Healthy Breakfast and Lunch Ideas - Minneapolis,MN

After I had my first son for breakfast I always ate scrambled eggs or scrambled tofu with A. organic corn tortilla. I know you don't have time to chop veggies but I used to throw some already chopped mushrooms or a piece of cheese in there and throw some salsa on top. Delicious and quick. Sometimes I would have a protein shake or a healthy breakfast drink/shake with no trans fat on mornings when preparing a quick bite was not A. option. Yogurt and granola with some frozen fruit is another option.
For lunch flour tortilla wraps work well and are fast and delicious with some healthy salad dressing. I used to buy roast beef and some cheese put it in the wrap then microwave for a few seconds and then add some lettuce, tomato and ranch or blue cheese, or Italian dressing. The only clean up is the plate you used to eat off of.
I put my son in a bjorn or in the moby so I could make myself something to eat. At that age he slept constantly so I could do stuff like eat and shower. Now that he is a year and sleep is his enemy that doesn't happen anymore. Good luck to you!

Greek style plain yoghurt with granola, diced apples and honey.
Brown rice in a bowl with whatever veggies and cheddar cheese melted on top.
Muffaletta style sandwich: olive tapenade, feta cheese, a few greens and whatever leftover protein, heated up in a pan

I can recommend a healthy meal replacement shake that is going to give you the energy, nutrition and even help you with weight loss. Check it out at www.myshakeology.com/kristijean

S., that is exactly how moms lose their baby fat...they are too busy to eat! (Just kidding...kind of.) Anyways, buy a big pack of raw almonds (protein). I keep them in my car for those days when I am driving my kids all over the place. I love hummus with baby carrots, celery, pita chips, etc. How about peanut butter on toast (whole grain, of course) for the morning-quick and satisfying. String cheese is also a kid food that I have started eating. I never ate yogurt before being a mom, but I found that is was a very fast breakfast, that I could eat in minutes, (even in the car, if necessary) with virtually no clean up. Also, it can stay in the fridge for a while without spoiling. Have your water bottles filled in the refrigerator/car/etc. ready to go to make sure you drink lots of water. Good luck!!

Sometimes, I'll hard boil some eggs and leave them in a bowl in the fridge and eat them for breakfast/snacks for the next few days. Have that with an English muffin and some fresh fruit, yogurt or a cheesestick and you are good to go.

Make whole wheat zucchini or blueberry muffins and eat them for a few days for a quick snack.

If you are nursing, the protein boost will help tremendously! And if you do nurse, you can eat while the baby is eating.

I also like oatmeal, with fresh fruit on top. Anything quick and easy that has some protein in it with some carbs to help absorb it at a good rate is great.

For lunch, wheat sandwich with lettuce, tomato, meat, cheese... tomato soup with grilled cheese and an avacado with a little bit of salt and pepper on it. Or a quick salad with grilled chicken, veggies and a small amount of dressing. Cook chicken the night before you you can use it the next day for lunch.

Here's a good website with lots of easy/healthy ideas:
http://www.parentsconnect.com/recipes/index.jhtml

Congrats on the new baby! When I was home with mine, I got into a routine of waking up and staying in my pajamas and then right before the baby was going to need to breastfeed again, I would toast an English muffin and top it with peanut butter, honey and sliced bananas, and pour a glass of orange juice and put it on the side table next to our chaise lounge chair. Then I'd settle in with the boppy and the babe and once he was set nursing, I'd turn on Ellen and chow down with my free hand. The honey would sometimes drip, but we're both washable so it was fine. ;) Yogurt is easy on the go too. As for lunch, I don't remember what I ate. Probably leftovers from the night before.

The healthiest "fast" food I have found (and I love it so much I have it every day) is Shaklee's Cinch shakes. High in protein and fiber and vitamins - a true meal replacement. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or latte. If you are nursing, you don't have to worry - there are no artificial sweeteners or colors or anything. Sometimes I add frozen fruit and put it in the Magic Bullet or blender.

You can order online here and have it delivered to your house: http://K..myshaklee.com

I remember those days. I buy a lot of things that I can eat fairly quickly and are healthy choices. It keeps me from snacking on junk.

