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Grill Guy: Making the most important meal of the day

Blake Moody
Posted 6/21/17

Figuring out what to feed my kids will forever be one of life’s great mysteries. As a father of two (a 6 year old and a newborn), this is a riddle that I am constantly faced with. With the end of …

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Grill Guy: Making the most important meal of the day


Posted

Figuring out what to feed my kids will forever be one of life’s great mysteries. As a father of two (a 6 year old and a newborn), this is a riddle that I am constantly faced with. With the end of the school year, my wife Lindsey and I decided that instead of paying for daycare, I would stay home with my oldest. I work from home and this plan appears to be the best option for our family.

I told my daughter that one of my big goals for summer is to teach her how to make breakfast for herself. We’re not talking Michelin star quality brunch here; we are talking about cooking on a kindergarten level. My mom taught me how to feed myself and I would love to pass that along to my child. The plan is to have her assistance in preparing the most important meal of the day. As a result we can spend time together and she can learn a valuable life skill. This is a win-win situation.

If she has her choice, my daughter will choose ice cream for breakfast. I told her that this was not an option and instead, we are going to focus on things we can heat in the microwave or toaster oven. I knew that the most important part of this equation is letting her be part of the process. When kids play a part of cooking the food, you will have a good eater on your hands.

I was explaining to her how the toaster oven can do everything an oven can do, only easier. Also I showed her how the “30 second button” on our microwave works. Safety is what I stress the most to her and to you. Make no bones about it, this is dangerous machinery but for the purpose of this article, I will avoid explaining how to use a toaster or microwave oven. I strongly recommend that an adult be present at all times where the toaster oven or microwave is in use. I still burn myself on accident and you don’t want your kids getting hurt.

I encourage you to come up with your own breakfast combinations with the help of your child. If you need help, below I have included a couple of ideas that really work. Spend some quality time with your children and enjoy your summer.

Waffles (homemade or from the frozen section) – let them place it into the toaster and push the buttons.

Peanut butter (give it a good stir to make it easily spreadable) - let them apply it to the waffle

Fresh fruit (prepped in advance)

Frittata (my mom found these in the frozen freezer section and they are great) - let them place it into the toaster or microwave oven and push the buttons.

Fresh fruit (prepped in advance)

Pancake (homemade or from the frozen section) - let them place it into the toaster or microwave oven and push the buttons.

Egg or precooked bacon (you can make this the night before, and it can heat up on top of the pancake)

Maple syrup (buy the best you can afford & use as little as possible)