How to Make Weekday Breakfasts a Family Affair

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Y’all, let me tell you, Christmas break was nice. For the first time in as long as I can remember, we didn’t travel. My hubby took time off work and the boys were off school for two full weeks. We played games. We watched movies. We ate meals together. We really connected in a way that we haven’t connected in quite a while. It was amazing. And fulfilling. And truthfully, it made me realize how little time I have left to just be with my family of four. With my oldest son’s junior year halfway over, he’ll be heading off to college before I blink my eyes. My youngest seems to be joining more and more activities and his schedule is constantly changing. And the hubs….well, his work schedule, coupled with a job that’s one town over, means that he’s not always around as much as I would like. It makes spending time together challenging. It makes eating together challenging. It makes being together challenging. But over Christmas break, I realized how much I miss that time of simply being a family. So, as I created my 2020 vision board, right on top of it was have one meal a day as a family. While I know that generally the first “family” meal that comes to anybody’s mind is dinner, we’re not always all home at dinner. But now, almost a month into the new year, I’ve discovered that with a little planning, Malt-O-Meal® Blueberry Muffin Toasters® Cereal that everyone in my family adores, and an alarm clock that’s set just a few minutes earlier, we are able to switch things up and start our day with a family meal. If you’ve been looking for the perfect way to bring kids of different ages together, make more time for family meals, or simply find a way for all your loved ones to eat together once a day, read on to learn how to make weekday breakfasts a family affair.

Now, I’ll be truthful guys. I’ve never really considered breakfast as that time of day when the whole family sits down together. I am the first to admit that I am SO not a morning person, and my oldest is just like me. The hubs and my little guy, on the other hand, bound out of bed talking. So, I needed to find a way to make morning meals together work. At first I thought it was going to be quite a challenge. However, a few simple changes to our schedule and menu ensured that making weekday breakfasts a family affair is as easy as 3 small changes. What are they you ask? Well, let me share with you how bringing my guys together around a breakfast table filled with Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal has made breakfast our favorite time of the day to gather, share, and enjoy being together.

Step 1: Rearrange the Morning Routine

I know that mornings can be chaotic and stressful and feel so short on time, but with a little planning and a lot of determination, my family has been able to make time for a meal together that we can all enjoy. It’s just a fact that we all need to eat breakfast. In the past, that has meant my little guy eating as soon as he gets up, my teenager grabbing something as he rolls out of the door, and my hubby and me carrying around our breakfasts as we are knee deep in the morning routine. I thought finding a time to all sit down would be next to impossible, but in truth, it just required a little expectation setting and time management. Instead of having everyone on different morning schedules, we moved showers to nighttime (a total time saver), kept alarms set for 45 minutes before everyone needs to be out the door, and then chose a time that we would all meet for breakfast. Since I know my oldest needs a few minutes to wake up, we chose 15 minutes after our alarms go off to meet at the table. I quickly realized that we are all spending time eating anyway and by making a simple adjustment and being intentional about what time we eat, creating a family meal in the morning was simple!

Step 2: Keep Things Simple (and Delicious)

Another major time killer for weekday breakfasts in my home is that everyone seems to want something different. It quickly became my mission to come up with a weekday breakfast idea that satisfied the whole family. Now, before you think I went all fancy, I should just inform you that my crew are cereal lovers (thank heavens!). So, for me it was as simple as finding a cereal that we all enjoy and that brings each and every one of us to the table without complaint. For us, that meant adding Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal to our morning routine. For those of you who haven’t heard of Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal (you’ve so been missing out!), this tasty cereal used to be called Blueberry Muffins Top cereal and has always been a fan favorite. Now it’s back with a new name, but the same great taste!

This lightly puffed cereal that’s made with whole wheat and rice is a breakfast that my entire family can agree on. Seriously, you guys, it tastes just like blueberry muffins. Just close your eyes for a minute and picture the taste of freshly baked blueberry muffins, but with crunch. Yes, I’m drooling too because this cereal is seriously delicious! My littlest loves it. My teenager loves it. My hubby loves it. And, of course, I love it!

With it’s 31-once bag size and a suggested retail price of $4.98, it’s a perfect choice for breakfasts in my home. One bag lasts us about a week, so I’m totally saving on our food bill while at the same time putting a breakfast that the whole family can agree on in front of them. As an added bonus, putting together a weekday breakfast is as simple as opening the resealable bag, adding some milk and fruit to the table, and letting everyone enjoy their Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal the way that they want to! Which leads me to my final step of making weekday breakfasts a family affair.

Step 3: Sit Back and Watch the Perfect Family Breakfast Happen

Once I’ve laid out my breakfast spread by adding Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal, milk, fresh fruit, bowls, and spoons to my table, I can actually sit back and enjoy a meal with my family instead of running back and forth to the stove. The really great thing for my brood is the fact that everyone can customize their favorite bowl of crunchy cereal in the way that’s just right for them. My youngest likes to go with no milk, a bowl full of Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal, and a side of fresh blueberries. He then proceeds to eat his cereal by hand (m’kay kid, whatever floats your boat, right?).

My oldest likes to pour his milk, wake up slowly, and wait for all the delicious flavors of Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal to swirl into the milk before he digs in.

And the hubs? Well, he combines the best of all worlds by adding his Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal to his bowl, pouring in his milk, and topping it with some fresh blueberries for a pop of tartness.

You see, that’s the really great thing about my weekday breakfast solutions! They work for every member of the family, from teens to toddlers, to parents, and every age in between. And as for me? Well, I like to pour my Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal into a bowl, immediately add my milk. and then sit back and savor not only the taste of this cereal that brightens up our winter, but also the fact that I’ve finally found a successful way to make family meals an everyday occurrence that all of my guys not only buy into, but actually enjoy. Where my morning used to consist of scattered moments and chaos, I’m now able to start my day with family moments, time together, and the delicious crunch of Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal.

Whether you’re struggling like I was to find time for a family meal that brings everyone in your home together, or simply looking for a deliciously tasty way to brighten up cold winter days, be sure to click here to learn more about Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal, including where to buy it near you!

Then, rethink your morning routine. Simplify your breakfast planning. And stock your pantry with Malt-O-Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters Cereal for a start to the day that is sure to bring everyone in your home running to the breakfast table. Now tell me, when’s the last time your family sat down together for breakfast?