Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Morning Rush & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.



I always say that if I accomplished as much during the remainder of the day as I do between the hours of 5:45 and 8:15 in the morning, I could rule the world. Mornings are notoriously busy around our house and I am certain that many other people can claim the same. My husband, the trooper that he is, typically crawls out of bed first so that he can fit his run in before I head out to meet my running partner. Starting the day with a vigorous run, and being outside in the cool air just as the sun starts to rise over the mountains and the birds begin their daily activities, keeps me sane. It is a time for gratitude, reflection, and some good old-fashioned chit-chat with my running buddy.

Then I step from the peaceful outdoors into a house full of crazy morning antics. I am certain this is where the term “calm before the storm” originated. Morning showers; kids getting dressed, making bed, and brushing their teeth; lunch boxes and backpacks being packed; pets being fed – these are just a few of the activities we attempt to jam into a period of time that seems to go by at warp speed.

While it may seem that there is an inane amount of craziness that takes place at our house, I can tell you that it is a lot better than it used to be. We now successfully get out the door each morning and still like each other by the end of it. How do we do it? One word: preparation.

The night before we organize as much as can. Lunches are made and stored in the fridge, lunch boxes are at the ready on the kitchen counter, breakfast dishes and utensils are set on the table, and cereal, bagel, and fruit choices are organized.

One of the keys to accomplishing everything quickly is choosing breakfast items that are quick and convenient. It takes less than two minutes to pour cereal into a bowl, top it with some slices of fresh fruit, and douse it in cold milk. With the quick preparation out of the way, we have the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a nutritious, filling meal together. To keep us satisfied longer, we choose high-fiber cereal such as Raisin Bran and Smart Start.


Morning tasks are wrapped up and we head off to enjoy the day and conquer the world.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What types of food do you prepare in the morning to make this busy time simpler?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 9/28 - 10/4/2010.

For more information on Kellogg's, head to www.loveyourcereal.com.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.
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105 comments:

Henry said...

My husband likes turkey bacon and eggs for breakfast, but the kid and I just grab cereal or waffles.
quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com

meeyeehere said...

I make yogurt and granola with fruit on busy mornings.Thanks so much!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

Mami2jcn said...

Granola bars are quick for breakfast.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

fostertam said...

There aren't any children at home anymore, but when my daughter was that age she was usually in such a rush that she grabbed some cereal or toaster strudels--once a week I would try and fix a hot breakfast like eggs and toast--she also liked those microwaved pancakes.

fostertam said...

http://twitter.com/fostertam/status/26496703846

Unknown said...

I try and always have some kind of brkfst bread on hand. Zucchini bread is our favorite!

Tabathia B said...

I usually go with poptarts, cream of wheat or oatmeal and sometimes (ok alot of times) cereal
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/26505289505
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Nicole Larsen said...

Bananas, cereal, or granola bars are great for hectic and busy mornings in our home!

pittsy82@hotmail.com

Nicole Larsen said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/26515104891

pittsy82@hotmail.com

ms-texas said...

tweet

http://twitter.com/bellows22/status/26516482694

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

ms-texas said...

we mostly like cereal or oatmeal - on occasion we'll get donuts or mcdonalds for breakfast

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

Jen said...

If we are really in a hurry, I'll grab a banana and a carton of yogurt and dash out the door. Or a PB&J in the car;)

Kimie Weaver said...

Grab a granola bar and a banana, then I'm out the door.

kkiimmiieecc (at) hotmail (dot) com

kjasus said...

our favorite to go breakfast are muffins. i usually bake a batch once a week and keep them in th freezer, then pop them in the mircowave when it's time to go.
raggammuffin@gmail.com

Clarke & Lewis said...

Instant oatmeal to the rescue- healthy, nutritious and can be served warm.
rmartinclarke at gmail dot com

Clarke & Lewis said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/rsmc1/status/26580013300
rmartinclarke at gmail dot com

The Sunshyn said...

I often prepare cereal with milk, sometimes with honey and fruit on busy mornings. when very rushed I just grab a banana and breakfast ba on the way out the door.
chainmail(at) iwon(dot)com

The Sunshyn said...

I tweeted about this promotion
http://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/26584537742

ragamuffinbeauties said...

We are BIG cereal fans at our house, but we also go for things I can make in bulk and freeze like muffins and waffles.

Jenni Carlisle
carlisleclanconversation@hotmail.com

marybug2 said...

