I know that Aaron and I have so little time to fit everything in, so I offer these tips in case you miss something.
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I talked about how the latest research of the "average" parent (ain't no such thing y'all) indicates that we get 32 minutes of free time daily and we have to hide from our kids to get it.
The study also said that we stop working at 8:00 p.m. That's a lie. We're starting our 2nd or maybe even our 3rd shift at 8:00. I talked about how I started and finished laundry about then, started prepping for breakfast and lunch and figured out what we'd be having for dinner the next night. I'd return phone calls and work on psychological evaluation reports.
Yeah, close up shop at 8? How about 2 or 3? I frequently said that my "spare time" was between 2 and 4 a.m. You get the picture.
Anyway, I talked about how I made my pancake batter the night before and it still produced fluffy, delish pancakes. Here it is!!
This is my 97-year old Aunt Neoma's pancake recipe. Oh, but wait! She "borrowed" it from her daughter-in-law's father! Haha...she's a scamp!
Mix. Grease griddle. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter on the hot griddle and heat. Flip when edges are firm and lots of bubbles are rising up. Should be perfect!
Top with butter and finish off with warmed syrup. Real maple syrup is real expensive. Why not mix some real with some "other" stuff that's mostly high fructose corn syrup. Frugal and yummy!
Well, for some reason, I was unable to put up a Google image of the Special K protein shake, so I got one from the fridge and took a picture!
These do not require refrigeration until they're opened. Easy for kids to guzzle at lunch if they're "busy" (that's "code" for having ADHD) or would just prefer to play.
Beware! Kids might want them instead of a meal. Don't fall for that. Use only in emergencies. This shake is not intended to be a meal supplement!
These shakes will keep you, Momma and Dad-O out of the fast food drive through.
They DO NOT HAVE THAT GRAINY texture. They taste good and they have vitamins, fiber, only 5 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein and only 18 grams of sugar for a total of 190 calories. Seriously, have you checked the sugar content of yogurt, yogurt-type drinks...ugh. A variety of flavors--strawberry, mocha, vanilla, dark chocolate and milk chocolate means you have something for everyone or at least most everyone!
I order mine from Walmart or Krogership, but they're usually cheapest at Walmart. If you make a purchase of (I think!) $35 or more, shipping is free.
Dinner for breakfast? You bet.
You know how I say to have some fun and give yourself a break and make breakfast for dinner when you're just too tired to cook and you've run out of ideas?
Well, if you have kids, know that their brains and bodies need protein...lots of it and they need a lot in the morning before school!
When I began to learn about the effects of nutrition on the developing brain, I decided not to think about food in terms of the "traditional" breakfast fare.
What could I give my kid for breakfast that had tons of flavor and tons of protein? Dinner!!
Frequently, I took the left overs, put some in a microwaveable dish and gave it a few 30-45 second "blasts" in the morning, stirring in between "blasts" to heat faster. He LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!
He hated eggs. Lots of kids do, so I bagged that whole idea.
And, I would never ever give him cereal. Ugh.
I gave him beef and bean burritos, bean and cheese burritos, meatloaf and broccoli, beef-a-roni type of "goulash" stuff, grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, whatever I could feed him that would pack a ton of protein.
Peanut butter toast was a big hit for snack...along with chocolate milk, I never had to "sell" it!
Think about it. See if your kid will eat a bowl of chili and cornbread for breakfast! Mine did!
Give it a try. What have you got to lose? If you come up with some ideas, please share. We can all benefit from the experiences of others!