Good Breakfasts are Essential for Good Students

I've written before on the topic of healthy breakfasts to help children focus in school. Without a great breakfast, students lack the energy they need to focus in school and to learn complex concepts.

I'm always looking for breakfast ideas because I know that my kids need protein to solve tricky math problems, learn grammar, and read effectively. On days that we have plenty of time to prepare breakfast, we often make egg burritos, french toast, scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, and other dishes.

But the reality is that sometimes families oversleep or lose track of time, and are on the run to get kids to school or class. Even though we homeschool, we certainly experience these mornings, too, because we participate in morning programs and we also have a set schedule. So during those busy moments, I look for easy - and FAST - ways to nourish my kids. Here are some of our quick breakfasts:

• yogurt and (whole wheat) toast with a glass of orange juice
• cereal
• frozen (whole wheat) waffles with yogurt and milk
• fruit salads with yogurt and milk

And now we've discovered another grab-and-go breakfast! I'll be the first to say that I'm VERY suspect of traditional breakfast bars. I don't like all the chemicals and high fructose corn syrup that seems to be in each of them. That's why I was really happy to discover that Honey Bunches of Oats has come out with healthy breakfast biscuits with whole grain. Pair them with a serving of yogurt and a glass of milk for additional protein and they are a perfect quick meal to help with sustained energy throughout the morning.

They come in three flavors: Honey Roasted, Strawberry, and Chocolate Chip. All of them come with 28 - 30 grams of whole grain, providing more than 55% of your day's whole grain recommendation. The best way I can describe them is that they are like cereal in cookie form. 

I bet you can guess my son's favorite one...chocolate chip, of course. He likes to dunk them in a glass of milk. And I love it too because even though they taste like chocolate chip cookies, they are actually good for you!

And they aren't just for kids, either. My daughter prefers the Honey Roasted and I like the Strawberry. Really, all of them are good. There are 4 biscuits in each package.

So if you are like me and are looking for new products for quick breakfasts that you won't feel guilty about feeding your kids, then check you might try these!!

You can learn more when you follow the Honey Bunches of Oats website, Facebook page, on Twitter, and on Instagram.

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Honey Bunches of Oats. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Mami Time Saver: MOMables

As a homeschooling, work-from-home mami the number one thing I don't have a lot of is time. In fact, I frequently go to bed thinking about all the stuff I didn't get done that day. (A really bad habit, I know, but reality none the less.) Anyway, this got me to thinking about how there are no doubt a ton of moms out there who feel the same way, so this week I'm focusing on Mami Time Savers, a series of posts that help (homeschooling) moms like myself save time (and money!) so they can focus more on their children and their education.

Today's feature mami time saver is MOMables. It is the first meal-planning service for healthy and fresh school lunches. Created by Latina mom, Laura Fuentes, MOMables helps parents every day make lunches their kids will actually eat. Born in Spain and raised with tapas, Laura loves all things lunch! She lives in what she calls southern suburbia and has three kids.

Last year, I received a free 3-month trial so I could understand how the program works. And we love the QUICK and healthy recipes. (By the way, YOU can enjoy a free trial, too!)

It is like a virtual kitchen assistant! Once you subscribe, you just login to the website and you'll be taken to the Subscribers' Weekly Menu Page where you can find your current menu plan, as well as the one for the previous week. You'll also find links to specific recipes to try for breakfast or dinner, and downloads of helpful guides. The Homemade Resource Guide helps you get away from boxed/processed foods at the store with these homemade recipes. You'll be able to make your own whole wheat pancakes, tortillas, croissants, and even oreos! 

To view your current menu plan, just click on the link to download it to your computer. You can see a sample menu here. Each week's menu comes in a downloadable pdf format that includes:

• Kitchen Notes with time saving tips and schedule of recipes
• 5 individual recipe plans with picture
• 1 page with complete recipes for all 5 lunches
• And a shopping list with all the ingredients you'll need for the week (BIG TIME SAVER!!)

And if your child suffers from gluten allergies, there's even a Gluten Free Resource Guide.

TIP: You can save even more time by printing up the recipe cards and having your child make their lunch for that day. They can practice their reading skills, following directions, and get the satisfaction of learning how to make their own meal!



Now there is even more to be excited about because Laura has just written, The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet: Make Lunches Your Kids Will Love with More Than 200 Deliciously Nutritious Meal Ideas, which you can pre-order using my affiliate link above. It will be available on July 1st, 2014 - just in time for school to start this fall! So you can kick off the school year totally organized and saving time each morning!


