Hack those school mornings: Freezer breakfast ideas + a book review!

Around here, kids go back to school in September, after Labour Day. This time of year, I busy myself with preparations for making the transition from the dog days of summer back into school routine easier in as many ways as possible. One of the biggest things I do is stock my freezer with things that will make those busy weekdays go more smoothly.

There are three basic categories of things I make: breakfasts, school lunch items, and dinners. Here, we'll focus on breakfast.

Freezer breakfasts are a lifesaver because, as we all know, life moves at a fast pace on school mornings. On average, there isn't a lot of time between getting up and getting on the school bus, so having a few things ready to go in your freezer can be truly a blessing.

Here are some of my go-to freezer breakfast ideas:

Smoothie packets -- simply freeze plain or vanilla yogurt in ice cube trays. When frozen, remove cubes and add 2-3 to a sandwich-size freezer bag. Add in chunks of your favourite fruits such as bananas, mango, berries, peaches, and more. If you want, add in some baby spinach for an extra shot of nutrition. On busy mornings, simply dump the contents of a bag into the blender -- straight from the freezer -- top with milk if you prefer a thinner consistency, and blend for a delicious and healthy drink.

Muffins -- Make a big batch of muffins ahead of time and freeze them. If you remember, take out however many you'll need the night before and let them thaw overnight. If not, don't worry! A few seconds in the microwave will garner a nice, warm, ready-to-eat muffin.

Granola bars -- Whether you prefer the no-bake or the baked variety of granola bars, this is a great freezable breakfast item. (They are also great tucked into a lunchbox).

Pancakes -- Did you know you can freeze pancakes? You can! This is one of the easiest things to have in your freezer for breakfast. On a lazy weekend morning leading up to the start of school, proudly announce to your family that you are going to be serving pancakes for breakfast. While you make enough to feed your brood that meal, keep frying extra pancakes for the freezer. Once they are cooled completely, you can freeze them in freezer bags for future use. Simply pop them in the toaster on a busy morning and serve as usual! You can do the same with waffles, too.

French toast -- As above, you can make extra French toast one morning and freeze the pieces to be warmed in the toaster on another day. For little ones, cut the pieces of toast into "sticks" before freezing. They can then dip the sticks into syrup instead of using a fork.

"Energy Bites" -- A sort of cousin to the granola bar, these little babies pack a nutritious punch. Check out the book "Energy Bites," for a wealth of options for make-ahead balls that feature delicious, healthy, nutriient-dense ingredients that are the stuff of dreams for a quick bite on the go. Even those who struggle to eat breakfast will love these little babies! This book features step-by-step instructions, explanations of less-common ingredients such as moringa powder, and 15 great recipes for bite-sized grab-and-go bites that pack lots of nutrition benefits, from energy boosting to immune support. This is a great resource to have on hand when you need quick breakfasts, road-trip snacks, or any other time you need to make something quick to eat that isn't full of sugar and processed ingredients.

When it comes to busy mornings, having breakfasts ready to go in the freezer will save you time and hassle, and also will arm you with ways to feed your family homemade, wholesome food you can feel good about.

#breakfast #backtoschool #Bookreview #recipes