Nothing helps you understand just how food effects your body better than living with someone who’s body doesn’t work quite like it should.  Jacob’s diabetes has taught us a lot about the relationship your body has with food and how good food can help your body perform at it’s best.

One thing that we have struggled with from the very beginning with Jacob’s diabetes was breakfast!  Before his diagnosis we usually started our day with “healthy” cereal with milk, a banana and a small glass of orange juice.  This breakfast is loaded with carbohydrates and has little to no protein.

Here is my take on carbs…Our bodies need and use carbs for energy.  Simple carbs break down faster than complex ones.  That’s why a sugary cereal or a waffle with syrup leave you feeling good at first, but you have a major crash after a short period of time.  Something like steel cut oats will sustain you longer, but you may still feel hungry before your next meal.

So what do you feed your kids, or you for that matter, for breakfast to start your day out right?

A good mix of what I like to call healthy carbs and protein is best.  Also, skip the juice!  It is always best to eat you fruit, not drink it!

So this did not happen overnight, but I was able to transform our breakfast routine and kick the cereal habit!  A lot of our favorite recipes can be made up ahead of time, too.  So, you can’t use the cereal is quick excuse!!

Blender Pancakes

These are sometimes called 2 or 3 ingredient pancakes but I like to call the blender pancakes because you literally throw everything in the blender and you have yummy pancakes!  Here are 2 of our favorite recipes, but the combinations are endless…

Pumpkin pancakes

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup of oats (we use gluten free, but it is not necessary)
• dash of cinnamon
• 1 tsp or honey or pure maple syrup, or 5 drops of SweetLeaf Stevia

Banana Peanut Butter Pancakes

• 2 eggs
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup of oats (we use gluten free, but it is not necessary)
• dash of cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter

When we have these for breakfast we will usually have them with fresh berries or a banana and either 2 eggs or some breakfast meat (bacon, turkey bacon or sausage).

Egg Muffins

These are not only a great, quick breakfast; but my boys love them for after school snacks, too.  You can really add anything to these and I have found ways to sneak veggies into them, so that is always a plus!  I find the chopped cauliflower goes completely unnoticed.  Spinach is harder to hide.  To make 12 muffins you can add any combination of the following:

• 10-12 eggs, scrambled (I start with 10 and add more if needed)
• shredded cheese (this is not needed to make them good- I eat them with out cheese)
• crumbled bacon or turkey bacon
• crumbled sausage or turkey sausage
• bell peppers
• chopped spinach
• chopped tomatoes
• chopped brocoli
• chopped cauliflower

Place your cheese, meat and or veggies in the bottom of a greased muffin tin or use silicone muffin cups.  Pour the beaten eggs on top.  Stir the ingredients together and bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.

These can be enjoyed warm or cold and they freeze well.  When we have these for breakfast, will we usually have them with a slice of toast with peanut butter and some fresh berries or sometimes a banana.

Steal cut oats

Again, the possible flavor combinations are endless, but the main thing you want to do is ditch the processed, pre-flavored packets of oats.  These are high in sugar and ofter times artificial ingredients.  Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

• Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats
• Blueberry Oatmeal Bake
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats

We would serve our oats with eggs.  This is how I start almost every day- I am a bit of a creature of habit!!!

Egg Sandwiches

This is another area that did not change overnight, but I have finally switched my kids over the healthy bread.  We prefer out bread toasted.  For Alex we have to do gluten free so we stick to Udi’s.  For Jacob he now enjoys sprouted whole grain bread like Ezekiel’s.  This is a great option because you don’t get the blood sugar spike that other breads can cause.  My boys keep it simple with bread, eggs and cheese.  I like mine with out cheese and add some spinach and sometimes some avocado.  YUM!

french toast (aka donut bread)

The Udi’s bread that I buy for Alex always seems to come with big air pockets or holes in it.  This makes for bad PB&J sandwiches, but great french toast!

• 2 eggs, beaten
• dash of cinnamon
• dash of almond milk (or other milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Add all the liquid ingredients together.  Soak pieces of bread in the mixture then place pieces on a griddle (I spray mine with coconut oil first) and cook for 3-4 minutes each side.  We usually serve 2 slices with fresh fruit or sliced banana and eggs.  I love to make a bunch up ahead and toss them in the toaster for a quick breakfast!

Mini Muffins with eggs

I have gotten really good at sneaking veggies into muffins!  I will from time to time serve the boys eggs with some fruit and a few mini muffins.  They have no idea they are eating a serving of veggies first thing in the morning!  Here are 2 of my favorite recipes:

Carrot apple Muffins

Glorious Morning Muffins

• 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds (chopped in the blender)
• 3/4 cup of gluten free oatmeal (chopped in the blender)
• 1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour (I used gluten free baking mix)
• 1/4 cup flax seed
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 carrot (chopped in the blender)
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1/3 cup raw honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 2 eggs

Preheat oven at 400.  Grind pumpkin seeds, set aside.  Grind oats.  Combine pumpkin seeds, oats and remaining dry ingredients, set aside.  Grind carrots, then add remaining wet ingredients and blend.  Add dry ingredients and blend well.  Place in grease mini muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes.  This recipes makes 42 mini muffins.  These freeze great and can also be thrown in lunches frozen and are ready to enjoy by lunch time.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  It can make or break your day.  When you eat well in the morning you are more likely to eat well all day.  When kids start their day of with a nutritious breakfast it helps with their attention span, concentration and memory making for a better day at school!