Ideas for protein at breakfast please

[PeterParkerSays]

but no eggs or peanut butter

I'm trying to make time in the morning for DS (4) and I to have a better breakfast at home - a neighbour takes him to school for me so he often has a bowl of cereal at home watching TV then a few crackers with butter or cheese spread at the neighbours. I'm just concerned that this isn't filling enough. As my breakfast is also crap (I had porridge this morning but at my desk when I'd got into work) I want to make time for us both to sit down and eat a decent breakfast together.

I like eggs and peanut butter so could have either with toast for breakfast, but DS won't eat either of them. From what I've read, spread cheese isn't high in protein, and ham isn't a great form of protein because it's so processed, plus he's only young so maybe needs more carbs than I do.

Before I tie myself in knots any more, can anyone suggest ideas for breakfast for a child which has some protein in? and if anyone knows how much protein to carbs he should be having, that'd be good to know to.

He has loads of milk and fruit, so otherwise has a healthy breakfast, it's just not very filling for either of us.

French toast (aka eggy bread) is a good way of eating eggs without knowing.

Fromage Frais and quark are a good source of protein (buy plain and stir in fruit, honey, muesli, etc)

Bacon, ham, sausage are ok but processed and quite high in salt/preservatives.

How about slices of hard cheese with nice bread/rolls like many European countries have for breakfast?

Fat American style pancakes (flour, butter, egg, milk) are quick to make and freeze individually, then pop in toaster or microwave at breakfast. Can also contain fruit (eg berries).

Why didn't I think of beans on toast? Duh!

Not keen on bacon as we'd both be dressed for the day and I don't want to go to work smelling of fried food, but I think you can bake it can't you? It makes it extra crispy. Maybe for a special treat.

I didn't know fromage frais had protein in it. Useful to know.

How about slice of cheese on oatcake to replace the second bit of his breakfast?

If he's having milk on his cereal then that's protein.

I give mine chicken slices alongside toast sometimes. Or a handful of nuts, or yoghurt etc.

Or could you replace the spread cheese with Philadelphia type cheese?

Can you improve the cereal he has if it's not very healthy?

Where have you read that cheese spread hasn't much protein? Dairylea has as much as eggs and about 2/3 that of chicken breast.

You can mix a smoothie up by liquidizing some cottage cheese up with berry fruits with greek yoghurt. Good cottage cheeses have a good amount of protein in them.

Greek yoghurt is usually high in protein. You can mix in some nuts and dried fruit too.

How about fishy options - smoked salmon mini bagel? mash smoked mackerel up with plain yog and spread on toast?

The other thing you could do is to put by a bit of the previous day's dinner for breakfast, to reheat.

Full fat Greek yogurt with homemade granola (just put the things he likes in it) and berries/seeds on top has loads of protein and is filling. It's what I have every day as I can't eat eggs first thing.

Protein breakfasts in our house are

• cheese on toast
• French toast
• bacon or sausage sandwich
• fish finger sandwich
• Danio (high protein yoghurt) and cereal
• scrambled egg and smoked salmon (if you mix the smoked salmon in, it tastes less eggy) with bagel
• baked beans on toast
• pancakes (bit of a faff to make this so its a weekend treat)

My DS2 (also egg refuser) has fish finger sandwiches or sardines on toast. Sometimes sausages.

Mine used to have instant mash with grated cheese.

Thanks ladies. DS will only have cheese grated on pasta so slices of cheese are out. I thought that spread cheese was low in fat because I was looking up websites on protein for breakfast - it said that only parmesan had a decent level of protein.

I'll have a look for high protein yoghurts as well, and introduce the idea of fish finger butties. He loves smoked fish as well so I'll have a think around smoked mackerel.

Tuna pate? Thats good on toast or Melba toast or oatcakes
Fruit loaf or teacakes toasted with cream cheese

Smoked makeral mashed with cream cheese is so nice on toast or oatcakes.
I know it seems strange but ig my kids fancy it they hsve lunch type things eg chicken sandwich then yoghurt with fruit.

All of those Greek yoghurt/ fromage frais/ quark type things have protein.

Cottage cheese with berries.

Smoked fish.

Humous. (on toast or with carrot sticks)