Is your family crunched for time in the morning, rushing off to school or work without much time to sit down for a family meal? Are you looking for convenient breakfast ideas for kids and adults? Start your family’s day the right way with these fun and easy breakfast ideas:

• Make a large batch of pancakes or waffles ahead of time, and keep them in the fridge/freezer for easy warm up in the toaster. I recently tried a new brand, Arrowhead Mills buttermilk pancake & waffle mix, and the pancakes are so yummy (even after freezing for a week and re-toasting)!


• Cut a banana lengthwise in half and spread peanut butter on it. Voila! You have a healthy banana sandwich full of protein, good fats and lots of potassium to jump-start your day!


• If you have time to make a quick batch of French toast, consider cutting the bread into cubes before dipping. This will allow your children to eat a little quicker (and it will be more fun for them to eat!)


• Energy bars are a great choice. My personal favorites are Clif bars, including Clif Nectar and Clif Kid Zbar; if they don't suit your family's tastes, tryLuna bars, Kashi TLC or Go Lean bars. Be mindful that some of these bars are high in calories, and you may only need to eat half of one. Save the other half in a Ziploc bag for breakfast the next day.


• Make a batch of hard boiled eggs on Sunday night, and grab 1-2 eggs to eat for a quick high-protein breakfast or for the kids' after-school snack.


• Buy frozen or refrigerated breakfast burritos and zap them in the microwave or oven before you head out the door.


• Buy a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, keep in freezer and set toaster for 2 cycles, then spread with peanut/almond butter.


• If your family likes scrambled eggs, but you don’t want to dirty a pan, try this: Mix two eggs, two teaspoons milk and a tablespoon of shredded cheese in a microwaveable bowl. Cook on high for 1-1:30 in the microwave for quick and tasty scrambled eggs!


• If you have to take your breakfast with you in the car, try a Snack Trap or similar device to prevent spills and easy snacking. Try putting dry healthy cereals or crackers in the snack trap.

Remember, the best way to start your family’s day is still with a good, nutritious breakfast. That doesn't mean it has to be a work of art!

What do you serve up when you need a quick breakfast - for your kids or yourself?