It’s a great time of year to get a little more organized in the kitchen so that you can stay ahead of your busy schedule. That’s why we created the Let’s Do This! Getting Ahead in Your Real Food Kitchen eCourse and the {Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks eBook. Hopefully you’ve grabbed yours already and have started working your way through them. If not, you can do that here.
Whether you’re taking the course or not, I hope you’ll all join me in this Getting Ahead Challenge! We can all benefit from working ahead in our kitchens!
During the next four weeks, we’ll be offering four different challenges so that together, we can take steps to get ahead. I’ll be sharing more getting-ahead tips, new recipes, plus some freebies to help us all in our efforts. My goal with these challenges is to put you to work in the kitchen so that you can see how easy and beneficial it is to get food made ahead of time.
Who’s with me?! Let’s Do This!
Our first challenge is all about Getting Ahead for Breakfast.
Why are we starting with a breakfast challenge? Because that’s the meal I struggle with most as I try to get ahead in my kitchen. Dinnertime casseroles in the freezer? No problem. Burritos in the freezer for a quick lunch? Done. But breakfast? I often forget that there are so many make-ahead breakfast options. Therefore I rarely remember to put these items on my make-ahead-to-do-list. (Except for freezing muffin batter. I’ve been obsessed with that recently, as you know. But man can not live by muffins alone.)
As much as I appreciate being ahead and having dinner time foods prepped and ready, I think I need healthy breakfast foods prepared and accessible even more. We need to get our day started quickly and smoothly. We need a full, hearty breakfast. We need to not have to think straight the minute we roll out of bed with fuzzy brain, crazy hair, and a long to-do list for the day ahead – am I right?
Therefore, for the past few weeks, I’ve been focusing on creating new recipes and coming up with new ideas for ways to get ahead for breakfast. I am so excited to share all I’ve been learning! You’ll be glad to know that not all methods of getting ahead involve filling the freezer. And they definitely don’t involve spending a lot of extra time working in the kitchen. (The eCourse already taught you that though, right?!)
Now through next Thursday, make plans to join me in getting ahead with breakfast foods. What’s involved in this challenge? Simply pick one (or more!) breakfast foods that you can prepare ahead of time – and get it done! Here are some suggested ideas:
- Make and freeze muffin batter. (Thank you for this suggestion, Laura. We have not heard you talk about this non-stop for the past several weeks.)
- Mix up and cook a few pounds of Turkey Sausage. Freeze it in meal-sized portions.
- Put together a batch of Whole Wheat Quick Mix.
- Make a batch of Grape Nuts Cereal.
- Make an Easy Breakfast Casserole or two for the freezer. (I freeze them unbaked.)
- Bake some Poptarts, Giant Breakfast Cookies, or Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies for the freezer.
- Cook a big batch of Whole Wheat Waffles, allow them to cool, then freeze them so that you can toast them quickly and serve.
- Make a Sweet Pecan French Toast Casserole or some loaves of Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze for the freezer. (Recipes in the {Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks eBook.)
There are lots of great ways to get ahead for breakfast! (Here are all of the Healthy Breakfast Recipes on this site.) You aren’t limited to the suggestions above. Do whatever you can to make healthy breakfasts easier at your house. Be watching for more recipes and ideas in the coming days. I can’t wait to share!
Are you joining this challenge? Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you’re taking part.
So let’s hear it! What are you going to make to get ahead for breakfast?
Yes, yes and YES!!! I am joining!! I love the eCourse, thank you for creating it and helping me in my kitchen. Looking forward to a new routine and making healthy nourishing meals for my family.
I am TOTALLY with you on this one! We have six children, ages 11 and under, and I really struggle with getting nutritious breakfast on the table in the morning. It just doesn’t work for us to be starting school at 10am! :) It would be great to have some easy breakfasts ready to go, and I’m looking forward to trying several of your recipes!
I’m in!
I watch our grandchildren some days. Because our daughter-in-law is a sub for our local school district, we sometimes don’t know until the last minute. She does not always have time to get them fed. It is those mornings I really need something I can pull together quickly so they are not getting quick processed breakfast items.
I think I remember reading something about freezing muffin batter. ;o) Sounds like a good idea!
