Ok moms I am quickly running out of ideas! I provide a light breakfast for the children at church. Every Sunday I try to bring in a healthy food for the children who did not eat breakfast. I have tried monkey bread, muffins, banana bread, beakfast burittos, and fruit. I need help coming up with some more quick ideas to have for the children that would be healthy and not really messy. The plan is also to not cost alot of money (we are on a very limited budget).
These children range from 3 years old to teenagers.
Try scrambled eggs with whatever add-ins in a pita pocket. What about fruit kabobs? Just find something not sharp to put it on like straws.
There is nothing wrong with repeating something that the kids liked. It doesn't have to be new each week.
You could do breakfast bars (bulk section at Winco), muffins, bread with jam and butter, or make a batch of scones with jam and butter. If you want more protein, you could do like a trail mix that has dried fruit, and nuts and raisins....all in the bulk section at Winco. You could also do the little pre-packaged cereal bowls (Costco). Good luck to you! I think it's wonderful what you are doing...just keep it simple.:-)
You could try graham crackers w/peanut butter (break a sheet in half and put PB between the pieces). I know this may bring up concerns about allergies so you may want to take an allergy survey when the kiddos are checked in with the parents. Bagels are also really good and generally relatively inexpensive. You could do a fruit flavored bagel (half or quartered) with cream cheese and some fruit or ham lunch meat cut into pieces. If you use Nuefshatel cheese (sold with the cream cheeses) it has 1/3 less fat and about 30 fewer calories per serving than reg. cream cheese. Also, there's a really great website with easy cheap stuff. www.hillbillyhousewife.com
My kids love Peanut Butter Pancakes. I microwave some peanut butter and put it directly in the pancake mix. Mix it up well, no need to oil the pan. Serve with Jelly and roll up.
Another favorite, we take to pot lucks, Pizza biscuits. Make pizza dough and put bits of it in a muffin tin, then put in pizza sauce, cheese and favorite pizza toppings. Sausage would be a good breakfast one. Then bake them at 350. The pizza dough rises and encloses some of the toppings, they are more like a biscuit than pizza. Easy to eat with hands and not very messy.
I hope these unorthedox ideas help!
What about little cups of almonds, raisins, and cereal pieces (granola clusters). Finger food. The kids won't get messy, but they get protein from the nuts. Easy to adapt the size for younger and older kids.
Mini quiche- either get a large box from Cosco or make your own in mini muffin cups. Forgo a crust and use bisquick
You could bake breakfast "cookies". I'm sure there are recipes online, but my favorite is a wonderful oatmeal cookie recipe that I change a bit. Reduce the sugar by 1/2, the butter by 1/3, and add peanut or almond butter, raisins, and craisins. You could also add nuts to increase the protein. The whole family loves them!
What about a breakfast casserole? You could have everything prepared the night before and then it just needs a few minutes in the oven the morning of, or bake it the night before and reheat in microwave the next morning. I do this all the time...I usually make a large casserole and then put it into individual containers for my SO who can then grab one to go in the morning for at work (he has to be in early).
You could also do cereal...you can still get those little boxes of cereal (variety of flavors) at the store. Yogurt and granola, egg scramble w/sausage or bacon and veggies, waffle sticks (we have a waffle stick maker and little dipping cups but you could use a regular waffle maker and cut them), bagels and flavored cream cheeses (strawberry, blueberry, etc) or cream cheese and jelly (my son's favorite). I would be careful of food allergies, make sure you know if anyone has a peanut allergy before you serve peanut anything (and don't trust the younger ones to tell you...my son tells everyone he is big enough to eat peanuts). SUPER CHEAP - Cinnamon Toast: regular bread toasted, with butter...sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon...I use to eat this as a kid allll the time. SUPER CHEAP - Rice cereal: Regular white rice heated, pour milk over it, add brown sugar and cinnamon. And of course you could always do straight Oatmeal...which is always a super healthy way to go and can give them much needed energy and sustain them until lunch or snack time.
Good luck...we are forever having the same problem in our house...I don't envy anyone who has to do it for a lot of children.
Gogurt....yougurt in tubes. My son takes grabs one as he goes out the door to school every morning for his mid morning break. They come in various flavors. Costco, a box of 24 or 36 (I can't remember sorry) for about $7.
You could always ask the kids what they want to eat and see if they would take turns bringing their favorite item one Sunday. You could rotate it around through the kids and they have to bring enough for everyone to have one of their item. You could make a monthly menu and send it with them so they don't forget and it will let their parents know too.
You might also be able to find out if someone is allergic to a specific thing as well like nuts, milk, of cinnamon and can avoid a potential problem there. One thing my neighbor used to eat were the banana oatmeal cookies I would make, if you want the recipe let me know.
You could try eggs they are cheap and so are pancakes
How about a toasted cheese sandwich, fruit and cheese, American or cottage, oatmeal cookie using less sugar and fat. You can substitue applesauce for most of the fat. Include a glass of milk. Graham crackers are good and inexpensive. You could use chunks of meat leftover from dinner in a tortilla. Melt cheese on a tortilla.
You may have mothers who are receiving food stamps who would be willing to be involved if only to provide some ingredients. Frequently my daughter was not able to use all of her allotment of milk. Also milk is frequently on sale. My daughter's sister bought extra then and froze it. The quality was still good.
Some restaurants as well as fast food places donate left over food. You might be able to create an acceptable breakfast from that.
Ask members of the congregation to donate food, ingredients or the whole thing. A club or organization may be willing to help with the breakfast as a community service project.
Crepes with apples? Breakfast casserole? Zuchini bread?
Hi J....I use ice cream cones and fill them with yogurt, scrambled eggs, cut-up fruit, spaghetti and hmbg., mac and cheese, etc.,etc.,If you don't like ready made cones because of the sugar, you can get neat pans that you can make your own cones with. I have a day care and they love them and I love...no dishes to wash!!!!!!
Good Luck,
C. M.Hamlin
Cave Junction,OR.