It doesn't matter if you homeschool your kids or send them off to school each morning, this is a super Mami Time Saver that helps you feed your kids healthy lunches without wasting time trying to plan out meals and then going back to the grocery store over and over for supplies.

Lunches Around the World with Little Passports!

Today's post is brought to you by Little Passports (affiliate link). As a LP Ambassador, I'm always happy to share fun articles with a global theme that help your child explore other countries and cultures. Since we are still in the back-to-school phase, today's post is about the types of lunches that other kids around the world enjoy.

¡Buen provecho!

Lunches From Around the World

Kids around the world are headed back to school and that means homework, new friends, and … lunch? Yes, that’s right! Let’s visit four different countries to see what yummy food the school kids eat every day!

A French lunch

France

French children enjoy a three- or four-course meal that is mostly made from scratch with high-quality ingredients. The children all sit together in a cafeteria, or large lunch room. Did you know that there are no vending machines in schools? They’re banned due to the high sugar and fat content of the treats they carry. Typical school lunches here can have a variety of dishes and ingredients, such as grilled fish, salad, red beans, seasonal vegetables, garlic sausage, fruit salads and chocolate flan. Another perk is that the food is served on plates and eaten with real silverware!

A Japanese lunch

Japan

In Japan, the school lunch ingredients are locally sourced and almost never frozen. Schools employ nutrition experts that work with kids to teach them the importance of good eating habits. Like the children in France, Japanese kids also eat in a community-like setting with their peers, and even their teachers! The children also wear white hats and robes to serve their classmates, which teaches them teamwork and respect. You can expect to find lots of rice, vegetables, fish, soup, and meat on the plate.

South Africa’s Potjiekos

South Africa

South African school meals have natural ingredients such as corn, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams. There’s also rice, soft porridge, and meat that is sprinkled in with the vegetables. A special stew, called potjiekos (named after a potjie, a three-legged pot), originated from Dutch settlers and is now a South African favorite. The cook puts vegetables, meat, potatoes, and spices into the pot, which is heated by small amounts of wood and twigs.

A Columbian lunch

Colombia
Colombian school lunch ingredients usually vary from region to region, but can contain rice, potatoes, fruit, beans, meatballs, and vegetables such as corn and avocados. There’s a special vegetarian menu also available, and children from 2 to 5 years old have their food cut and portioned into smaller sizes.

We hope you enjoyed our lunch trip around the world, and perhaps found inspiration to try new foods at your own dinner table!

3-Month Subscription to MOMables {GIVEAWAY}

Today's Back-to-School Fiesta! giveaway is not to be missed!! Laura Fuentes is the Founder/CEO of MOMables, the first meal-planning service for healthy and fresh school lunches. She helps thousands of parents every day make lunches their kids will actually eat. Born in Spain and raised with tapas, Laura loves all things lunch! She lives in what she calls southern suburbia and is mom to 3 kids ages 6, 5 and 17 months.

I received a free trial so I could understand how the program works, and I love it. Once you subscribe, you just login to the website and you'll be taken to the Subscribers' Weekly Menu Page where you can find your current menu plan, as well as the one for the previous week. You'll also find links to specific recipes to try for breakfast or dinner, and downloads of helpful guides. The Homemade Resource Guide helps you get away from boxed/processed foods at the store with these homemade recipes. You'll be able to make your own whole wheat pancakes, tortillas, croissants, and even oreos! The Gluten Free Resource Guide is, of course, especially helpful for families with gluten allergies.

For your current menu plan, just click on the link to download it to your computer. You can see a sample menu here. Each week's menu comes in a pdf format and includes:

• Kitchen Notes with time saving tips and schedule of recipes
• 5 individual recipe plans with picture
• 1 page with complete recipes for all 5 lunches
• And a shopping list with all the ingredients you'll need for the week

All of the recipes I've seen so far look healthy and delicious. This website service is pure genius! The site also includes a long list of recipes in their Recipe Index, and you can always follow their blog for mouth-watering ideas (check out their Easy Homemade PopTarts Recipe!).

And if you aren't ready to subscribe to MOMables, you can still use them by signing up for their free, weekly newsletter to get great school lunch ideas delivered to your inbox.

One lucky MommyMaestra reader will receive a 3-month subscription to MOMables.

To enter this giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Latino Children Are Less Likely to Take Multivitamins than Adults

Disclosure: This is a compensated post in collaboration with a LATISM campaign to support healthy living habits in the Latino community.

With the start of school, you know I'm going to be talking about nutrition again and how important it is for your kids to receive a good breakfast before they head off each morning to school. (See all of my great posts on nutrition, how it affects academic performance, and healthy but yummy recipes and snacks here.)

