Back to School - lunch & breakfast prep

It’s Back to school time!  So, time to start thinking of 

BREAKFASTS & LUNCHES.  

Not just for the kiddies but for the busy parents too!

With both lads in our house in secondary school now this year, it is harder to get them to eat healthier lunches - it's just not "cool" to eat normal sandwiches or fruit!  Weeks like this i make sure to have a wholesome dinner for when they come home and prep a good breakfast for the mornings.

Now, i'm not going to pretend the lads like healthy lunches like green leaves and lentils in tubs with some pistachios on the side!  Because this is not true!
So, i'm sharing some of our favourite normal everyday foods with you - you may get some inspiration.

Personally, advance prepping does help with healthier choices. 

So here's a few tips and ideas to help you and it’s all about the ‘Easy Peasy’ and all so very versatile:

OATS

PORRIDGE -
One of my favourites.  It's so versatile.  And will guarantee to fill you for hours.

For simple porridge, Soak the oats overnight in water just to cover.  The next morning add more water for a healthier option to cook gently for about 8 mins, stirring.  I then just add cold milk when ready along with things like:

                                   

• honey - simple! for the lads, to sweeten it
• cinnamon - great with chopped apple
• thinly sliced apple with cinnamon
• fresh berries - strawberries/blackberries/blueberries/raspberries
• choc hazelnut spread or cacao powder stirred in, for a chocolaty flavour - great with chopped banana and nuts
• peanut butter or powdered peanut butter (my fave!) - also great with chopped apple
• nuts, seeds, dried fruit
  
  

OVERNIGHT OATS -

Another great way to enjoy porridge oats is layering them with yogurt and fruit overnight for a yummy chilled dessert like breakfast.  Again, so versatile and you can add any flavouring or fruits you like.  


Choose things like:

• vanilla yogurt, chopped apple, raisins and cinnamon
• mashed banana mixed with toffee yogurt and a crumbled low cal biscotti biscuit
• chopped pineapple, mango, kiwi and pomegranate with a tropical flavour yogurt
• orange segments with orange and dark choc yogurt and grated dark choc
• or simply berries, natural yogurt with honey

OAT MUFFINS -

These are great!  And can be made the night before, so, handy if you have a busy morning ahead.  Or great for popping into the lunch box.  Because they are made from oats, they should fill the kids up well and good.  A nice treat without all that sugar!  Nice too with an afternoon cuppa! 

• To make 6 muffins:
  In a bowl mix 40g oats with 2 eggs, of yogurt of choice and some flavouring if you like…. For example:
  You can try natural yogurt with salted caramel flavouring or perhaps an orange flavour yogurt with some orange flavouring for extra yumminess!
• You could also try adding other ingredients like fruit (raspberries/blueberries); chocolate chips or dried fruit or nuts to the mix.
• Also try adding a little dollop of choc spread to each muffin top.  Or perhaps adding jam & almond essence for a bakewell tart effect! Delicious. 
• Divide the mix  between the muffin cases, bake at 190 for approx. 20 mins.
  
  They are so versatile with what flavours or ingredients you can add to them.
  So be adventurous.

EGGS

EGG OMELETTE-

This is one of my favourite things to make if i want to fill up for a few hours.  But it's also very healthy, full of protein and goodness.  Such a versatile dish to make.
Although The lads wouldn't eat the ones i make for myself, as they are full of vegetables, they do quite like a simple ham and cheese omelette.  Takes no time at all and will certainly fill them up with all that protein from the eggs and ham:

• whisk eggs (2-3 is plenty per person) in a bowl with seasoning
• if using veggies, saute your faves with seasoning before adding your egg mix to pan
• otherwise, add things like chopped ham and grated cheese to the egg mix
• add to a greased heated pan on a medium heat, cook on one side for a few minutes, sliding a fish slicer under to check when it's ready to flip. Then cooking once flipper for another few minutes

EGG MUFFINS-

Another alternative to an omelette.  And again, another versatile option.Enjoy warm or equally nice as a cold snack.  Another handy cold snack for the lunch box or on the go.  Just as nice fresh and warm in the morning for breakfast.  Very filling too. 

• ·         use silicone cases (easier to remove muffin), add some ham to “cup” in the bottom of the case and up the sides.
• ·         add chopped sauteed veggies of choice, followed by whisked eggs to cover
• ·         top with grated cheese and a sprinkling of parsley
• ·         bake for about 10 mins at 190 until cooked 

SCRAMBLED EGGS-

The lads can easily whip up scrambled egg in the microwave with toast for themselves.  They just whisk eggs in a Pyrex with milk, salt and knob of butter and cook in the microwave – easy!  However, to make scrambled eggs properly, takes no length either and here’s what I do:

• ·         Pop a couple of eggs in a bowl and lightly whisk, leaving eggs semi whole  - you don’t want to completely whisk them.
• ·         On a medium heat, spray your non stick pan.  Once heated, add the egg mix and if you want to be a little bold, add knobs of butter – do not mix yet. Leave it sit for 30 secs or so and then give it a gentle mix.  You don’t want to over stir it – you want your scrambled eggs fluffy, thick and yummy! 
• ·         Add your seasoning to this now.   
• ·         Do not overcook them – they are ready in literally a minute or 2

I like to add something like spinach  - wilt it down over the egg while it cooks and then fold it in to it.  Baby tomatoes are lovely with this too.
Or scrambled eggs with crispy bacon on wholemeal toast is a great choice too. 

BACON & EGGS - 

And if you've time and you've energy, a yummy treat in the morning would be one of my faves - bacon & eggs.  Takes no length really to fry some eggs and some bacon.  Serve with toasted wholemeal and if you like, maple syrup!

