What to make for breakfast?

[UUMomof3]

I am working hard at frugal meal planning. Dinner and lunch rotations are coming along, in spite of complaints from all the kids.

But breakfast drives me nuts. Cereal is so expensive. The kids will eat oatmeal now and then, but if it's offered more than 2 days running they complain (and really, I can understand that). Because of the allergy situation, we can't do eggs or cheese stuff. I want to keep it healthy, but affordable and filling because they are ALWAYS hungry. I've got a pancake recipe that they like.

Currently, they get oatmeal or cereal and yogurt (soy yogurt for the milk allergy), and bananas. Sometimes toast with sunbutter.

Ideas? Anyone?

[nuisance26]

~Homemade raisin bread with butter(or cream cheese if you can) is filling. You can make it wheat too and people don't seem to notice! I also love toasted bagels with jam. Are you putting add-ins to your oatmeal? My mom likes brown sugar and peanut butter in hers, I like apples and cinnamon sugar. My dad stirs in granola and dried cranberries or dates. One of my favorite breakfasts is grits and gravy. I usually use a milk gravy but I've used regular 'broth' gravy and that's good too. ~

[nuisance26]

~How about quick breads and muffins? My hubby and kids love banana bread and zucchini bread for breakfast. There are egg substitutes for baking aren't there?~

[57plymouth]

You mean you can eat something other than at least one pot of hot black coffee for breakfast?

Occasionally, I'll go CRAZY and have some tost. No time for much else in the morning.

[UUMomof3]

~ Are you putting add-ins to your oatmeal? My mom likes brown sugar and peanut butter in hers, I like apples and cinnamon sugar. My dad stirs in granola and dried cranberries or dates. ~

We've done all of the following in the various hot cereals, in various combinations:

dried coconut, dried apricots, dried pineapple
brown sugar, cinnamon, sunflower nuts, raisens (golden and brown)
plain sugar, diced apples, craisens, dates, chocolate milk
marshmallows, applesauce, chocolate chips, currants

The children suggested skittles and smarties, but there's gotta be a limit and I'm pretty sure that's it.

[zakity]

My guys will eat leftovers for breakfast sometimes.

[spyzvixxen]

~How about quick breads and muffins? My hubby and kids love banana bread and zucchini bread for breakfast. There are egg substitutes for baking aren't there?~

I was thinking along these lines too. Beside oil, you can also use applesauce.

What about smoothies with the bananas & soy yogurt?

[Spikey1341]

When I make pancakes I make a huge batch and then freeze the leftovers. Pop in the microwave for a couple of minutes and you have a good pancake breakfast in the middle of the week. I will even bring them to work and pop them in the office microwave. (My co workers hate me on those mornings)

[ritabelle]

sometimes it's the texture of the oatmeal that I don't like multiple times in a row, but changing it to cream of wheat or hot rice cereal changes it up enough for me. also, biscuit breakfast sandwiches with sausage or bacon.

breakfast tacos (I know these usually have eggs/cheese, but my cafeteria at work sells them with refried beans and potatoes and they're great!)

[YankeeMom]

I hear ya! I have one that will ONLY eat cereal. He likes things like pancakes & french toast & waffles & muffins, but he HAS to have his cereal. It's more of a ritual thing than anything else, I think.

I make: apple muffins/bread, pumpkin muffins/bread, big batches of pancakes/french toast & freeze them. Bagels & cream cheese. Sausage/egg/cheese biscuits (you could just do biscuits & sausage?) or biscuits & sausage gravy (mine won't touch this lol).

Like zakity, sometimes mine like to have leftovers for breakfast. Especially if it's pasta or pizza. Oh! I have one that will make tuna melts for breakfast

[Iansmommy]

I usually make big batches of pancakes and waffles and freeze them in ziplock freezer bags. In the morning we reheat in the microwave. I also make banana bread and the kids will eat that for breakfast. Most of the time it is pancakes and waffles, sometimes I make french toast and freeze it. The kids rarely have cereal for breakfast, it's not one of their favorite things.

[Kaos Kitty]

You can also freeze pancakes and heat them up in your toaster. Just like the packaged frozen waffles and pancakes at the store. I tried it - it works great.

[nvmommyx6]

I make double batches of pancakes, waffles and french toast, put them in baggies of 2 and freeze them, I make crockpot oatmeal 2 days a week, (not in a row!) then waffles, pancakes or french toast 2 days a week (they just pop those in the toaster and voila!!) then 1 day a week I make them breakfast sammiches, 1 day a week I make scrambled eggs and toast for them, 1 day a week they get cold cereal and a fruit.......This covers ALL breakfast, and there is not too much of one thing either!!
The kids love the menu, I do it a month at a time and they love being able to look and see what is for breakfast, lunch, dinner, after school snack.....they are taking their sweet time getting used to not just comming in snacking on crap, but they are never hungry for anything, and it is working great for me, I'd be glad to share my menu pages and chore schedules with you if you'd like!!

[LexTysMommy]

What about a hashbrown (or tater tots) casserole. Add a little meat ( ham, sausage, bacon ) and onions baked in over with a little butter added in.

biscuits with gravy or jelly. My son adds syrup sometimes.

fresh fruit and a muffin.

Have the kids tried grits? cream of wheat?

for variation on pancakes, add jelly and peanut butter layer then another pancake.

[Terri]

PB toast--warm and gooey, another pizza for breakfast fan, rice cereal(lo rice cooked in milk on the stove with sugar and cinnamon added). Oatmeal cookies can also be made healthier and are yummy with a warm drink.