But I haven't talked about vitamins. However, a recent study conducted by Consumer Reports en Español and LATISM shows that Latinos are actually pretty big on using multivitamins as adults - but not so much when it comes to their kids.

Dr Jose Luis Mosquera, Medical Advisor for Consumer Reports, says that children should start taking vitamins "after they start chewing food properly – age 3 on, but most doctors allow after age 2."

He says that many kids don’t like dairy products or have allergies. Other sources of vitamins are good like orange juice, lentils, cold water fish like salmon and sardines, and soy milk. But there is little scientific evidence they do work, Dr. Mosquera says.

So a multivitamin doesn't hurt your child if given as directed and can prevent vitamin deficiencies caused by sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and other factors. Consider a multivitamin for your child, especially if he or she spends a lot of time indoors, doesn't drink milk/dairy products, doesn't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, **drinks sodas, or suffers from being overweight.

Do you give your children a multivitamin on a regular basis?

Bebe Lanugo Lunch Set {GIVEAWAY}

I'm ending this Back-to-School Fiesta! week with this SUPER cute giveaway from our amigas at Bebe Lanugo. If you don't know about them, you need to check them out and get your kids some of their T-shirts that express our Latino pride in an adorable fashion. On their site you can Meet the Characters that are the subjects of all Lanugo's designs.

After you meet all their characters, you can then download their FREE Lanugo Coloring Book for your nenes.

But in addition to children's clothing, they also carry totes, bottles, and even music. And because they are super and champions of Latino children's education, Bebe Lanugo has graciously offered the lunch set shown at the top of this post: One lunch tote and one small water bottle with the "La vida es un carnaval" (shown above) design on both. The tote is 100% cotton and measures 11″W x 9″h x 3″d. The water bottle is:

• Made of 18/8, food-grade stainless steel
• No lining & no BPA or other toxins
• Wide mouth for easy drinking
• Durable, BPA-free & phalate-free screw-on top
• Holds 0.35L (nearly 12 ounces)

This set is perfect for those of you with children in preschool through elementary and great for taking snacks/lunch to school, or a picnic at the playground.

One MommyMaestra reader will win this lunch set from Bebe Lanugo.

To enter the giveaway, just use the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This is not a compensated post. I contacted Bebe Lanugo and asked them to participate in my Back-to-School Fiesta and they said yes! Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

New Spanish App: ¡Alimentación!

This week, Tribal Nova (the fabulous developer behind the i Learn With suite of early childhood education apps) announced its newest app: I Learn with Bo: Nutrition! The app is designed to teach children healthy eating habits and how to create a balanced diet.

I'll share a review soon, but perhaps the most exciting thing to learn, is that it is also available in Spanish!  In fact, this is just the first app they are making bilingual; they are working to create Spanish versions of their previously released English apps. They've even launched a Spanish website just for i Learn With...or should I say, Aprendes con? (Not sure why it is not Aprendo con.)

Like the others this app will be FREE to download with the possibility for parents to unlock the full version with a single in-app purchase.


Anyway, take a look at some shots of their first Spanish app on nutrition...

There Should Be No Kid Hungry

 
No child should ever go hungry. Not just because our kids shouldn't suffer from such extreme poverty that they have to forgo a meal, but because when our kids go hungry, it affects our whole country. Children who are malnourished struggle academically. Kids who don't eat breakfast have a harder time focusing and learning.

That's why I support the No Kid Hungry campaign. This week was National School Breakfast Week. Does that sound silly? It shouldn't. Because children who eat a healthy breakfast are far more likely to remember what they've learned and are better equipped to learn more.

Perhaps the fact that I homeschool has made me better able to understand the ramifications of my kids skipping breakfast. If fact, just two weeks ago, when I picked her up from a morning piano lesson I was distressed to see that she couldn't remember the names of the notes that she'd had absolutely no problem reading the day before. Confused and a little embarrassed, I told the teacher I'd help her more at home. When we got in our car to leave, my daughter started crying upset that she couldn't remember and that she'd had a bad lesson. By the time we got home, she was sobbing. This was so unusual, I didn't really know what to do and wracked my brain trying to figure out the problem. Just before we arrived home, an idea entered my head and I asked her what she had eaten for breakfast. Guess what? Yep! She hadn't eaten one. I thought my husband had fed her, or that she had made her own. 

I remember getting this same kind of reaction from her two or three times when she was younger and learning to read...but having forgotten to eat breakfast. It was hard for me to determine what was wrong back then...just imagine how confused parents who don't homeschool are if their child starts to struggle academically as a result. I would imagine that eating breakfast might not even be considered.

