Quick And Nutritious Breakfast Tips
For Warm-Weather Mornings
(NAPS)—Summertime tends to conjure up images of lazy days spent relaxing on the beach. In reality, the warmer months can be just as busy and hectic as the school year. Whether it’s rushing to get the kids ready for camp or making sure they’re not late for swimming lessons, hectic morning schedules have a tendency to take over the household.
“No matter how crazy the mornings become, starting the day off right with a nutritious breakfast is one habit that shouldn’t be compromised. It’s a must for everyone in the family,” said Registered Dietitian Cathy Clark-Reyes. “This is especially important to remember during the warmer months when days are more active and you’re using up extra energy.”
Keeping tight schedules in mind, Clark-Reyes offers some simple tips to ensure that everyone in the family fits in a healthy breakfast before running out the door.
• Dress Up an Easy Favorite: Breakfast can be quick and easy, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Fill small bowls with seasonal fruits like berries, sliced peaches and bananas, as well as nuts and brown sugar. Have each family member customize his or her bowl of hot or cold cereal with these delicious toppings for a wholesome and flavorful breakfast.
• Do Some Summer Homework That’s Fun: If your mornings tend to be hectic, make breakfast the night before. Try a quick muffin recipe or prepare a muesli mix before heading to bed. Once you wake up, these tasty and nutritious options will be easy to grab during a busy morning.
• Pack it Up: If sitting down for a healthy bowl of oatmeal or cold cereal is not an option, look for a convenient alternative that delivers the same nutritional benefits. Quaker Oatmeal to Go bars are a great choice and can be eaten right out of the package while you’re in transit. They provide all the nutrition and whole grain goodness of instant oatmeal in a handheld form.
“Breakfast is important for both adults and kids, so experiment with convenient products and time-saving methods to find out what works best for you and your family,” said Clark-Reyes.
Here’s a delicious, healthy summer breakfast idea that you can prepare the night before:
Fruitful Morning Muesli
2 cups QUAKER® Oats (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked)
2 cups apple juice or apricot nectar
11/2 cups sliced fresh fruit (any combination of bananas, peaches, nectarines or strawberries)
1 8-ounce carton vanilla low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped nuts (optional)
Combine all ingredients except nuts; mix well. Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Serve cold; sprinkle with nuts, if desired. Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 4 days.
For more great-tasting recipe ideas and nutritious eating tips, visit www.quakeroatmeal.com.
Childhood is Calling
(NAPS)—In an effort to help their kids get ahead in life, parents are filling their child’s day with cello lessons, soccer practice and play dates. But is this really helping them? Or are they missing the joys of childhood while rushing from one activity to another?
To help parents celebrate their kids’ childhood, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal has released the Childhood Is Calling: Celebrating Kids Just Being Kids report, offering expert advice and real-mom insight on the importance of letting kids just be kids and advice for families to find those simple moments of joy and connection.
Parenting experts say that moms and dads can help their kids enjoy the magic of childhood with a few simple pointers:
• Find time for fun. Making playtime part of your routine builds relationships with kids and helps them learn important skills, such as the ability to be compassionate and the capacity to solve problems. “Activities can be great, but don’t let them keep your kids from having time for free, unscheduled play,” says Susan Oliver, play expert.
• Share what you love. Sharing passions builds parent-child connections and creates lasting memories. “Let kids join you when you do the things you love to do,” says Dr. Lawrence Cohen, author of Playful Parenting. “They will catch the contagious enthusiasm you feel about it.”
• Dad’s little helper. “Offer kids ‘employment opportunities,’ ” says Donna Erickson, author of Fabulous Funstuff for Families and host of PBS’s Donna’s Day, a TV series designed to help parents and kids rediscover the simple joys of spending time together. “Kids can help dad dig up dandelions in the lawn, pick up pinecones, fill the bird feeder and crush aluminum cans. Have fun working together as your relationship grows.”
• Memories in the making. Grandparents may have more time and energy for certain activities and crafts than parents do. “They can work on a project together that spans days, weeks or months, like making a family quilt, painting a room, painting a picture or sewing something,” says Bonnie Ulman, co-author of Trillion Dollar Mom$.
The Childhood Is Calling report was developed through Rice Krispies’ Operation Spark, an educational initiative from Rice Krispies cereal devoted to providing parents with simple ways to meaningfully connect with their kids. To access this report and additional simple tips for savoring the magic of childhood, visit www.ChildhoodIsCalling.com.
Let kids join you when you do things you love to do.
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