Toddler Breakfast - Halethorpe,MD

Hi, P.. I am also a working mother of two infants (16 mos & 4 weeks). When I am running behind schedule, I give one Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Cereal Bar to my 16-mos old son, which he loves. The cereal bar provides a nutritient blend of real fruit and whole grain which children love.

just to add to the pancake notes. I make mine on the weekends and freeze them. 30 seconds in the microwave and they are yummy. You could make different kinds every weekend and this could give variety to the eggo pancakes. I make banana, apple cinnamen (w/apple sauce) and yes, chocolate chip too. I also always add wheat germ to the mix.

P.,
I am sure you did not write expecting all of the judgement you are receiving. I am a single mom of a 20 month old, so I am not here to judge! I know how tough our job is and unless others are in our situation, they have no idea. As long as you know your child is safe, what you do is your business. As far as breakfasts, my daughter really loves what other have mentioned--waffles, pancakes, and nurtigrain bars if she is eating on the go. I will also put some scrambled eggs and cheese in a soft tortilla and roll it up. You can make them ahead and heat them in the microwave until barely warm. If eating at home, which I try my hardest to make happen most days, she loves alphabits and milk, oatmeal, pigs in a blanket. Superwalmart sells premade frozen scrambled egg patties that you can warm up and he can just pick up and bite on. Also, I make pb&j sandwiches (peter pan whipped pb is much easier for little ones to eat) and cut them in fun shapes with large cookie cutters (the pumpkin, heart, and butterfly are her current favs). She also loves the little yogurt smoothies they make for kids. Hope some of my ideas help a little. Good luck!

What about dry cereal like cheerios? They are little and easy to eat with hands...and fairly nutritious. You can also add raisins and stuff to the cereal for fruit and they are not as dangerous as grapes.

My son is 18 months old and he gets either a yogurt or oatmeal in the morning. It really only takes 30 seconds in the microwave for oatmeal. When he wakes up, I put it into the microwave, then change and dress him. By the time he's in the highchair the oatmeal is cool enough for him to eat. It takes less than 5 mins to feed it to him.

Won't daycare let him eat there? When I was working, I would give my son his sippy with milk in it for the ride there, then once we were there he ate breakfast (I was a nanny so he went with me)

We don't allow our son to eat anything in the car unless someone is sitting with him. The choking hazaard just isn't worth saving 5 mins before we leave home.

If you have no choice but to let him eat as you drive , then what about toast , toasted bagels , english muffins , croissant. My 18 month old loves all these things. Like the previous poster said , at this young age choking is still something you have to consider , so maybe apples are not the best choice for him in the car , the same for grapes aswell.

You sound like you are a very busy mommy , well done you (and any other single parents out their). You are doing a great job!

Happy Christmas

K.

There are lots of healthy muffin recipes out there. My fav right now is an apple raisin muffin. You can omit the raisins if you are afraid he might choke on them. I use agave nectar (1 cup) as a sugar sub a half whole wheat flour half all purpse to bulk up the healthiness. I make mini muffins because they are a great prtion size, freeze well, and are easy to thaw. It's basically P. Deen's recipe from her after school snacks show witht he modifications I listed above. It makes about 40 muffins and I'll bet your little guy would eat at least two per serving.

I don't think allowing a child, espaecially a toddle, to wat in a moving vehicle is at all safe nor is it a good habit. If you are going to do it no matter what, at least be sure you tear things up into small pieces and avoid hard foods like apples. Can't he eat at daycare? Or perhaps you can bring a high chair into your bedroom while you get ready in the morning?

I do not believe a 17 month old should be eating on his own in a car. I know its hard but really you need to make sure he gets soemthing before you get going. Many daycares will let themeat something there though so that might be an alternative. If you are determined to do it in the car, please do something soft he will not choke on that you cant pull over to save him.