And what about those low-income families who might not be able to buy breakfast products and rely on their child's school to provide food?

I want to share with you five fast facts from the No Kid Hungry website about the importance of school breakfast programs... 

1. STUDENTS DON’T EAT BREAKFAST: Even though more than 21 million low-income kids in the U.S. rely on a free or reduced-price school lunch, only half – about 11 million – are also getting a school breakfast. [FRAC School Breakfast Scorecard, 2011-2012]

2. TEACHERS SEE HUNGER: Nearly two-thirds (62%) of K-8 public school teachers said they had children in their classrooms who regularly came to school hungry because there wasn’t enough to eat at home. [No Kid Hungry’s “Hunger In Our Schools” survey, 2012]

3. BREAKFAST IS KEY TO LEARNING: Teachers said school breakfast led to increased concentration (95%), better academic performance (89%) and better behavior in the classroom (73%). [No Kid Hungry’s “Hunger In Our Schools” survey, 2012]

4. BREAKFAST CHANGES LIVES: According to an analysis of the long-term impact of school breakfast, this morning meal does more than simply provide children with essential daily nutrition. On average, students who eat school breakfast have been shown to achieve 17.5% higher scores on standardized math tests and attend 1.5 more days of school per year. These factors are linked to a child’s improved chance of getting a high school diploma, and high school graduates are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages and see greater self-sufficiency as adults. [“Ending Childhood Hunger: A Social Impact Analysis,” 2013]

5. YOU CAN HELP MORE KIDS GET BREAKFAST:  The No Kid Hungry campaign has found that innovative ways of serving breakfast – like moving it from the cafeteria to the classroom – can give many more kids a chance to benefit from breakfast at school. Increasing participation in school breakfast is just one way No Kid Hungry is making sure all kids get the food they need every day, and you can help. We’re building an online map that paints a virtually unprecedented view of school breakfast programs across the country. We’re asking people to call a school(s), ask three simple questions about school breakfast and report their findings into our online map. Visit NoKidHungry.org/Breakfast to get started.

So what can you do?

1. Make sure your child gets a healthy breakfast every day. Their little bodies need the fuel to function properly.

2. Spread the news. Get to know the other parents in your child's class and share with them how important breakfast is for their child.

3. Get together with your child's school to promote the No Kid Hungry intiative. Enlist them to reach out to parents and promote the message.

4. Follow No Kid Hungry on Facebook and learn more about what resources are available to parents and educators. 

5. And if you are an educator, register for the No Kids Hungry toolkit.

McDonald's Listens to Moms with Nutrition Changes

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about nutrition and how it affects academic performance. I shared some great breakfast recipe links and ideas, as well as healthy snack options.

Of course, making my kids a homemade meal is at the top of my list (and my mother's, too, judging by nagging repetitive phone and email conversations). But I'll tell you the same thing I tell her: The reality is that I simply cannot fix every single meal for them. Some moms do. I am in total awe of them. But quite frankly, I'm not the world's best cook. And for me, time is a big issue. I want fast and easy and nutritious. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn't. Most of the time, I don't really find cooking enjoyable, but rather simply another task I have to do to make it through the day. (This is really ironic because my daughter and I love to experiment in the kitchen, or sit and watch cooking shows. What's the deal?) I really need a good meal planning service. But that's another post.

Anyway, as I was saying, sometimes I need a break, or sometimes we are on the run from one thing to another, or simply want to get together with friends. We live in a rural area with very few restaurant options. In fact, I can count them all on one hand. And - yep! - McDonald's is one of them.

Now 10 - or maybe even 5 - years ago, I would probably have had reservations about letting my kids eat there on a regular basis. But today I don't really blink because there are far more healthy choices available on their menu than there has been in the past. We frequently stop to pick up a strawberry-banana real-fruit smoothie or fruit and yogurt parfait during the summer. (Note: We are smoothie aficionados.) And as far as my daughter is concerned, nothing beats their grilled chicken snack wraps. That's pretty much my standard fare, too, though I like the salads. 

This week, I had the chance to attend a McDonald's event where they announced new changes that are coming to their restaurants.

Are you a mom? Apparently last year, they conducted a number of Listening Tours across the nation. Did you attend one of these? And according to their President, Jan Fields, they got three things out of those events:

1 - Moms wanted McD's to make it easier to find nutritional information about the menu items at the restaurants.

2 - They also wanted more balanced-diet options available not just for their kids, but for adults, too.