My kids lov Kelloggs cereals so it is very easy to put out the cereal boxes and let them choose.
marybug2@yahoo.com

marybug2 said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/marybug2/status/26603850161
marybug2@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Just love having hot cereal but easy like Oatmeal or Cream of Wheats!
gmissycat@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Tweeted giveaway here!
http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/26613189837
gmissycat@yahoo.com

Racingjourno said...

I have a healthy protein shake. Takes no time at all.

Scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com

Racingjourno said...

Tweet
http://twitter.com/LuigiFranco/status/26614113649

scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com

LAMusing said...

Cold cereal with fruit or instant oatmeal on cold days!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

Tweet!
http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/26615477045
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

My daughter is grown and I'm trying to GAIN weight, so it's usually a donut or sweet roll :)
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Trish said...

Always include milk, either toast or bagel with butter and jam, or cold cereal. Add a quick scrambled egg if we're lucky.

Anonymous said...

Having the coffee made the night before and on a timer is a big thing for us. We also always have eggs available for a quick microwave poached egg, or hardboiled ones in the fridge.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Megan
mnatherson at comcast dot net

Karate Mom said...

We do cold cereal for quick mornings.
lisakaymahoney(at)yahoo(dot)com

Darcy said...

English toaster muffins and a yogurt are my go-to's - healthy, tasty and fast!

Wander said...

This morning, I made breakfast burritos!
YUM!
They're quick and delicious!
Brown a little ground pork (drain) mix in beaten eggs, sprinkle with cheese and serve on flour tortillas.
Out the door you go with them.

Anonymous said...

I eat cereal out of a baggie on the way to work.

Katy said...

I usually do cereal and frozen waffles- sometimes canned cinnamon rolls. Weekends I will make something special.

Brooke said...

Oatmeal and cereal are fast - the usual go to for breakfast.
shutterboo at gmail dot com

The Need 2 Read said...

I like things I can make ahead and freeze or refrigerate - sausage balls, muffins, etc. And with a new baby due the end of the month, things I can pull out of the freezer always help!!

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

The Need 2 Read said...

Tweet Tweet!

http://twitter.com/ChampagneWisdom/status/26655622331

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/tigergal01/status/26656969378

tweet

~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com

Anonymous said...

Making a batch of baked oatmeal and then having it on hand to warm up for breakfasts throughout the week. Super easy!

~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com

Anonymous said...

Cereal, fruit, juice, milk, easy and fast! :)

shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/lipstickncandy/status/26658156194

shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Frozen sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits or toaster streudel.

MCantu1019@aol.com

A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...

My kids ask for oatmeal almost every morning!

sustahl said...

I either add milk to the cereal or toast some bread and spread some peanut butter on it. Sometimes I will have bagels in the house and cream cheese for the busy mornings.

rsmstahley @ adelphia dot net

sustahl said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/rsmstahley/status/26677860334

rsmstahley @ adelphia dot net

Anonymous said...

cereal, fruit, waffles and pop tarts occasionallu donuts.
tcogbill at live dot com

Deb said...

My kids are pretty self sufficient for breakfast. They love yogurt cups, so that is a no brainer. What I do do that makes life easier for them is pre-cut the English muffins and bagels. My older son is old enough to toast them himself, but I don’t quite trust his knife skills yet, so if they are already cut, it’s one less thing we have to worry about.

Daryl said...

Oatmeal and cereal and milk for me

wigget said...

we keep it pretty simple with cereal and milk

sisinpacific said...

yogurt and cereal. Or premade Home made waffles/pancakes that we toast.
karla_schade(at)hotmail(dot)com

Leah @ A Butterfly In My Stomach said...

We eat cereal or poptarts....they are quick and delicious!

leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

Leah @ A Butterfly In My Stomach said...

http://twitter.com/#!/leahforlove/status/26717273030

tweet tweet!

leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

Mary Helen said...

We also usually have a "quick" breakfast of a cereal bar, cereal or toasted waffles with peanut butter :) Sometimes we also throw a hot bowl of oatmeal in the mix.

Bonnie @ See How She Runs said...

cereal bars or fruit helps alot

Susan C. said...

I love my cold cereal and milk in the morning, but in a pinch, I bring yogurt and granola to work for a quick breakfast.

sodahoney said...

We eat a variety of foods for breakfast. We do not stick to typical breakfast foods. We plan for the week. We do prep at night and everyone has an assigned task and it runs smooth

sodahoney said...

http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/26789805768

Kelly Massman said...