I haven't read the other responses, so I may be repeating some here. My kids love granola bars, and I love them for in the car. We usually use them just in the car, and since I stay at home, that means on Sundays for breakfast and other days for snack. Some of the granola bars and other breakfast bars can get a bit messy, so if I give them those, I tend to break them in half so the kids have a smaller piece and have a wipe for hands ready. You can find a good variety, and you can get some that are very healthy and organic, or the average ones, but even those usually have a good amount of nutrients and vitamins.

It sounds like you might be looking for something a little more elaborate or healthy buy my son has loved Nutrigrain Breakfast bars since long before he was your son's age. Good luck!

Smoothie:
1C cold milk,
1 cut up frozen ripe banana
2 Tbs peanut butter
in a blender until smooth

Baby Trail Mix:
Whole grain cereal (o's or something else whole grain)
Raisins &/or Dried Cranberries
Banana Chips
Sunflower Seeds or another small seed/nut (if no allergies)
Mix up a big batch and bring a bag full w/ you when you go!

Good luck!
S.

Whole grain French toast, pancakes and waffles. Aunt Jamima pancakes and French toast are great and we get Trader joes waffles. Also cherrios and fruit with a milk cup. Clif has awesome z bars for kids that we love. Hope this helps

My son LOVES smoothies. I know it doesn't sound like a good breakfast for the car, but we do it all the time. Even when he was your son's age. I just put the smoothie in the First Years Take and Toss straw cups. It is very difficult for my son to get the lid off (he did eventually learn how, but he has to use his teeth to get it off and it takes him a really long time, so I notice it and can say something before it's off.) Also, I find they don't spill easily, especially with the smoothies because they're thick.

I don't have a recipe as I just eye-ball everything, but below is an estimation of what I use:
1/2 - 3/4 cup apple juice
1 banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3/4 cup plain yogurt
handful of spinach
1 Tablespoon wheat germ
Blend all in blender

Depending on how accurate my guess on measurements is, this should make about 3 of the take and toss cups. My son usually drinks 2 and I drink the other. I know it sounds wierd to put spinach in it, but you can hardly tell it's there and my son truly loves them, even with the spinach. He asks me for smoothies all day long. It's really easy and very healthy. Hope you enjoy it.

I don't love having my kids eat in the car either, but occasionally life gets crazy and you do have to let them have something. I buy cereal bars from Whole Foods by the case, which gives you a 10% discount and keep a couple of boxes of them in the car for emergency breakfasts or snacks. Maybe he could even take one into daycare with him and eat it there instead of in the car. You could also try making a smoothie with fruit and yogurt or milk which is very nutritious and he could drink it from a straw-type sippy cup in the car.

Is there any way you could get him up a little earlier so he could sit in his high chair and eat breakfast? You can still get ready in the morning with him in his chair and you will then have a multitude of choices for breakfast and your child will not feel rushed every morning eating in the car. What better way to eat breakfast than watching mommy get ready? He'll be learning as he watches you.
If you have a hard time waking him in the morning, try putting him to sleep earlier.
In addition, what if he chokes while strapped in the carseat and you are not in a position to pull over and help him? You'll panic and could possibly cause an accident.

what about nutragrain bars or you can get muffin mix for under a 1.00 and make 6 muffins and you both can have one and it will last for 3 days.

I give my kids nutrigrain snack bars when we're in a hurry.

Hi. First. I do agree with he others that letting him in the car is not the best idea. If the daycare won't allow him to eat there, you may want to consider another place. Second. If it is a must the following are nutrious, easy and safe and quick on the go type things: Gerber graduates breakfast bars, Gerber Graduates granola bars ( they are not really hard). Giant and Trader Joe's sells apple sauce in a tube. As long as he can grasp it in his fist it will work. Side note Giant's taste better. In the baby aisle they have a drink called Good morning. It's made by Beech Nut and is kinda like a smoothie. It's thick enough to be filling but thin enough for use in a sippy cup. Cut up Strawberries and bananas, both are mushy, so choking should not be a problem; although messiness may be lol. That's all I can think of right now. Hope this helps!