4 healthy, delicious ways to spice up oatmeal for kids
You already know breakfast is the meal that's going to fuel your kids through a morning flurry of activity at school. We love dishing up oatmeal; it's hearty, healthy, easy to make and yummy.
But kids? They get bored with oatmeal. They complain that it's too mushy, too hot, gooey, bland, or just plain yucky.
You might not be able to change their minds, but you can try by adding some flare to a morning oatmeal breakfast:
Make it fancy. Serve oatmeal with sides of maple syrup, honey or brown sugar and a little pitcher of milk. Stores like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond sell tiny bowls and inexpensive creamers that are perfect for these add ons. You can include fresh fruit (slices of banana, strawberries, blueberries) and dried fruit (cranberries, pineapple) and nuts (almonds, pecans), too! For an extra special treat, include chocolate chip morsels.
Vary the oatmeal flavor. When you're cooking the oatmeal, try using coconut milk or vanilla-flavored milk in place of water or regular milk. Or add in a tablespoon (or two) of a favorite natural jam or peanut butter. A current favorite in our house is Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter by Peanut Butter & Co. It adds sweetness with a boost of protein.
Serve oatmeal on a plate! Ditch the bowl and spread the oatmeal on a plate. Let your kids use forks to create rivers and roads in the oatmeal, sprinkle on some brown sugar, then pour the milk on to see what happens.
Bake oatmeal! Love this dish by Cooking with My Kid. You can prepare the dish the night before and when you wake up the next morning, pop it in the oven for 25 min. Or for breakfast on the go, try oatmeal bars.
What are some of your favorite ways to serve oatmeal for breakfast? Do your kids love it or hate it?
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