Spoilt!

FRITTERS 
Again, a great thing for the lunch boxes cold.  Or eaten hot, freshly made in the mornings.  Great with a little dip like sweet chili for instance. 

• Mix 75g flour with 2 eggs and add whatever you fancy to it
  (chopped tomatoes / scallions / pudding / seasoning etc)
• Fry for just a few minutes on each side

And that's it!  That's how simple they are!

BANANA PANCAKES

Pancakes are great but messy to make.  But banana pancakes are quick, easy and sweet tasting!  They are simply a mix of mashed banana and whisked eggs
(1 banana to 2 eggs)
Serve them whole as 1 large pancake or as a few mini ones or as a folded crepe.

So, easily whipped up in the morning for breakfast.  Or great cut into triangles and popped into the lunch box too.  

Add things like:

• ·         Folded with Chocolate spread, strawberries and mini marshmallows
• ·      Peanut butter, chopped nuts and banana
• ·      An open pancake topped with a yogurt of choice and chopped fresh fruit
• ·      Mini pancakes stacked with Apple, cinnamon and golden syrup   
•        Warm berries and fat free cream cheese

SCONES

A favourite for the lads here.  Especially with a hot cuppa!
And pretty simple to whip up.  Again, bake the night before – ready for the next day.  Batch bake, freeze and take out when you want them:

• ·         Preheat oven to 250 degrees c (yes, it’s very hot!)
• ·         In a large basin, roughly mix 500g self raising and 75g butter together. Leave a little lumpy.
• ·         Add 25g caster sugar and stir in.  
• ·         Add 2 eggs and enough milk to make a wettish mix.
• ·         Stir in raisins if using
• ·         With floured hands take handfuls of the mix and drop on a lined oven tray – they will rise so space out
• ·         Bake at the 250 degrees until top starts to darken (or until you smell burning !! – I kid you not!)  Turn down to about 180 then.  Takes a total of about 15 mins or less you will judge it yourself

LUNCH SNACKS IDEAS:

I find Tupperware and plastic containers great for lunches.
I have a deep drawer full of plastic containers and tubs and boxes and Chinese containers !!!  But I have a tub for everything!  But again, tubs and boxes may not be “cool” anymore – they don’t seem to have been for 1 lad in secondary school already!  So, we’ll see how the next one goes!

For those using lunchboxes, the bento style boxes are great.  Bento boxes are amazing but tend to be quite expensive so try places like Aldi, Heatons or Mr Price for similar.  

Here's one i picked up in Aldi for as little as 4 euro.  It's great actually for the "bigger child" for work with the different compartments in it.

In secondary school, they don’t get to sit at their desk with their lunchbox like they did at primary school.  So it’s definitely all about easy, quick lunch ideas they can easily eat from their hands standing up anywhere rather than from a lunchbox or with a fork/spoon.

Anyway, whatever the main bit of the packed lunch is, be it a salad, a roll or wrap or sandwich (i don't think i need to tell you what your kids do or do not like in a roll/sambo!) here are some ideas for lunch snacks – even for the big kids!:

• Sliced apple with peanut butter dip
• Nuts
•  Protein bites – lots of different varied options  (mine? simply mix chopped cashews; hazelnuts; almonds; dates which have been softened in hot water first; cacoa/cocoa powder; peanut butter; Nutella and vanilla extract.  Roll them into bite sized balls.  Can be coated in chocolate if like or left bare)
•  Strawberries coated in dark choc!
• Tub of home prepped fresh fruit – cut/chopped ready to eat
• Bread sticks with hummus / pate / soft cheese
• Croissant with ham and cheese or with nutella and banana
• Flavoured Yogurts - Muller do great fat free flavoured yogurts like banana & custard flavour, toffee flavour and cherry bakewell.
• Flavoured coated rice cakes
• Hard boiled eggs! 

Here are some previous simple lunches we made in the Primary years:

For the parents of secondary school goers - a lifesaver for us last year were
Chicken rolls.
I found alot of the lunches were coming home in the bag again.  So i asked what he would like.  The school canteen did hot chicken rolls.  So i started to make them myself.
Not the healthiest - yes i know!  But it could be an idea for a treat if you prefer.  But my thoughts were, if it ensures he wouldn't be going hungry and it was something he was enjoying, i made my own:

• Buy french stick rolls you can cook yourself (2 in a pack from Aldi/Tesco for 60c).
  Freeze them and just take one out the night before to defrost as you need them.  
• I buy frozen chicken goujons - defrost 4 of them with your roll overnight also.
• When i get up first thing the next morning, i pop them into the oven.  They will only take about 10 - 15 minutes to cook.
• Assemble the roll, Add tomato sauce or whichever sauce you fancy, wrap in tin foil, and voila !
  
  Of course, you can buy wholemeal versions of rolls and make your own goujons for a healthier version!

And strangely cold TOASTED SANDWICHES were highly requested here too !

Prep the sambo the night before, simply pop into toaster in toaster bag the next morning, butter the top and wrap in foil.  It was and still is a hit (for some reason i don't know!)

So, my final tips?

1. Plan and Prep the night before.  Take the toaster out.  Soak those oats.  Make the sambos.  Boil the eggs.  Whatever will make you're life easier the next morning. 
2. Get ideas.  Use your imagination.  Get creative.  And be adventurous.  They'll soon tell you if they like it or not!
3. Change it up.  To avoid boredom of the same breakfasts and lunches.  Keep it interesting.  
4. Fill them up!  Oats or eggs (protein) will ensure they stay full for longer.  

Best of luck for the school season ahead

xxx