3 - They wanted more variety in the menu items.

So in response, McDonald's will be adding calorie counts to all their menu boards starting next week. They've also created a free nutrition app for mobile phones (it is very visual so even Spanish-speakers should find it easy to use), and are launching a new elearning program to educate their employees using the USDA's dietary guidelines... so that when you ask your server a nutrition question, they might be able to actually answer it. :)
In their efforts to provide healthier menu items, they've also begun to expand and are working towards offering choices from all of the food groups. Ummm...is this really McDonald's? Yes! Here are a few changes they've already made, that were especially important to me as a mom:

• They have reduced the amount of sodium in 70% of their burgers, and 100% of their chicken!

• They no longer offer whole milk. All of their milk is fat-free - including the chocolate milk.

• Their salads offer 2 -3 cups of veggies.

• Their real-fruit smoothies serve 1/2 cup of fruit.

• Are committed to offering more seasonal produce, as they did with their fresh blueberry banana nut oatmeal this year.

By 2020, their goal is to reduce the amount of sugar and saturated fats on their menu (but don't worry, their famous burgers and fries will still be available).

I had the pleasure of talking with Sylvia Meléndez Klinger, a nutritionist working with McDonald's. She was just the loveliest and most informative person to talk with and I'm looking forward to sharing more of what she said with you soon.

But for now, if you're wondering what's coming to the menu next year, then lick your lips because they are adding blueberry pomegranate smoothies, egg-white breakfast sandwiches on a whole grain muffin (8g of whole grain & 0% fat!), and the McWraps full of fresh veggies that have proven to be really popular in Europe. 

Now, if we can just get them to add some grilled McNuggets or a Snack Wrap to the Happy Meals...

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, but I was invited, and did attend, their live announcement event.

Choose Your Snacks Wisely & Get Creative

Around 10:30 in the morning or so, we take a break from school to "refuel" and have some snacks to help us make it through until lunch. This is probably more important for younger children in PreK - 3rd. There is so much energy being burned up by their little bodies and active brains, that eating more frequently is a must.

But to be honest, I think older children (and adults!) could benefit from eating smaller portions more frequently, too. The key, though, is what you eat. Instead of chips, cookies, or other sugary snacks, try more fruits, whole grains, and dairy products. Yogurts, bagels, muffins, bananas, apples, a glass of milk, and cheese are all great ideas for snacking.

I really loved the healthy snacks many of you shared on the MommyMaestra Facebook page when I asked which ones were your favorites. You gave me a lot of ideas to try out...

Thanks, Everyone!

Sometimes all you need is the perfect container. Nibble trays of carrots, grapes, cheese, and crackers are easy to make and enticing to people of just about any age. And just last week, we found these plastic popcorn holders at our local dollar store. My son was so excited to get home and make some popcorn (in our popcorn maker!), fill the holders, and gobble it all down.

During the weekends or for after school snacks, you might have more time to get creative with food. When your kids are craving sugary foods, make simple sandwiches irresistible with cookie cutters in shapes your kids recognize. A dinosaur or Millennium Falcon turkey sandwich is more likely to eaten with less resistance than a plain square one! (Trust me on this.)

Making food art is along similar lines and immediately develops a story in your child's head. It also nurtures their creative spirit, inspiring them to create their own edible masterpieces. You can encourage them to eat more fruits and veggies by supplying them with pieces of food and an empty plate or muffin tin and challenging them to put together a scene or character. Take a look at my Pinterest board on Food Art for inspiration.

One of my newest and most favorite tools for getting my kids to eat more fruit is the ZOKU New Triple Quick Pop Maker that makes three paletas (popsicles) at a time in as little as seven minutes. It is easy and fun and my kids love it to pieces. I love the fact that we are making desserts that are healthy and nutritious because we only use fresh ingredients, mostly fruits.

The Zoku is really easy to use. I didn't know very much about it when I got it, and thought you had to plug it in. So my kids were a little disappointed when we took it out of the box and realized it had to sit in the freezer for 24 hours before using it. But the next day? Whoa! We made sandía paletas by blending up watermelon slices - seeds and all - in a blender then pouring the puree into the Zoku. Less than 10 minutes later my kids were licking away, happy as they could be. (More about the educational benefits of this product coming soon!)

For our next round we added strawberry slices before pouring in the watermelon. We were thrilled with our beautiful and edible creations. Cantaloupes, peaches, even orange juice all freezes nicely. Throw in a few blueberries or banana slices to add texture and color. You can even simply pour in chocolate milk and - vaya! - instant (wholesome) chocolate popsicles. I got their Quick Pops recipe book, too. It is full of yummy goodness! I will never buy a popsicle again. Just looking at the ingredients on the packaging makes me ill.