We eat something quick--like cereal and milk! thanks for a chance to win!
kmassman gmail

Unknown said...

I keep cereal and fruit on hand for busy mornings.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/26804963681

Tracy R said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/tracylr233/status/26806361378

Anonymous said...

We are big on Bagels! We pick them fresh up Sunday at our local Bagel shop, freeze em' for the week & Easily pop them in the toaster for those speed-breakfast days!

panicxduh[at]yahoo[dot]com

Shelly Leatham said...

My daughter and I grab cereal, grits or bagels for breakfast on school mornings...quick and simple!
bleatham*at*gmail.com

Shelly Leatham said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/sleatham1/status/26817977991
bleatham*at*gmail.com

Jennai said...

I have cold cereal, frozen waffles, or granola bars. Also bananas. These make for a quick breakfast!
HobartsMama {AT} AOL.COM

susan1215 said...

We have something quick like cereal, toaster struel and bagels

s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/26877726677

susitravl said...

I try to have breakfast foods that don't require a lot of preparation - yogurt, granola bars, fruit, cereal.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

Aimee said...

On really busy mornings we just have cereal or fruit & yogurt.

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

We have cereal bars and go-gurt.

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/26956451756

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Kristen said...

Quick cook oatmeal, cold cereal or yogurt all make good quick breakfasts.

couponboss at gmail dot com

cdabs said...

I find that cereal, yogurt and bagels are fast and easy.

Terri said...

Bagels, dry cereal, bananas--all extremely portable and delicious.
whitbrit AT gmail DOT com

Tammigirl said...

When we are in a hurry, which we usually are not, we just do pancakes, eggs, or cereal. Of course, we do these things when we aren't in a hurry, too.

Unknown said...

To make our busy mornings easier, we have cereals, yogurts, fruits, toast and instant oatmeal as fast and easy breakfast options.

ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com

bdiane34 said...

Our mornings are not too bad we generally get up early enough for breakfast usually poptarts, cereal, toast etc.
sweokgrl@gmail.com

bdiane34 said...

I tweeted
sweokgrl@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/bdiane34/status/26984882610

Barbarawr said...

My daughter can't eat first thing in the morning. I used to make muffins with fiber and other good stuff in them, but she discovered that she can eat bagels in class without making a mess, so that's what we do.

Email address is in blogger profile

Barbarawr said...

I tweetede http://twitter.com/#!/bsw529/status/26986084164

Email address is in blogger profile

Kerry said...

Cereal or oatmeal make for easy choices with a bagel or english muffin.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Kerry said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/26991612746
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Dee said...

A high fiber cereal and fruit is the easiest! In the winter we also make oatmeal :)

deeg131 at gmail dot com

Dee said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/26997544269

deeg131 at gmail dot com

Deanna said...

Usually cereal or oatmeal! :)

Deanna said...

Tweeted the giveaway:

http://twitter.com/#!/calidreamin87/status/27005363051

Angel Jacklyn said...

CEREAL- IT'S KNOWN AS GOD IN THIS HOUSE LOL kytah00@yahoo.com

Angel Jacklyn said...

TWEETED http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/27022169311 kytah00@yahoo.com

marcia goss said...

My granddaughter likes cold cereal or frozen waffles.
marcia.goss@gmail.com

marcia goss said...

Tweet.
http://twitter.com/mgoss123/status/27022354517
marcia.goss@gmail.com

jakiesmom said...

rice krispies and apple jacks are two of my sons favorite quick fixes
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

Ursula said...

I get up before the kids and cook them pancakes and a fruit. uheeter at comcast.net

Carrie White said...

MY KID'S AND I EAT ALOT OF CEREAL IN THIS HOUSE. WHITECARRIE69@YAHOO.COM

won said...

For my son, it's simply cereal.

For me it's cereal and yogurt.

pattythequilter said...

Frozen berries topped with low-fat yogurt and crunchy granola-type cereal...YUMMM!

won said...

http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/27048444765

thank you!

MomOnTheEdge said...

We're just basic breakfast cereal people. It doesn't get any quicker for us. :)

MomOnTheEdge said...

http://twitter.com/#!/rmgm/status/27054644597

Tweet!

Unknown said...

Bagels and cream cheese or cereal and fruit

Unknown said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/27059602958

ms-texas said...

cereal or cinabon cinnamon toast!

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

ms-texas said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/bellows22/statuses/27079525249

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

JJ said...

cereal because the kids can get it themselves if;) I am running behind