Sweet Potato 5: 5 Brainy Breakfasts

By LAURA KEOGH, Sweet Potato Chronicles

I can't imagine a morning that didn't start with my daughter's urgent claim, "I'm so hungry I can't even wait!" It's her way of letting us know she's a second from wasting away to nothing. I can't really complain about her instant need for food since I'm the same way. However, I know lots of people who are happy to skip their morning meal. As a result, their kids can too. But it has been proven that kids who skip breakfast run into all kinds of food traps the rest of the day (binge eating, sugary cravings, overeating) in addition to robbing the brain (and body) of the nutrients it needs to perform at its best.

As pediatrician Dr. Sears explains, breakfast means to break the overnight fast. In other words, we (children especially) need to refuel our bodies for the day ahead. The best way to do so is to have a breakfast with a balance between complex carbohydrates and protein. According to Dr. Sears, "The more balanced the breakfast, the more balanced the brain function." Since proteins deliver stimulating tyrosine to the brain while complex carbs send calming proteins known as tryptophan, a "breakfast with the right balance of both stimulating and calming foods starts the child off with a brain that is primed to learn and emotions prepared to behave." I hope you just read that after a healthy breakfast.

First we start with Toad in a Hole, a brekkie you can't resist since it has such a cute name. Just remember to use whole grain bread and pair it with fresh fruit.

Toad in a Hole (serves 4)
Ingredients:

4 spelt bread slices
2 pats of butter
4 organic eggs

Directions:

1. Place one pat of butter in frying pan over medium/low heat. Allow butter to melt.

2. Cut holes out of the centers of bread using a glass or a cookie cutter. Place two pieces of bread in pan and allow to lightly brown on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip bread and crack eggs into center holes. Allow eggs to cook through, about 6 minutes. Remove and add second pat of butter. Repeat with last two slices of bread. Serve with side of fresh fruit.

3. Scarlett used to just cut the whole out of the bread for me. However, since she’s gotten a bit older, I allow her to crack the egg into the bread’s center. I love that I can let the egg sit in the pan on low heat cooking and be sidetracked by the onslaught of our morning. OK, I’m not advocating for forgetting food on the stove. I’m just saying it happened one time and I didn’t ruin this meal. Sometimes all my repeating to ‘brush your hair,” “brush your teeth” and “get your coat” take its toll. I’m just saying.

Here are four more yummy breakfasts to energize your kids for school.

Pumpkin French Toast takes only a few minutes since it uses canned pumpkin. Add it to eggs and serve with some fruit.

Yogurt Granola Parfait only needs a bowl to throw everything into. Use a plain or Greek style yogurt minus all the sugary flavors.

Applewich is a great on-the-go sandwich but just give it a squeeze of lemon juice to keep the apple from turning brown. Toss in a bran muffin and juice and your kids will be doing calculus. .

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a warm brekkie that gets tossed into a slow cooker the night before. In the morning, ta da, you have breakfast.

For more kid-friendly recipes and snack ideas, sign up for the awesome & indispensable Sweet Potato Chronicles newsletter!

Read more from Sweet Potato Chronicles:
5 Tips for Hosting An Adorable & Fuss-Free Birthday
5 Easy Suppers That Will Help Your Kids Fall Asleep Earlier
5 Quick & Healthy No-Cook Family Meals