Take a look at how easy it is to make these healthy paletas!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• 15 Homemade Paletas to Try this Summer
  
  
• Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz
  
  
• Airfryer Strawberry Chimichangas
  
  
• Paleta-Themed Educational Resources

Sample Recipes for Healthy Breakfasts



© Kati Molin - Fotolia.com

Warning: One giant post full of delicious, mouth-watering recipes ahead!

One thing I am always fretting over is how to keep my kids' breakfast exciting while still maintaining the nutrition factor. As much as my kids love one particular item, having it over and over again is the fastest way to make it lose its novelty. 

The other problem is that for those of you with children who leave the house for school, the morning rush can really limit the amount of time you have to get a breakfast put together. But healthy can still be quick if you follow these simple tips:

- Hard boil eggs once/twice a week at night, and store them in the fridge for a quick grab-and-go.

- Make extra pancakes, waffles, and crepes and freeze them for future use.

- Mix together dry ingredients for smoothies, pancakes, and other recipes the night before and store in a plastic bag or container until it's time to use them.

- Unless you really love cooking (I don't!), don't try and make a big breakfast from scratch every morning. Instead, rely on your staple dishes, and then make one really great recipe once or twice a week. Or you can have a cooking extravaganza every Sunday, make extras, and freeze them if the recipe permits so you can heat them up later in the week. 

- Once you've narrowed down a group of about six items (i.e., yogurt, fruits, smoothies, waffles, toast, eggs, oatmeal, cereal, pancakes) don't be afraid to mix and match them throughout the week (Day 1: yogurt/waffles/milk, Day 2: oatmeal/fruits/orange juice, Day 3: waffle/hard boiled egg/orange juice, Day 4: smoothie/a slice of toast)

Consider these fast and easy breakfast meals combos:

• Whole wheat waffles with a drizzle of all-natural maple syrup, a hard-boiled egg, (vanilla) yogurt, and a cup of milk

• Oatmeal with chopped nuts, fruit, and orange juice

• Pancakes with a drizzle of syrup, yogurt, and milk

• Slice of toast, one scrambled egg, fresh fruit, and milk

• Breakfast smoothie with a blueberry muffin

• Breakfast quiche, a slice of toast, a yogurt, and milk

• Bagel with cream cheese, hard-boiled egg, a few slices of fruit and orange juice

Now for the best part! Here are some incredibly delicious recipes from mis amigas in the foodie blogosphere. They are so talented! If you visit their website to and love their recipe, please consider leaving them a comment telling them I sent you. :)

Smoothies ~ Parfaits:

Healthy Bananas Blueberries Smoothie on New Latina

Breakfast To Go ~ Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie on New Latina

Lavender, Vanilla, Blueberry Smoothie on Nibbles & Feasts

Sunrise Parfaits on Parents.com


Oats ~ Oatmeal ~ Cereals

Steel Cut Overnight Oats on Sweet Life

Creamy Bananas Foster Oatmeal on Nibbles & Feasts

Homemade Cereals on New Latina


Toast ~ Waffles ~ Pancakes ~ Biscuits
(Let's take it easy on the syrup, hmmm?)

Banana French Toast on Two Good Eggs

Creamy Orange Marmalade French Toast with Coconut Syrup on Two Good Eggs

Blueberry Pancakes on Two Good Eggs

Butternut Squash Pancakes on Two Good Eggs (Perfect for fall, no?)

Sweet Potato Biscuits on La Cocina de Leslie


Casseroles ~ Quiches ~ Frittatas

Blueberry French Toast Casserole on Two Good Eggs

Chorizo and Potato Mini-Quiches with Veggies on Nibbles & Feasts

Spicy Mexican Chorizo Zucchini Frittata on Muy Bueno Cookbook (You can leave out the peppers for a non-spicy version!)


Cultural Dishes

Bean, Cheese and Chorizo Mexican Molletes on Two Good Eggs

Melon con Crema de Mango on Sweet Life (Go easy on the crema. Healthy? Probably not so much. But the melon is!)

Breakfast Tostada on Sweet Life


Other Great Posts with Ideas for Healthy Breakfasts

10 Easy & Healthy Alternatives to Packaged Breakfast Cereal for Kids on Childhood 101

Desayuno para Niños #1 on Mama Contemporanea

10 Delicious and Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids on Baby Center

The Link Between Nutrition and Academic Performance

Last week the No Kid Hungry campaign released a report saying that 3 out of 5 teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry.

