We LOVE breakfast

We have a strict rule in our house: Cereal for breakfast only 1 time per week. Now don't get me wrong, I think cereal is great. We don't do too much sugar-y cereals already but even the kinds of cereal we do eat, it's only 1 time per week for breakfast. Before you think I'm some mean mom who doesn't let my kids eat breakfast let me explain why. HUNGER! Every time my kids have just cereal for breakfast, they are starving before an hour is up. They can have multiple bowls of cereal before they walk out the door or head off to their activities and they are still hungry. I hate it. I feel so bad when my kids are hungry or rather HANGRY- han·gry

/ˈhaNGɡrē/

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adjective

INFORMAL

1. bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger. 

To combat the hangry badgers that my children become shortly after eating cereal, we implemented the no cereal except 1 time per week rule. I let the kids pick which day they want cereal but gently remind them that that day is their one day. The kids have had their ups and downs. For the most part its been a good staple routine to have for us all. I also notice that for myself when I eat only cereal that the rest of my day is full of trying to make up with other foods to try to fill up, does that make sense? It also helps for me to get up early and moving before the kids are up so I have a few {brief} moments before waking the kids. We've had this rule in our house about two years strong. 

We also have our own chickens, see the post here to read about our middle love's love for his chickens. So with having our hens or the little's "Cutest Chicken Friends" we have fresh eggs. For most folks, heck 2/3 of my kids- they think that's awesome! Unfortunately, my oldest little isn't a fan of eggs. We have to bring a variety of different ways to cook/season/spice to get him to eat them. Yay for Pinterest for the WIN! My oldest little love LOVES science. If I tell him doing a chore is like a science experience, he is all over it-- that's not lying right? 😂😅 So with eating eggs for breakfast, we've become very creative in our meals. Here are a few of our egg-cellent {yes, I did just say that} breakfast ideas. 

Make a head breakfast sandwiches that we made this past weekend. Easy and yummy!

• Egg in a Mug: this one is fun because it allows for variations and it can be done in a microwave (YAY) which is great for quick breakfasts that allows the littles to take more responsibility. It's super easy and comes out fluffy. Here are the instructions: All-Recipes
• Egg Burritos- Again super easy and I love adding other proteins like deli ham or bacon or sausage or steak- whatever we have on hand. I also will make a ton of these and then freeze them. They make for great easy/quick breakfasts to reheat in the microwave for the kids but also for the husband. He really likes it when he gets breakfasts made for him too. Win/Win! 
• Make-Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches are another favorite. We make a batch of them and then individually freeze and wrap so that again- easy mornings! Note- we use the pre-cooked sausage patties and they fit perfectly in the biscuit dough. Here are the instructions: Pillsbury 
• French Toast- another easy way to use up a bunch of eggs. We use whatever bread we have on hand- homemade, Hawaiian Sweet Roll (my favorite), or plain ole' white bread. So easy and the kids love them. The middle love doesn't love them as much as he loves Pancakes, but I assure him that French Toast is like Pancakes cousin, so it's just as good. Again, I guess that's a lie too. Oh well! 🙊😅 
• We have made the overnight breakfast casseroles that you can find all over the internet, however I usually only make that on the weekends that the Big Love might get to enjoy it than just me and the kids by myself. Here is an easy one that my Mom has made for years and it's super yummy/easy. There can be lots of variations in it and I try to sneak more veggies in there with tons of spinach or whatever we have on hand. {Maybe that's a theme here 😂}. Overnight Country Casserole 
• Biscuits and Gravy: This breakfast casserole isn't just eggs but I've recently started making it and it reheats very well! The Big Love enjoyed it for a few days while we were gone and it is filling! Biscuits and Gravy Casserole may not look "yummy" but the flavors sure are. Highly recommend it to feed a crew for any meal- breakfast, lunch or dinner. 
• We will make easy eggs and toast but that's such a fight for the biggest little love that I try to avoid it for him. The middle love LOVES eggs and plain eggs with ketchup is his favorite. He loves that his Chicken Friends help him with his breakfasts. And I love that. 

Other breakfast meals that aren't as egg-citing {no shame in the terrible puns} but that the littles love just as much include: 

• Yogurt Parfaits- the kids love this. We mix it up so that there is some cereal in a layer or any trail mix/cereal crumbs leftover plus frozen berries and yogurt make super fun and easy breakfasts. We put them in mason jars to make it look pretty and with the colors of the berries and yogurt layers- it really can be a pretty breakfast presentation. 
• Pancakes- French toast's cousin (see bullet point above). I make my own pancake mix ahead of time so it makes breakfasts easy and fast- and cheap because we aren't buying pancake mix because we have everything on hand. Winning! Here is the recipe that we have started using this past 7 months and it always gets a thumbs up from the Big Love. We have also tweaked the recipe to be used for waffles but the biggest little love isn't a fan of waffles so.... Also, he only likes pancakes with chocolate chips so that's a must when making them... 
• Oatmeal. We love a good oatmeal in the mornings. Especially when it gets chilly! We use old-fashioned oats and make it on the stove. I don't like the texture when I cook it in the microwave- is that a thing? We usually throw in whatever frozen fruit we have and then something to sweeten it. Some days we will put maple syrup in it, brown sugar, white sugar or honey. I like to always add cinnamon no matter the flavor because it's an easy way to get to enjoy the benefits of cinnamon such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Winning! 
• In the fall, pumpkin. All things pumpkin! I make as soon as it drops under the triple digits a yummy and super filling quinoa + canned pumpkin breakfast bowl. They are so yummy and filling. We had chocolate chips to the bowls and it tastes like a pumpkin cookie- delicious! We use a recipe similar to this but mine never looks as pretty 😩
• My biggest little wants me to add another one of his favorite breakfast meals: rice pudding! Usually I make way too much rice for dinner during the week and that means leftovers (yay!). Now I know this isn't "true" rice pudding but in our house it is 😂 We mix plain white rice (cooked) with yogurt and BAM it's done. 👌 We mix it up with whatever yogurt we have on hand- plain, vanilla, strawberry, etc. The biggest little LOVES rice and this is always a quick win for him. 

That's pretty much it, now my stomach is rumbling and the kids are starting to stir. So now the big question? What should I go make? 😀 What do you eat for breakfast in your house? Any staples that your family love? Share below in the comments!