Is your child a breakfast-skipper?

Is your child a breakfast-skipper?

Breakfast literally means breaking the fast that starts from the earlier night's dinner. Breakfast should never be missed, least of all by children, as it an essential energy source for the body. Research shows that a good breakfast can make children alert and attentive throughout life, whereas breakfast-skippers tend to develop deficiencies of protein, calcium and other micronutrients.

A good breakfast is also connected with improved performance in school and growing brainpower. Therefore, the breakfast habit can build the foundation for a lifetime of good health. It can also provide for some good family time. Parents themselves must never skip breakfast, so that their children follow suit.

What to eat for breakfast?

A breakfast need not be a complicated affair. Since it should consist of 1/3rd of day's nutritional requirements, it should be a mix of carbohydrates, protein and fat. Consider these examples: cottage cheese, jelly sandwich, any fruit juice, cheese, crackers, yoghurt, a cereal topped with fruits and nuts, an egg preparation, milk, or just a stuffed parantha with curd. None of these items need elaborate cuisine.
Colour always appeals children. Therefore, top your breakfast recipes with cherries, berries, grapes and other eye-catchy stuff Avoid monotony. For instance, you can experiment with different types of bread varieties.

With some time on your hands, try these novel breakfast recipes for kids -

Novel Toast Mixtures

Cinnamon toast
Make a mixture of two teaspoons of cinnamon and half cup of sugar. Sprinkle over a buttered toast.

Orange toast
Combine one tablespoon of orange juice, one tablespoon of orange rind and half-cup of sugar, put this on a half-baked toast and return to the oven. It will become a chewy topping.

Lemon toast
Combine one tablespoon of lemon juice, one tablespoon of lemon rind and 2/3rd cup of sugar and put on a toast and bake.

Cinnamony Biscuits

1 packet flaky biscuits
Castor sugar
1 ½ tea spoon Cinnamon
3 tbsp melted butter or margarine

Heat oven to 450 degree. Separate biscuits and divide into halves. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each piece into melted butter and then roll in the sugar mixture. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown.

Dippy Dip

1 medium-sized sweet potato (raw) peeled and grated
1 egg slightly beaten
1/4th cup flour

Mix ingredients. Heat approximately one tablespoon of oil. Drop spoonfuls into the pan. Cook for about two minutes on each side, until turns golden brown.
Serve with applesauce. Children love to dip it in applesauce.

Apple sauce

5-6 medium size apples
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Wash apples and cut into quarters and place them in a saucepan. Add water and cook them covered until the apples become soft. Put the apple mixture through a sieve. Transfer back the syrup into the saucepan. Add sugar and let the juice simmer.

Glazed Bananas

1/3rd cup frozen orange juice concentrate
6 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced in 1 inch pieces
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
½ cup ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts
Chocolate syrup

Heat orange juice. Add banana pieces and cook for three minutes. Add vanilla and cinnamon and stir for another 2 to 3 minutes until the moisture is absorbed. Serve warm. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with nuts before serving.

Orange Crispies

3 small oranges
1 tbsp Wheat germ
1 tsp Peanut butter
1 ½ tbsp honey / sugar syrup

Peel and cut orange pieces into halves.
Brown wheat germ in oil. Add peanut butter and stir until melted.
Add sugar syrup or honey. Stir until wheat germ gets coated completely.
Place it on a small plate and cool the preparation.
Sprinkle over orange slices and serve.

Frozen Shake

1 cup milk
1 cup frozen banana chunks
Chocolate syrup

Place all the ingredients in a blender and make it a smooth paste.
Add chocolate syrup to taste.

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