For many low-income students, the low-cost or free breakfasts and lunches they receive at school may be the only meals they receive each day. This matters a lot to school districts because a child's ability to focus in school and their ability to recognize and understand concepts are directly affected by their diet.

Research shows that nutrition directly impacts brain development, cognitive skills, motivation, attention span, and more. A lack of proper nutrients can cause irritability, and make a child more susceptible to infections and diseases, which in turn affects school attendance.

So this is why breakfast is the most important meal of the day and what a child eats for it can determine how well they'll learn in school that day. During the course of a lesson or school day, the brain is working really hard to analyze and internalize specific concepts. I know from experience that learning to read, for example, uses a TON of energy. When my daughter was learning to read, I tried to make sure that our reading lesson was one of the first two subjects after breakfast. Otherwise, I was careful to give her a snack and a glass of milk before we attempted to read. There was a noticeable difference in her behavior and attitude if I didn't, and the lesson would quickly deteriorate to tears without the proper sustenance.

Last year in August, I dedicated a week to Nutrition here on MommyMaestra. And if you look through my blog, you'll find numerous articles on nutrition. I hope you'll take a moment to look through them for ideas on healthy foods and resources for menu planning. This week, I'll be sharing more products and resources to help you supply your child with the proper "fuel" that he or she needs to achieve maximum performance in school.

Meanwhile, I encourage you to check out No Kid Hungry's Facebook page and help spread the message about how we all can help to end hunger in our schools.

Con mucho cariño...

I Love Avocados Thanks to My 'Buelita

When it comes to our niños, nutrition and education go hand-in-hand. Without proper nutrition, our kids are more likely to struggle academically. Our bodies need the right balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals to perform important functions like the ability to focus, make connections, comprehension, and much, much more.

When I think about nutrition, I typically think of my 'Buelita, who was the best cook that I've ever known. She learned to cook by watching the viejitas cooking in the plazas in Mexico. And when she came to the U.S., she found success by opening her own restaurant in Dallas, Texas.

El Original was one of the city's favorites, and it served traditional Mexican and TexMex dishes. People from all over town came to eat my 'Buelita's exceptional meals, which she prepared with love and happiness. All of her dishes were made from scratch - no canned enchilada sauce ever entered her kitchen. Everyday she scoured the markets for fresh produce, including fresh avocados.

It would not surprise me to learn that my first introduction to aguacates was made by my 'Buelita. I remember that when I was a child, 'Buelita would fill warm corn tortillas with a few slices of aguacates and a pinch of salt. That was my FAVORITE afterschool snack. (And it still is!) That's when my love affair with avocados began.

According to Avocados from Mexico's website, "the world's first avocado was grown and cultivated in Mexico countless generations ago. Thanks to the region's fertile volcanic soil, ideal climate, and centuries of expert cultivation, Mexico remains the source of the world's finest avocados. Today, Mexico is the only place in the world where avocado trees naturally bloom four times a year. Producing a year-round bounty of irresistibly rich and creamy avocados." (Hmmm...I think I need to put together a unit study on avodados, don't you?)

But what makes aguacates a winner in my mother/teacher mind is the fact that they have more than 25 essential nutrients that our bodies need, including folic acid, Vitamin E, Potassium, B vitamins and fiber, and protein not normally found in fruit. AND they have both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat and (again) potassium which help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

So knowing this and because I have loved this food for so long, I am always trying to find ways to prepare it for my own kids. The Avocados from Mexico site has lots of super delicious recipes in English and Spanish that the public has shared.

But I wanted to share with you one of the lunches that I frequently prepare for my own kids. The chicken and avocados provide an extra boost of protein to keep their energy up throughout the long afternoons. I hope you enjoy!

Chicken Avocado Pasta

Ingredients:
2 cups pasta (shells)
1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil (or butter)
1/2 tomato, diced
1/4 bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped 
1 avocado, diced
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
salad dressing (optional)

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. 
2. Add EVOO (or butter) and stir well.
3. Spoon into bowls and add chicken, fruits, and vegetables.
4. Top with your favorite salad dressing and stir.

Serves 4.

 

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with Avocados from Mexico and Latina Bloggers Connect. However, all opinions expressed - and the recipe! - are my own.

A Master List of Spanish Curricula for Bilingual Homeschoolers

Below is a comprehensive list of Spanish curricula for homeschoolers. It is a list of materials and resources for families who are homeschooling their children bilingually or in Spanish.

IF you are looking for programs and resources for teaching your children to speak Spanish, visit my Master List of Spanish Learning Resources.

