This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterBreakfast #CollectiveBias
We’re raising awareness about Feeding America in the Great American Milk Drive to help deliver milk to hungry children and families who need it most.
This past summer, I was surprised to hear the phrase “I can do it mom” repeated on a daily basis. Each day, I would find myself doing something for the kids and my daughter would declare that she could do it. The first few times, I was skeptical knowing that a lot of the things she claimed she could “do,” I had never seen her “do.” As I stepped aside, I watched her “do” a lot of seemingly new things this summer. Everything from making her own bed, packing her bag for tennis camp, and even making herself lunch. Apparently, there really was a lot she could do on her own!
I have to admit, I felt a little conflicted. This summer made me realize how caught up I am in my own daily routines. Over the years, I have gotten so comfortable in my routines that I do far more things for my kids than I should. But as we all know, rushing through our own routines isn’t helpful in a learning environment. Children need time and patience when they are trying to learn important life skills. Life skills that will beneficial in their development as independent children. I knew I had to slow things down a bit and encourage my daughter when she declared she could “do it.”
With the start of the school year, I wanted to start by making breakfast time an empowering part of her day. By making a few small tweaks around the kitchen (and making some brand new placements for them – scroll to the bottom for the tutorial!), I knew she would be able to make herself a nutritious breakfast with very little help from me.
I started by setting the scene each night by pouring milk into a smaller glass pitcher. This way, during the morning rush, if she accidentally spills some while pouring herself a glass to drink, it’s not that big of a deal. There’s a huge difference between a gallon of spilled milk and just a pint. 😉 I think a glass of milk before school each day is a great way to start off her day. Milk’s 9 essential nutrients, including 8 grams of high-quality protein per 8-ounce serving, can help to ensure that she has the potential to play, learn and grow all day long.
I also encourage my children to have a fruit or vegetable with every meal and Del Monte Fruit & Veggie Fusions is their favorite pick for breakfast. I make sure I place the fruit cups on the lowest shelf, so they can easily reach them. They are easy to open and I’m happy to know they are choosing the only fruit cup product that provides 1 serving of fruits and veggies in a single cup. The veg is in the juice but you’d never know it! [P.S. You can find specially marked Del Monte Fruit & Veggie Fusions packages on the shelf at Walmart for valuable coupons for Del Monte and Lenders products.]
I also placed our toaster in a more accessible spot for her so she can drop her bagels into it safely. Bagels for breakfast are timesaving, easy, tasty and nutritious. Lender’s bagels are her favorite and sustain her all morning long. Plus, with so many varieties to choose from like Plain, Blueberry and Cinnamon-Raisin, they’re very kid-friendly and a great option for the whole family. [P.S. Lender’s has a bagel for Everyone and you can find them in the refrigerated dairy section.]
Lately, my daughter has even taken on the responsibility of assisting her younger brother with his breakfast while I start to assemble their school lunches. This has been incredibly helpful to me and I know that they’re making good choices. For my kids, the perfect breakfast combination is a tall glass of milk, a lightly toasted bagel and a tasty fruit cup. This combination gives them a nice balance of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin C and other things that they won’t get with other choices.
Being able to send my kids off to school knowing they have started their day with a #BetterBreakfast makes me happy. I know they will have the energy to play, learn and grow each day. But, it also makes me think of the families out there that don’t have the opportunity to start their day off with a nutritious breakfast.
This is why we’re working to raise awareness about Feeding America in the Great American Milk Drive.
#BuildABetterBreakfast Sweepstakes
The Great American Milk Drive
Now, you can help feed a childhood. By purchasing 1 or more of these products, you are helping Feeding America provide nutrient-rich milk to kids and families in need. Visit milklife.com/give to learn more.
Join Feeding America in The Great American Milk Drive to help deliver highly desired and nutrient-rich gallons of milk to hungry children and families who need it most. More than 14 million servings of milk have been delivered to food banks through this first-of-its-kind initiative.
DIY PERSONALIZED BURLAP PLACEMATS
Materials
- 1 roll of burlap
- 1 foam brush
- black acrylic paint
- 1 package of letter stencils
Directions
Step 1: Cut burlap to placemat size. On unfinished ends, pull burlap strings to create a frayed look.
Step 2: Lay paper towels or old newspaper down on your work surface. Place your placemat on top of the paper. Lay your stencils out on the placement starting from the outermost edge in to ensure proper alignment.
Step 3: Pour some black acrylic paint into a small dish and using your foam brush, gently dab paint on to the stencils.
Step 4: Carefully remove stencils and allow to dry completely.
Thanks for reading,
Daniele
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