5 Simple Breakfast Recipes for Children

Mornings are such a hectic time, and so much needs to be done. You need to plan the entire day, pack lunch, go for work, look after your kid’s schedule, etc. and the list is endless. Amidst so many different tasks and chores, do you and your family end up having cereals and jam sandwiches and butter toast, more often than not? How do you ensure your children have a healthy and filling breakfast, without you having to wake up at an insane hour to prepare it? Here are a few simple recipes that will make breakfast time a lot easier, quicker, and healthier for you.

1. Breakfast Bars

Breakfast bars are an easy and healthy option. You can make them days in advance and store them in the fridge for a week. You can have them as-is for a quick breakfast on the run, or dunk them in a bowl of milk. Make these over the weekend with your children and turn it into a fun activity. Ingredients •2 Cups Old-fashioned Rolled Oats •½ Cup Brown Sugar •1 tsp Baking Powder •½ tsp Baking Soda •½ tsp Cinnamon Powder •½ tsp Salt •2 Eggs (Optional) •½ Cup Milk •¼ Cup apple sauce or banana puree or peanut butter •¼ Cup Walnuts •¼ Cup Dried Cranberries and raisins Instructions •Preheat oven to 175°C. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper hanging over the edge. You can also use any mold of your choice. There is no hard and fast rule. Just make sure that the bars are neither too thick nor too thin. •In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients, including the rolled oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. •In another large bowl, combine all the wet ingredients and mix together. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well. •Add the walnuts, cranberries, and raisins, and spread the mixture into the pan. •Bake in the oven until the edges are golden brown. This will take 30-35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. •Slice after it is completely cooled. Note The eggs are optional. You can substitute the eggs with 2 tbsp of ground flax seeds soaked in 6 tbsp of water for 20 minutes. You can use any plant milk of your choice, such as almond milk, soy milk, etc. You can add any dried fruits or berries that you prefer, such as raisins, almonds, blueberries, etc.

2. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats have become a very popular choice of breakfast. The reason for this is that they are healthy, versatile, and involve no cooking. As the name suggests, you can make them overnight. All you need to do is take them out of the refrigerator and eat. Ingredients •4 tbsp Old-fashioned Oats or Quick Cooking Oats •1 tbsp Chia seeds •1 tbsp Peanut Butter (Smooth or Chunky) •1 tsp honey or Maple Syrup •1 tsp Cinnamon Powder •½ Cup Milk (or more if needed) Instructions Mix all of the above ingredients and leave in the fridge overnight. You can add mashed banana or applesauce or strawberry jam or blackberry jam, as per your taste. Check the consistency in the morning before eating. Add milk to get the consistency of your choice. Top with fruits of your choice such as mangoes, strawberries, bananas, peaches, chikoo, kiwi, etc. Add walnuts, almonds, raisins, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, granola, and whatever else you may prefer. Note The best part about overnight oats is you can add flavors of your choice. If your child is fond of chocolate, add some cocoa powder and drinking chocolate to his oats while soaking them. Top with chocolate chips to make them even more tempting. Oats are rich in fiber and are nutrient-dense. They will keep your child full for longer.

3. Vegetable Idli

This is a very popular yet easy recipe. You can do most of the prep night before, and all you need to do is sauté everything together in the morning. Ingredients •1 Cup Semolina/Suji •1 Cup curd •¼ tsp Eno •½ tsp salt •¼ Cup Water •1 tsp Mustard Seeds (Big) •1 tsp Mustard Seeds (Small) •2 Green chili split lengthwise •1 small Lettuce, cut into thin strips •2 finely grated Carrots •1 big Capsicum, cut into thin strips •2 tbsp oil of your choice Instructions •Roast the semolina till it turns fragrant. •Allow it to cool completely and add the curd and salt to it. •Mix it well, so there are no lumps. •Let it rests for 20 minutes ad add the water to it till you get a thick batter. •Add the Eno salt and mix gently. •Pour the batter into the greased idli mold and let it steam on a medium flame for 15 minutes. •Once done, remove the idlis from the mold and set aside. •In a wok, add oil and let it heat up. Add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add the green chilies and salt as per your taste. •Add the lettuce and sauté it for 2 mins. Add the capsicum and carrots and sauté a bit more, till the vegetables are done and still have a bite to them. •Cut each round idli into half or 1/4th pieces and add to the vegetables and give it a good stir. •Let this cook for a minute or two, and your healthy vegetable idli is ready. Notes This recipe may sound complicated, but it is actually not. I make the idlis a night prior and store them in the refrigerator. All the vegetables are also chopped and kept in the refrigerator. All you need to do the next morning is sauté everything together. It requires simple ingredients, which you are sure to have in your pantry. You can add any vegetables such as beans, onions, etc. Serve with green chutney and/ or ketchup.

4. Parfaits

Parfaits are a delicious and healthy breakfast and do not require much work or too many ingredients. They are a favorite with kids and adults. Ingredients •1 Cup Yogurt (Home-made or store-bought) •1 tbsp honey or maple syrup •Granola (Home-made or store-bought) •Chopped fruits of your choice such as mangoes, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, kiwi, etc. Instructions •Hang the yogurt in a strainer for a few hours. (2 hours if home-made, 1 hour if store-bought). This will drain out all the water and will give the yogurt a creamy consistency. •Once done, whip the yogurt with a spoon and add some honey or maple syrup. •Take your glass and layer with yogurt, granola, and fruits. •Drizzle with honey/ maple syrup. •Add dry fruits of your choice such as cranberries, walnuts, almonds, raisins, etc. Notes You can get flavored yogurt too. Add toppings such as crumbles cookies, choco chips, gems, etc., to make it more tempting for the children. This is another healthy breakfast option. You can hang the yogurt the previous day. All you need to do in the morning is layer it in glasses.

5. Avocado Toast

Simple and quick recipes are the order of the day, and if they are healthy too, then there is nothing like it. This is one such recipe. Ingredients •1 Avocado •½ Onion, chopped •1 Tomato, chopped •3 cloves Garlic, mashed •Lemon juice, as per taste •Salt, as per taste •Pepper, as per taste •Slices of bread for toast Instructions Mash the avocado with a fork. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Take your choice of bread- white, multigrain, sourdough, etc., and toast it. Spread the avocado mix and enjoy it. Note Avocados are expensive, but you also get an Indian variety. This is a very healthy breakfast option since avocados are high in essential fats, vitamins, and fiber. You can also slice the avocado and place it on the toast with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. The avocado mash (guacamole) can be prepared the night before. However, it tends to change color due to oxidization. To prevent this, after preparing the guacamole, keep the avocado seed in it, and keep in an airtight box. Some other easy and healthy breakfast options are smoothies and smoothie bowls. You can add a number of fruits and vegetables to your smoothies such as spinach, cucumber, avocado, apple, mango, berries, etc. The list is endless and depends entirely on you, the combination you would like. Add seeds, nuts, dried fruits, oats, and churn them in your mixer with a splash of milk or yogurt or coconut water or even orange juice, and you are good to go.

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