I could not have found a more appropriate quote to start this breakfast post, don’t you think…
Every day should start with a nutritious breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day.
I was rather surprised to find out many babies and toddlers are not having this meal at all. Breakfast is a great way to give the body the refuelling it needs, after going through the night without food. Children who eat breakfast tend to eat healthier overall and are more likely to participate in physical activities.
Something you might not be thinking of just yet, if you have a baby under one or a toddler, is that healthy breakfasts may boost children’s attention span, concentration, and memory — which they need to learn in school. Wholegrain bread or cereal, fruit, milk, yoghurt, or eggs are good breakfast options.
Not everyone can wake up and think about breakfast you are going to prepare for your baby or toddler. I have a porridge with fruit every morning, which I’m not getting bored of, but I know what the reply of a toddler may be after three days of porridge – “I don’t like that”. Well, you need some ideas to make breakfast more exciting.
I was hoping to share one great recipe with you, but I thought the week has seven days, so here are seven different ideas of what your breakfast could be…
Monday
oat porridge with raisins or frozen blueberries or dried fruit, yoghurt
Tuesday
mashed avocado on wholemeal toast and fruit and nut smoothie (banana, almond for example)
Wednesday
egg muffins with veggies like spinach or kale, fresh berries
Thursday
carrot oatcakes, fresh fruit like apple or pear, yoghurt
Friday
porridge (millet or amaranth) with fresh fruit like mango or papaya
Saturday
homemade muesli (oats, dried apricots, raisins, grated apple, ground almonds) with milk or yoghurt or freshly squeezed orange juice
Sunday
egg and banana pancakes, topped with fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries for example)
All those breakfast ideas are great to try with toddlers, some may be good for older babies, depending on which ingredients you choose and the consistency. Don’t forget a cup of water!
Some breakfasts can be prepared the night before, like the muesli, you can also make a bigger batch of pancakes or waffles and keep them in the freezer. Handy if you don’t have a lot of time in the morning.
What’s your favourite breakfast? Please share in comments.
“One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
Marta
Newborn Care Specialist
Maternity and Sleep Practitioner
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