I’ve been thinking and talking about chemicals and preservatives etc in food with the boys for a long time. When 3yo was 2 or thereabouts, we were at the grocery shop and walked past a display of sports drinks or some other coloured beverage. He says “Mummy, this is chemicals”. It was a proud moment. Add in the gluten/wheat free diet for 3yo, I have been making cookies and muffins from scratch for a long time, and now I’ve decided (and remembered to be somewhat organised) to do away with crappy boxed cereal for the same reasons. The boys are eating through the last of the rice bubbles and cornflakes this week. 7yo refuses to eat the cornies because there is not many crunchy flakes left between him and the broken crumbs at the bottom, boo wah. So I have been googling for out of the box breakfast ideas the last few days.
Right now, I am trying to make some hash browns, which I can then put in the freezer for a later date.

I don’t have an egg ring, so had to settle for a turkey-shaped cookie cutter.

I might have one after the boys are in bed (omg they are SO good!), but the rest will go into the freezer after they cool.
Obviously there will be scrambled eggs once a week or so – I got 6 eggs today, HOORAY! – and I have made 2 flavours of muesli/granola to shake and pour into a breakfast bowl. But so far, I have not found something super awesome that the boys would clamor for in the morning. Perhaps that is just because they are still going through the factory-grademade cereals. Or perhaps it is because they are too dang loud and arguing with each other in the morning and I just can’t hear them begging me for more faux foods.
Anyhoo, I’m going to try and make some waffles to freeze as well, and I did have a recipe sent to me for dandelion petal bread. It was tasty, except for the gummy texture due to the xantham gum in the gf flour mix. Blech. I will definately try it again sans gum, and I think the boys will like it – it was great toasted – and like picking the yellow flowers for the recipe. I could probably substitute anything for the dandelion, like a bit of shredded carrot or zuccini. 3yo, 5yo and Husband – and me occasionally – also eat porridge/oatmeal, so altogether, that would be
5 breakfast options. Husband and I often eat a plate of grilled vegetables (olive oil is magic!), but the boys wouldn’t stand for that. A bowl of fruit would not do for the boys’ breakfasts either, because they don’t see it as a meal, and therefore won’t sit down and finish it before running off to make a mess somewhere else. Maybe that will change in Summer when the garden comes in.
I will keep looking for box-free breakfasts, I am certainly on rhe right track, but right now I need to put those turkey hash browns away so I don’t eat them all, they are awesome.