Family Breakfasts For the Weekend

One of the greatest joys of summertime is what we experience in mini bursts year-round as families. We get to spend more time together! Sure, our children’s schedules bulk up with athletic practices, camps, and more social time, but we still have those precious extra hours in the morning where we get to enjoy more time with one another.

As it is one of our jobs as parents and guardians to teach our kids the importance of healthy habits and routines, a quick way to do this is to get them involved in what they eat. Let’s take a look at some ideas for healthy family breakfasts for the weekend that everyone can get involved in.

Old Faithful Family Breakfasts

Start the list out with some family breakfast old faithfuls. These breakfast foods have stood the test of time for good reason. We’re talking about pancakes and waffles! Whether using a pancake mix or creating batter from scratch, it doesn’t really matter. Pancakes or waffles are an easy breakfast the family can cook together on the weekends with minimal steps.

What makes them even more enjoyable (especially if there are young children) is that they can pour batter into fun shapes and designs. This gets everyone involved in the fun. As such, they are more likely to get on board with eating a healthy breakfast. Try adding an even bigger nutritious punch to the meal by cooking buckwheat pancakes. Top with fruit to make it even healthier and yummier, and don’t forget the 100% pure maple syrup!

Granola Parfaits

Not only are granola parfaits packed with vital nutrients and minerals, but there is also a literal art to creating the perfect parfait. Start with some fun cups – nothing fancy is required. Just make sure they’re clear so the artful design can be appreciated.

One of the easiest ways to get kids excited about healthy eating is to allow them to be the chef. So, set out the ingredients such as healthy greek yogurt, fresh and rinsed berries, and granola. Let the children layer the ingredients in their clear cups, and watch the magic happen. If they want to add a pop of fun color, place diced mangos on top to another layer of sweetness. These take mere minutes to make, so they’re not only a powerhouse of health for the household, they’re easy peasy for people of all ages to make!

Overnight Oats 

While technically these aren’t made in the morning, if the time to cook is short one weekend, consider making overnight oats together. Just as one can layer them per the above-mentioned parfaits, this same vibe can be created with overnight oats. It’s a simple recipe combining the same part of oats with any plant milk of choice.

Add ingredients that are healthy that family members love. Popular add ons are things like peanut butter, cacao nibs, diced apples, or berries. Also, try adding some healthy flax seeds or chia seeds for their immense health benefits. And, for more sweetness, use a dusting of cinnamon on the finished product. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. The benefit is that the family will be eating a nutrient-dense breakfast that will keep them fueled all the way to lunchtime.

In a Real Pinch 

If one is in a real pinch for time, try a simple fruit kebab. It’s something fun that can also be eaten on the go. Kebabs are beloved by the very young to all adults for their simplicity and ease of consumption. If the fridge is already stocked with produce the family loves, just skewer layers of their favorite fruits onto the kebab sticks, and voila!

If there’s more time available, fruit kebabs make a beautiful addition and pop of color to a traditional breakfast plate, like eggs and toast. Fruits that look beautiful on a kebab for breakfast are kiwis, strawberries, bananas, and oranges. Kebabs make for healthy family breakfasts that are sweet but wholesome!

Go Whole

It wouldn’t be a complete list without advocating for the importance of eating as many whole, unprocessed foods as possible. Further, impressing the priority on this on your children is vital.

There’s a famous saying, “You are what you eat.” So, serving a whole grapefruit, dragon fruit, or soursop, — all of which have significant health benefits — is absolutely a healthy breakfast on its own. Since it’s not overly processed, don’t be surprised if multiple servings are needed, but who cares? The benefits are worth it. So don’t forget to stock up on whole fruits the entire family can enjoy!

Tips provided by Anne Davis.