Balanced Breakfast Ideas:
Peanut Butter & Banana Overnight Oats
Sometimes, it’s hilarious. Mostly, it’s frustrating. Always, it’s time-consuming – making a meal you know won’t be eaten, trying to ensure you’re hitting all the food groups, praying a protein with be consumed at least once each day… omg, don’t get me started on keeping track of vitamins and minerals.
Luckily for us, breakfast is the one meal of the day where all the twins’ food quirks seem to be left out of the equation. Breakfast, by far, is their best meal – and my one chance to get as balanced of an offering as I can possibly muster in the early morning pre-pandemic-parenting-while-attempting-to-work-but-also-be-a-good-mom rush.
Starting the Day with Milk
Milk is our go-to. I am immediately relieved of some of the day’s stress knowing they’re getting key nutrition right off the bat, and it calms the hangry-baby factor which is NO JOKE with 2-year-old twins who sleep for 10 hours straight. We start off the morning with a small bowl of cereal to tide them over while the main breakfast is prepped; Hunter doesn’t like to drink milk out of a glass but will drink it out of the bowl or teaspoon by teaspoon (kids are so weird), but Hayden could basically have an IV of milk fueling her all day and never be happier.
Right now, amidst the COVID-19 isolation and emergency measures being taken by Ontario, our day-to-day has shifted in a big way – like most families suddenly trying to work and parent from home, together. All the time. In one home. …. Together all the time, lol. While some seem to have more time, I can say for a fact that I have less time, for everything and anything. Including making balanced, nutrient-dense breakfasts at 7 am. Even when I DO have the time, I can honestly say that’s not how I want to spend it. (But I do, because, parenting.)
When Dairy Farmers of Ontario wanted to partner with me on a balanced breakfast idea, I knew immediately what I wanted to do. A recipe with few ingredients, little to no prep time, no baking or cooking, and nutrient-dense.
PB + B Overnight Oats Recipe
I love overnight oats, but for some crazy reason I never thought to make them for the kids. This recipe is meant as a single serving for children but can be easily adjusted to make an adult size serving (basically just double up on the oats and milk and increase peanut butter and chia to your taste/preference). It’s amazing because it only uses 5 ingredients, takes 5 minutes to make, and will fuel your tiny humans (and yourself!) for a morning of toddler activity and full-on-mom-mode.
Nutrition Info
A single serving of this kid-sized deliciousness packs a punch of 10g of protein, 5g of fiber and less than 10 of naturally occurring sugar (depending on if you decide to sweeten with honey or maple syrup, and on how much banana or other fruit you may add). You can also play with the energy content by adjusting the amount of peanut butter and chia seeds which are rich with healthy fats.
For this recipe, I used natural peanut butter and a pinch of sea salt. You can also adjust the milk to oats ratio – more milk for softer oats, less milk for thicker oats, etc. The recipe listed is the one that has been the winner for us, aka the one that both mom and kiddo loves to eat 😉
How do you incorporate milk into a balanced breakfast?
Heidi
This sounds simple and delicious! My daughter will love it! Thank you for sharing.
Kelsinwonderland
HeidiLet me know if you make any adjustments! Thanks for reading 🙂
lexi
I love this recipe. I’m going to go make some now.
Kelsinwonderland
lexiLet me know how it goes! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment 🙂
Megan
Absolutely love this post, thank you for sharing 🙏
Kelsinwonderland
MeganI hope it turns out great for you!
Rasi
I totally should try to include peanut butter in my smoothies and oats too!
great recipe and such cute kids haha!
😀
Kelsinwonderland
RasiAw, thank you! And yes, PB is a great add in to a milk/choc/banana smoothie, too 🙂
Laura
Your photos are the cutest I’ve ever seen for a recipe. I love this so much!
Kelsinwonderland
LauraAw, thank you so much! That’s super sweet 🙂
Amanda
Thank you for this recipe! I’ve been wanting to make overnight oats lately and peanut butter and banana would be my favorite I’m sure!
Kelsinwonderland
AmandaThere are so many great combos to try, but this one is my personal fave! good luck 🙂
Nikki
this sounds so good! I love the simplicity.
Kelsinwonderland
NikkiMe too! That’s why it’s a hit for me, and the kids, lol.