I keep instant oatmeal on hand in various flavors - it's high fiber and very filling. They even have the "Women's health" version that has more things women need in it. I also keep various flavors of yogurt on hand or you can buy a big size Plain or Vanilla and add your own fruit (frozen blueberries, strawberries, etc are great for this) I also keep fresh apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, and when the weather is right cut up some watermelon and have it in the fridge. I know it's not for everyone but I like Breakstones Cottage cheese - you can eat it alone, or with fruit in it. It's a great high protein food. Cereal is always a fast and easy meal, TONS of healthy choices in cereals. I also buy a few of the South Beach Diet meal bars.. they have high protein and vitamins and come in a variety of flavors.

You might also just look at the frozen dinners for some fast and easy lunches.

I assume you meant not able to prepare the meals, versus eat them - :-))Anyway, youou could buy the Quaker oatmeal packets add warm water, milk and make oatmeal. Buy the salad packets and whatever ready made additions you like (carrots, raisins, etc) and add your dressing. They have the juices in the stores that are natural, you could try those for starters. Fruits, waffles, whole wheat breads and so forth - make powerpack sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch. Hope that helps

I totally get this! I was a single mom for 3.5 years and went to school and worked full time. I really into healthy living, especially healthy food!! I have food allergies and have to eat very healthy to stay functioning. I learnd to start look at food like fuel. Bad food Bad fuel, things don't run right!

first thing I suggest is wheat and whole grain! I use whole grain everything ; bread, pasta, cooking flour, and rice! if it comes in whole grain I use it. this one change helped a lot. Sugar free jellys and natural peanut butter. For breakfast I will eat a PB and J. it has protien to help sustain and give energy and sugar free jelly tasts way better. Toaster waffles are great they come in whole grain now too so thats something. cereals that are 8 grams or less in sugar and healthy. instant oatmeal thats another great breakfast thing. All of these things do take time but no more then the time it takes to make your coffee or tea in the morning.

for lunch. Leftovers from a healthy dinner is great! or just ask yourself is there one of everything here. meat starch veggie.

try to stay away from box foods. yes they are easy but they are not healthy. other then that start finding ways make things easier.

Good luck!

A few ideas:
- Microwave-bake potatoes and add a drizzle of yogurt or salad dressing
- Wash and cut a variety of fruits and store in a tupperware in the fridge - then you have fresh fruit available for snacking throughout the day. Add a bit of yogurt and granola to dress it up.

and for the pantry: Trader Joe's cereal/fruit bars (the ones with the funny names like "This Apple walks into a bar") are something I wish I had known about when my girls were infants - no artificial colors or sweeteners, surprisingly filling when eaten with a glass of water, and can be easily eaten one-handed.

Breakfast ideas:

1.Fruit Parfait (Fruit, yogurt, and granola)
2.Whole grain muffins (you can make them the night before)
3.Egg-in-toast (Cut a whole in a piece of bread with a round cookie cutter (or a cup) melt some butter in a skillet, put piece of bread in in skillet and then crack a egg into the whole that you cut. Cook like you would for an easy over egg, flip when half way cooked)

Quick Breakfast Burritos

4 slices Thick Cut, Peppered Bacon
4 whole Eggs
4 Tablespoons Water
1 cup Salsa, Whatever Kind You Like Best
4 whole Mutigrain/whole Wheat Tortillas
½ cups Mexican-style Shredded Cheese

Preparation Instructions:

Start by preheating a pan over medium heat. While the pan is heating up, dice the bacon into fairly small pieces. As the bacon is cooking, crack the eggs in a bowl and add some salt and the water. Beat those together and set the bowl aside. Once the bacon is done cooking, drain off most of the fat and put the bacon aside on a paper towel to drain. Add the eggs to the pan and cook until they’re almost done, but not too hard. Next, dump in the salsa, cheese, cooked bacon. Turn off the heat and let everything come together. Spoon the cooked mixture into the tortillas, fold and serve!

Lunch Ideas:

Chicken or egg salad on whole grain bread, tortilla or pita
Taco salad