It's a healthy breakfast thread!

[fuzzpig]

Really determined to finally ditch (or at least reduce) the cereal. The DCs only like really sugary/chocolatey stuff

I'm thinking of switching to cereal only at weekends.

DD (7) is fairly easy going and loves eggs, but DS (nearly 5) won't eat them. Well, he will eat a little bit, but only with dramatic sighs and eye rolling and I don't think it's worth the stress in the mornings.

He likes cheese on toast - decent wholemeal bread with seeds with either Red Leicester or cheddar. That's better than cereal right?

Not sure what else to do really. Neither will eat porridge no matter how I do it.

I like the idea of fruity pancakes and stuff but is that actually any better in terms of sugar?

[Logarhythm]

Lildottie the other thing that helps with digestive issues is swapping to sourdough, I did grow my own yeast culture for a while but I wasn't committed enough and lost interest, the dcs weren't hugely convinced either which didn't help.

I think you have to do the best you can given your limitations - which might be time, money or fussy dcs. Just shake things up a bit....maybe just a weekends if that's all you can do.

I'm going to try overnight oats too, dcs like to choose from double cream (I have very skinny kids), maple syrup, berries, stewed apple, banana, plump Californian sultanas from Waitrose - the only ones they like, peaches, cinnamon, jam - I know not great but always better than processed cereal!

[lildottie]

thanks guys. no dcs not for lack of trying to limit me and I work from home so can give the time to it if I put my mind to it and get organised log so may try giving it a go and see how I get on. do you ever freeze the rolls? I'm just wondering if I could do a batch at the weekend and freeze some as we don't eat all that much bread with it being just the 2of us.

think I may give apricots a try in the oats when I next go shopping. and stewed apple sounds good. I like the idea if pear too snotty. got loads of rhubarb we picked from the garden so I think I'll stew that for tomorrow nights pot. I thought about putting lemon with the blueberry but don't have any in atm. ooh maybe poppy seeds too....I'm unconsciously trying to take inspiration from muffins! it doesn't bode well does it!

[Logarhythm]

Yep I freeze the rolls and that works out really well, 20 secs in the microwave or maybe 30mins sitting on the worktop. The loaves don't freeze as well, they don't have the same robustness as shop bought bread.

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

I did the overnight oats last night with the posted recipe (1/3c oats, 1/3 c milk, 1/3 c yoghurt), grated in an apple, added about 1/2c frozen raspberries, a tabkespoon of sunflowers seeds.

It was bloody gorgeous. Blended it til smooth and DD gobbled it down. DS is now having banana, peanut butter and almond milk smoothie most mornings with his breakfast

[Surfsup1]

Chia Pudding would be another good option in a similar vein to overnight oats.

[lildottie]

ooh what's that surf?

[Surfsup1]

Basically chia seeds soaked in milk overnight. Lots of variations on the theme - google it!

[ppeatfruit]

I add linseeds to my breakfast smoothie and on the next morning I add pumpkin seeds, I haven't tried chia seeds do they go a bit jelly like linseeds surfs ?

[Surfsup1]

They do if you soak them overnight.

[ppeatfruit]

Thanks, do they contain similar health giving properties?

[Surfsup1]

Hmm, well as far as I know, the only real health benefits of oats are that they are high in fibre and may reduce cholesterol (if that's of concern to you).
Chia seeds have lots of soluble fibre which is great for feeding your gut flora, they're also a good source of plant-based Omega 3 (although humans are pretty bad at absorbing plant based Omega 3 ALA). Chia seeds are high in calcium and phosphorous, they're high in protein so you stay feeling full for longer and their glutenous coating (although they're gluten free) can apparently help stabilise blood sugar level.

They're good to add to your oats anyway! Similar to flax seeds in many ways except you really have to grind flax seeds whereas you can eat chia seeds whole.

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

Ugh had braces fitted two days ago so it's smoothie heaven in my house - trying to concoct a decent filling smoothie that incorporates coffee, so far it is basically:

Oats soaked overnight in almond milk
Chia seeds
Coffee turned into ice cubes overnight

Then I've been adding either a frozen banana, dates soaked with the oats or almond butter.

Any other tantalizing breakfast (ie WITH COFFEE) smoothie ideas?

[ppeatfruit]

Thanks surfs I like putting the linseeds in my smoothie because of course they're ground (I always have a glass of filtered water with it to help digest the linseeds).

America's You could add linseeds or pumpkin seeds to your coffee smoothie! I like ground almonds which adds creaminess rather than the richness of almond butter.

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

Does your bog standard blender blend the almonds enough? I don't have anything fancy like a vitamix

[ppeatfruit]

I use a hand held blender they're the best IME and O (not much washing up). I usually start with ground almonds anyway.

[SnottySundays]

Mango chia pudding in the fridge for tomorrow's breakfast... I will report back!

[fuzzpig]

Wow great to see even more ideas! Have been away without much wifi so looking forward to catching up on the last few pages.

DCs didn't ask for cereal once - even when they saw little boxes of it on the side.

[Superworm]

Snotty how was the pudding?

[CharlotteCollins]

Superworm...snotty...pudding.

Just as well it's not breakfast time now - that's put me right off my food! :o

[Superworm]

Hopefully the chai seeds are not remotely snot like

[SnottySundays]

it wasn't snotty...

Quite nice really, for me and my daughter I used 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1/2 cup yoghurt and about 3/4 cup milk, plus a whole smallish mango chopped up. Soaked overnight in the fridge. To be fair it probably would have fed 2 adults, not one adult and a toddler! Reminded me of tapioca pearls. Might have been a bit tasteless without the mango though.

[SnottySundays]

DD ate it in about 3 seconds flat...

[Surfsup1]

Yep - it's defo a vehicle for other flavours - not something to eat plain. Vanilla, banana and cinnamon is a fav around here.

[YellowYoYoYam]

Just wanted to come on and say thanks for the Bircher muesli recommendations. Have now had it every morning for a week and we've loved it. I made it with oats, yoghurt, milk, apple juice, grated apples, raisins, cinnamon and then raspberries, strawberries or blueberries sprinkled on top. DD is going through a phase of only wanting to eat fruit, so there's enough fruit in there to convince her to use a spoon and manage to eat some oats too (she's 21 months).

[LS24]

YellowYoYoYam - how do you make that bircher museli? It sounds yum. thank you.