Going back to school after a long and lazy summer is hard.  I’m not looking forward to dragging my kids out of bed when they’ve been so used to sleeping in and getting up slowly for the last couple months. What makes it even harder is that they don’t usually want to eat breakfast first thing in the morning. They take after their father that way. I’m always ravenous when I first wake up and the first thing I want to do is shovel food into my mouth. The boys, on the other hand, require a little coaxing to break their bedtime fast. Sometimes it’s past 10 am before I realize they still haven’t eaten breakfast. They’re in a for a rude awakening when school starts, let me tell you. That’s why I’ve been thinking up fast and portable breakfast ideas that the kids can grab as they’re heading out the door. Each weekday this week, I’m going to share a new grab-and-go breakfast recipe for those busy back-to-school mornings.

First up: Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Overnight Oats. Overnight oats – or refrigerator oats – are one of Cole’s favourite breakfasts. He’s not a fan of cereal, so this is a great alternative for him. Just combine equal parts oats, milk, and yogurt, then toss in whatever add-ins you like.

This particular version with peanut butter, jelly, and bananas didn’t go over well with everyone, unfortunately. This is Food & Whine so you know there’s probably going to be someone whining about the food. Cole didn’t like the peanut butter, and Bennett didn’t like the bananas. Ayla just stared at it in horror and would try any of it. I often make these oats with frozen berries, chia seeds, and a few drops of stevia, and that seems to be their favourite version. Silly me, trying to mix things up a little! I happened to think this version was delicious.

You can use whatever jam or jelly you like best. I used homemade chia jam this time, using blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and Epicure‘s new Chia Jam mix. I love that it’s low in sugar and high in nutrients, thanks to the chia seeds.

This is a really filling breakfast, so it’ll keep your kids’ bellies from growling during school lessons.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup yogurt
• 1/2 tsp chia seeds
• 6 thin slices of banana
• 1 tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. jam

Instructions

1. In a mason jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, banana, and peanut butter. Stir well.
2. Top with jam, then put on the lid and refrigerate overnight.

Check back tomorrow for another fun grab-and-go breakfast idea. See you soon!