We eat at home most of the time — to save money mainly, but also so we can make sure we make healthy choices. The kids (and us, too, at times) do get tired of the same, old, same old for b-fast and lunch (our dinners are pretty varied – I always try to include 3-4 new recipes each week). Here are some tips we use to help jazz up the first two meals of our day:
- We mix cereals. This may sound silly and simple, but since we normally stock in our pantry 5-7 different types of cereal all the time (this began during my 1st pregnancy and never went away), we’ve found that different combos taste, well, different, and some become top favorites with the kids (like the one from today: regular Cheerios, Rice Krispies, and Kashi Original Heart 2 Heart). The kids like to help mix the cereals themselves before adding the milk!
- At least once a week, we try to make home-baked SOMETHING in the morning — whether it’s waffles with cinnamon apples on top, blueberry muffins, Ken’s famous fried eggs, or buttermilk pancakes. This usually works best on weekends, although sometimes we’ll switch things up a bit and serve up something special on a Monday!
- Sometimes, just sometimes, we let the kids eat on TV trays while watching Curious George, the cartoon they watch in the mornings. (This is a BIG treat and they know it.)
- We LOVE Chik-fil-a, but again, it’s a treat to eat out for us. BUT, when we do go, we purposefully ask for a few extra sauce packets (especially the Honey Roasted BBQ) to store away. When I serve the kids soy chicken nuggets and give them “Chik-fil-a sauce” with them, they don’t even bat an eye.
- We eat outside! Though we’re in the dog days of summer, if the kids have been in the sprinkler or if we’re having an unusually cool morning, I’ll bring lunch out and we’ll all eat on the picnic table. Food DOES taste better outside – and every time, the kids eat so much better when we do this.
- We match our ethnic cuisine to ethnic music. If I serve up quesadillas for everyone, we turn on some Latino music. If we eat Chinese, I cue up an Asian streaming radio station. When we have spaghetti or pizza, out comes my “Italy Favorites” CD (I do have one. Don’t laugh). It makes the meal!
- One idea I absolutely love but haven’t remembered to try yet is lunch in a muffin tin. This is brilliant and so much fun!
- And last but not least, when I have a few extra minutes in the kitchen, I make the plate a little bit silly. Besides just faces, you can create boats, airplanes, even the solar system (think circular foods). The possibilities are endless!
For other WFMW ideas today, head over to Rocks in My Dryer. And thanks for stopping by!
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Capturing Today (3 years ago)
Love the cute faces on the plates! My girls love to eat outside as well – we usually do this at lunchtime or on a nice cool morning.
Blogaroni and Dees (3 years ago)
how creative! thanks for sharing. i’m inspired now!
jennifer (3 years ago)
Those plates are soooooo cute.
Great tips , thanks.
Carol (3 years ago)
How creative are you!! Some really good tips in here!
Playful Professional (3 years ago)
I try to mix it up a little too with cooked breakfasts every once in a while. It makes them seem so much more special.
Heather (3 years ago)
I loved these tips! My hubby does the cereal thing. :) Those plates are so creative and cute. My daughter would love them. Thanks for sharing!
denise (3 years ago)
very cute!
Slacker Mom (3 years ago)
Oh I had completely forgotten about mixing cereals – we did that sometimes as a kid! Thanks!
Amy (3 years ago)
Love the music idea & the food faces!!
Suzanne (3 years ago)
These are great ideas! I’m definitely going to try some of these! I was just whining about not being able to eat out.