Please I need ideas for hearty, easy-to-eat breakfasts that take no time to prepare....

[TooTickyTheLittleRedHen]

Have decided car too much hassle on cold mornings but children need good fuel if they are to walk over a mile in the cold...

My dss (4.5 and 2.5) have Ready Brek with peanut butter and jam mixed in. They seem to like it and complain if given anything else.

oatso simple - porridge oats (ready measured!) in sachets, add a cup of milk and microwave for 2 mins. brilliant.

eggy bread!

Real porridge is very quick to do and yummy.You can add fruit or seeds to it to liven it up My ds likes banana and brown sugar

I'd second porridge, a big sppon of jam will make it more palatable. BTW what age are your dc's and is a mile not a little bit long for kids to walk to get to school on a cold morning?

not all children go for it but regular wholesome-type cereal (Weetaflakes, Oatibix, whatever you normally eat) with hot milk can win where porridge has failed.
Zap jug of milk in microwave and just slop over - microwaving whole bowl not as successful.

They are 10, 7, 5 and 1. They are used to walking, in fact dd2 (16mo) regularly jogs 5 miles
Seriously, I don't think it will do them any harm, and is much better for them than sitting in a freezing car and waiting for the engine not to start.
And I can, in fact, put the 2 youngest in the buggy if necessary.

pancakes

make batter night before

they will eat them as quick as you can cook them

You have a 16mo who jogs 5 miles

Okay, maybe not, but all my dcs have been capable of 3 miles in a day from the age of 3. We've been a bit lazy since I've been driving but have resolved to improve.

nigellas american pancakes

do mixture the night before
mine had htat this morning

don't get me wrong I am all for lots of exercise for kids, it just seems a long walk first thing, how long does it take you?

oh yes those pancakes
top with honey or nutella and the mix lasts covered with clingfilm in the fridge for three or four days
Only way I can get any form of eggery down ds2

Well, oats are popular. Good for energy too. I tend only to make porridge at weekends though...hmm.

i'm v impressed with your kid's walking

recently had baby so ds (aged 3.5) is evicted from stroller and i'm determined to make him walk...i'm going to start a thread for your top tips!! please post on it!!

About half an hour (allowing for small legs and it's nearly all uphill). Can do most of it through fields though.
What's different about an American pancake then?

If you buy the quick cook porridge oats they only take 1-2 min on the stove once the milks boiled. Lovely if you add chopped walnuts and dates, or raisins , apricots etc.

Since having porridge for breakfast I've stopped snacking mid-morn as they really do provide slow release energy.

nothing wrong with walking just over a mile IMO. dd1 old school was around a mile away. she used to moan if i took the car lol.

but yes, lots of porraige is good. mine wont touch it though. they have between 1-4 slices of toast.

Mine like Oats-so-Simple too... .. or do I hear the clang of handcuffs and the MN food police swoop...?

Even real porridge is too difficult when you don't have time stand and stir it

i make mine whilst drinking a cup of tea, once its ready and far to hot to eat, i nip to the shower, its perfect temp then lol.

I do real porridge in the microwave - no need to stand and stir! And no sticky pan to wash either. Two or three one minute zaps punctuated with a quick stir - dead easy! Chopped dried apricots make it sweet enough for Augustus Gloop. Or maple syrup.

another vote for nigella's american pancakes here - tooticky they are the puffed up ones a bit like the scotch pancakes you buy in packets. Mine love them with maple or golden syrup or nutella.
Porridge
Cheese on toast.
Mug of hot chocolate (made with milk)

porridge is best IMO with honey or whatever you fancy mixed in. it's really filling and gives a good, slow energy release. DS eats this most mornings but is starting to get a bit bored lately so this morning he had scrambled eggs and ham on a toasted muffin - LOVED it. It didn't take all that long to knock together either.

Beans on toast?