yogurt and fruit, but my daughter had a ham and cheese sandwich to go with it and my son ate chicken nuggets...it was 7:30 a.m. :)
If she likes eggs, those can also be made ahead of time and reheated. My kids also like boiled eggs. Some weeks I'll do half a dozen or so at a time one evening and then they have a few meals ready to go out of the fridge.
Cereal. Yogurt. Smoothies. Oatmeal. Grits. Veggies. Dried fruit. Gorp or trail mix (If nuts are ok). Graham crackers with cream cheese. Quesidillas (easy to make ahead and reheat).
will she eat scrambled eggs? you can cook them in the microwave. keep a dozen eggs in the fridge at work. or cook them at home and bring them. you can mix in cheese. we have recently discovered Go Go Squeeze and Buddy Fruits. some are just fruit but others have condensed milk in them. we do a lot of yogurt in the morning too. how about a breakfast burrito? you can add eggs, cheese, salsa, ketchup, green peppers, even microwaveable bacon or just some bacon bits for flavor.
What about oatmeal or just plain cereal? You could just keep a few boxes at work with some milk and it's easy! I make my oatmeal in the microwave, just dump a packet (or instant oats from the can), mix in a little water and microwave for 30 seconds. Viola!
Will she eat eggs? My kids love hard boiled eggs, that's the only kind they'll eat. I also have to take the yolk out, but hey, at least they are eating an egg! Yogurt and cottage cheese would also be easy and nutritious.
I would try adding Greek yogurt to the fruit. It's yummy and high in protein. A sprinkle of granola with that is good, too.
We eat a lot of bread for breakfast, so I'm short of specific ideas. But, anything she likes for dinner can be for breakfast, too.
Have you seen those cute little breakfast muffins on pintrest? It looks like scrambled eggs in muffin form, some are filled with sausage, bacon, cheese, etc. I bet you could even use the crossant dough in the refrig. section of the grocery store to fill the bottom and then pour the egg mix over. Bake a week's worth and the reheat when she is ready for them. They look delish! She might like it more if she could help make them! You could also try yogurt smoothies. It would be the fruit she already likes but in a new form.
Good luck!
My daughter also does not eat any bread type food, so she had drinkable yogurts for breakfast almost daily until about 6 months ago. Now she has carnation instant breakfast. She isn't really into eating in the morning and carnation tends to give her the energy she needs. Dry cereal is also an easy food to bring with you.
Do you have a refrigerator at the office? Even if you have a good ice pack you could do yogurt. I always do Greek yogurt with a little honey & cinnamon mixed in so there's less sugar. You could mix fruit in too. Or the squeeze applesauce you could bring with you to go with the pancakes.
Hmmm....
Apple and peanut butter?
Yougurt? Freeze yougurt tubes and/or yougurt drinks
String cheese and strawberries?
Dry chez mix cereal with berries?
I know you said you were tired of fruit but I though if you jazzed it up a little she might like it. :)
"Breakfast" does not only have to be "breakfast" foods.
Just bring whatever she will eat.
Also make sure she has some sort of protein.
ie: an egg or boiled egg or egg sandwich, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich etc. Or deli meats etc.
Or soup in a Thermos, etc.
Just bring things in an insulated lunch bag for her. Or in a Thermos to keep something warm.
Cheese stick & some wholewheat crackers
Applesauce & cheese stick
Hard boiled egg
Yogurt
Yogurt parfait (granola, frozen or fresh fruit, with yogurt)
Baked oatmeal squares (they taste like a cookie)
PBJ
Cream cheese on crackers
I would take cereal and a small bottle of milk each day if she will eat that. Most cereals are filled with minerals and vitamins that kids need. Plus they usually have complex carbohydrates in them like grains.
She can eat that every day for breakfast if she will. We are allowed to have cereal for breakfast in child care where the regulations are very strict about nutrition. I used to think cereal was a filler, a waste of time, but they have evolved into pretty healthy foods.
You can cook eggs in the microwave, we do that often with my grandson. You use a microwave safe bowl, glass is better but we also use some we bought at Walmart. They do need to be replaced occasionally if you do not use glass. As soon as the eggs are done I run water in the bowl and let it soak. Then they wash very easily.
You can do other foods for breakfast too. How often do families have breakfast for dinner, you can have left overs or other foods for breakfast too.
I hope you find some yummy things for her to eat. Good luck!!
We will soon go back to breakfast in the car (we're moving and it will be a longer commute), so I feel your pain.
If she likes smoothies, that is a great option: add some yoghurt for protein and you can add some oatmeal flour for fiber and to keep them full longer.
My DD hates smoothies so that's a no-go for us! I plan on giving her cut fruit, dry cereal or granola, boiled egg cut in cubes, string cheese or cheese cubes, rice (sushi rice pressed into a mold looks fun, and can be eaten with your hands), cut veggies and lunch meats like slices or pieces of roasted chicken breast, turkey or ham.
Yoghurt is a mess in the car, but since you are in an office that would work as well.
Fortunately my DD likes bread, so I usually bake some banana, zucchini or carrot bread or muffins as well to mix it up a bit.
Also remember that there are many cultures that will eat what we would consider "dinner fare" for breakfast: so why not offer her leftovers from the night before, or something you know she will love, no matter if it is "breakfast" or not.
Good luck!
