Children in the Chicago area will soon head back to school. It's a good time for a reminder of how important starting your day with a good breakfast is important to the learning process. Research shows that kids who eat a morning meal- at home or at school- have better memory, attention, behavior, and score higher on tests. Nutritionists advise keeping healthy, convenient breakfast foods on hand, like ready to eat cereals, granola bars, yogurts, white and flavored milks and fruit in a mom-approved breakfast bowl. Kids can grab and go as they head out the door.
Think Outside the Cereal Box
Break breakfast boredom by thinking outside the cereal box. Consider eating lunch, dinner or snack foods, or serving your child's favorite foods in fun, new ways.
Three examples include:
Pita Pizza Faces, two versions, a boy and a girl.
Ricotta Fruit Dip, fresh fruit arranged in a rainbow shape with dip positioned as the "pot o' gold."
Easy to Please Breakfast Yogurt Parfaits, served in cake ice-cream cones, placed in muffin tin for stability.
A Peanut Butter Banana Crunch Yogurt Parfait is also a quick and easy recipe that makes the grade.
Recipe:
Peanut Butter Banana Crunch Yogurt Parfait
Servings 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup nonfat light vanilla yogurt
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- 4 pretzel twists, crumbled (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 small banana, sliced
Preparation:
1. In a small bowl, mix yogurt and peanut butter together.
2. In a separate bowl, toss walnuts and pretzels together.
3. In a tall glass, begin to build parfait. Layer a ½ cup yogurt, ½ of banana slices and 1 tablespoon of walnut/pretzel mixture. Repeat layers. Serve immediately.
Take Advantage of School Breakfast
On those days when kids are late out of the gate, school breakfasts are a cost-effective, nutritious and convenient option, and supply ¼ of the Recommended Daily Allowances of nutrients that a child needs. This year, the Midwest Dairy Council is challenging all schools to make breakfast a top priority, through a partnership with the Illinois No Kid Hungry Campaign and the Illinois State Board of Education that offers awards to schools with the largest percentage increases in school breakfast participation.
More recipe ideas:
www.dairymakessense.com