This list will be continually updated and made available for you to reference with ease via a button in my sidebar.

This post contains affiliate links.

Spanish Curricula for Bilingual Homeschoolers

For a while now I've been thinking about all the requests I get on a constant basis for Spanish curricula. And even though I have shared many of them here on MommyMaestra, there really needs to be one single place that parents can go to and find what is available. Since I do not use a Spanish curriculum with my kids, I really hope that those of you who are homeschooling in Spanish, or are bilingual ed teachers, will share your knowledge and resources with the other families visiting this site.

By clicking on the title of the product, you will be taken to the publisher's/company's website where you can purchase it or read more about it.

Because some of the materials have already been reviewed on MommyMaestra, if you click on the word "REVIEW" next to the title, you will be taken to review article so you can read our thoughts about the product.

Items with the word "RECOMMENDED" next to them were submitted/presented at the suggestion of someone else. Some link to reviews.

IF you would like to review a product on MommyMaestra, please contact me to submit your review. 

COMPLETE CURRICULA

• Nobis Pacem PreK - 12th, Charlotte Mason (REVIEW)
  
  
• Lemonhass
  
  
• Colegio Hebron PreK - 12, Christian based
  
  
• Rod & Staff PreK - 8th, Christian based

PRESCHOOL

 

• Beautiful Mundo Secular (REVIEW)
  
  
• Spanglish Schoolhouse (REVIEW)
  
  
• Niños and Nature (REVIEW)
  
  
• Bilingual Preschool Planner Printable pages
  
  
• Hola Amigo Not really a curriculum, but it is a themed monthly box subscription for preschool.
  
  
• Bilinguitos - Not a curriculum, but they offer virtual classes.
  
  
• ReadyRosie Online school preparedness program (REVIEW)
  
  
• Bilingual Child Bubbles APP (REVIEW)

ELEMENTARY

• Nobis Pacem PreK - 12th, Charlotte Mason (REVIEW)
  
  
• Paco el Chato Website (For 1st through 6th grade)
  
  
• BrainPOP Español Website (REVIEW)
  
  
• Nacho Books (REVIEWS)
  
  
• A great resource for 3rd graders from the Secretary of Education from Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It is a 14 page review of reading comprehension and math. I think there are also editions for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• La casa infantíl (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• Rod & Staff Curriculum K-8th
  
  
• Mexican Governments Basic Education Reform page Free PDFs of Spanish textbooks for grades PreK - 6th (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• Cursive resources

READING & LANGUAGE ARTS

(Please remember that many of the books listed may be found at a reduced price on Amazon.com. Also, be sure to look at MommyMaestra's series of articles related to teaching your child to read in Spanish.)

• Hagamos Caminos $ program (REVIEW)
  
  
• Lectura para niños $ program(REVIEW)
  
  
• Nacho Books $ workbook series (REVIEWS)
  
  
• Estrellita $$$ program (REVIEW)
  
  
• National Geographic/Cengage Curriculum 
  
  
• Tesoros de Lectura 
  
  
• Newbridge Curriculum
  
  
• National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center FREE downloadable lesson plans (REVIEW)
  
  
• Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms Book (REVIEW)
  
  
• Los Bloguitos This website is no longer publishing new content, but what's there is excellent! (REVIEW)
  
  
• ABC Escritura Creativa Website
  
  
• Música amiga Curriculum (REVIEW)
  
  
• DJ Inkers Bilingual preschool & kindergarten booklets (REVIEW)
  
  
• Reglas de ortografia (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• A list of reading comprehension materials for 1st-2nd grade (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• Literacy resources from ReadWriteThink (RECOMMENDED)
  
  
• Bosque de la Fantasía 
  
  

MATH

• National Education Association Interactive website with free printables (REVIEW)
  
  
• Math Mammoth in Spanish
  
  

SCIENCE

• Paso Partners Free lesson plans (REVIEW)
  
  
• Curiosikid Interactive website (REVIEW)
  
  
• Dosel en las nubes Interactive website with lesson plans (REVIEW of English site)
  
  
• En Español Illinois University Website
  
  
• CIENCIAS: Un Vistazo Mas A Fondo (for middle & high school)
  
  
• Sunflower/Girasol Bilingual Elementary School Science Lessons

NUTRITION

• Nourish Interactive

PUBLISHERS

• Vista Higher Learning

 SPANISH HOMESCHOOL SITES

• El Hogar Educador Homeschooling magazine in Spanish

(I will continue to update this list. I have a long list of resources, but I prefer to check each one out before I add it here. So check back!)

Last updated: August 3rd, 2022