Yes, I’m joining. We just started back to homeschool but have three full days of classes outside the home, plus nightly activities. My weekend plan is to prep muffin batter (3 kinds), smoothies in bags, triple batch peanut butter granola, 4 pans of baked oatmeal, breakfast burritos, mix up gluten free snickerdoodle coffee cake mix x4, and also mix up 4 double batches of gf pancake mix.
I’ve got chocolate zucchini muffins and zucchini cranberry muffins in the freezer since reading your idea! I have been making large batches of pancakes and waffles and freezing them to pop in the toaster later for awhile now since my son LOVES those. Trying to get him diversified away from maple syrup lately though lol. I stock up on frozen fruit and make smoothies a lot too.
I found a recipe this week for muffin batter that you can keep in the fridge for 5 days and make the muffins as you need them. I just add what ever mix-ins I want as I fill the liners and the kids have loved it! Fresh muffins each morning! Who can resist?
I need to do this so I can wean my kids off the cold cereal. I’m in!
Oh this is my biggest food struggle other than snacks. My problem is figuring a time to get ahead because I am busy all day long with a break only once in awhile in which I’m usually catching up by making bread or getting the sink cleared.
Yes, I am! And I have lots of apples to use so would love any suggestions for incorporating those into apple breakfast foods.
I want to make some english muffin egg/sausauge/cheese breakfast sandwiches to freeze and just pop in the microwave to heat up when needed.
I’d like to make this also, but I don’t use a microwave so I’d like to find a recipe to use in the toaster oven instead.
I’m definitely in! Muffins, egg casserole, egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos for the freezer and a big batch of granola for the pantry to start with!
I just wanted to let you know that I did a shout out to you on this e-course in my Facebook group menu planning addicts !!
Thank you!
I need to do this!!!!
I’m in! I already try to double up on things during the week- I am working on a little more variety.
I am definitely up for the challenge! I think we are down to one lonely whole wheat waffle in the freezer so I think I am going to start with the waffles. Then I think I’ll try the turkey sausage and some breakfast cookies. This is actually getting me very excited!
This has nothing to do with this post. I just wanted to let you know I just made your caramel sauce. I was hesitate after so many commented theirs was grainy. I halved the recipe just in case I messed it up. It turned out great. Smooth and yummy. I did melt the butter and sucanat before I added the whipping cream. I have only made caramel 2 other times and neither was a healthy version.
Thanks for all you do!! BLESSINGS!!!!
Just wanted to update about the caramel sauce. After it got completely cool it is a little grainy.
I haven’t warmed any up to see if it gets smooth again.
Can’t understand why some has gotten grainy and othersnot.
Looking for new ideas. I recently implemented a breakfast “menu”, monday is quick breads, Tuesday eggs, etc. this has helped prevent breakfast boredom, but still leaves opportunity for it not to be the same very week.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your site. Really! I have several of your books and I am really loving your daily emails. So much information. You are doing such a fantastic job! Keep up the great work! And, thank you.
Yes! This has been on my mind a lot lately, as our first just started preschool, and normal kid activities are becoming part of our schedule for the first time. It’s an adjustment for everyone, including me! I find myself much less frazzled on the days when I have cooked ahead, and even sitting down with my kids to play in the afternoon. Ironically though, breakfast is the easiest one for me to cook ahead for! I regularly make breads or the like and freeze an extra loaf. Thanks for the suggestions though to keep breakfast from being boring!
I’ve been in the prepping mode with school starting and baby #7 on the way and have been trying to find a bulk pie crust recipe that doesn’t use crisco. Have you done bulk pie crusts for the freezer before? Care to share your recipe and how many it made? The crisco ones I’ve seen show 5lbs of flour to 3 lbs of crisco. Do you think it would work the same to just sub 3 lbs of butter for it?
Palm shortening is a perfect substitute for Crisco. Laura usually posts when Tropical Traditions is having a good deal on it.
Yes, definitely try palm shortening! https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-adapt-a-recipe-to-make-it-healthier
Yay! Just today I’ve been pulling out my hair trying to think of menu items to make ahead and take on vacation with us (you know, so I’m NOT cooking when I’m supposed to be relaxing)! ;)
I’m going to try some of your recipes and the muffins for some fresh ideas.
I’m in!
This morning I prepped 4 bags of mix for smoothies (from 1 32oz container strawberry yogurt, 1 can oj concentrate and some frozen strawberries). Then I just have to add 2-3 cups water to the frozen mix in the blender. Happy kiddos all around!
We have been doing make ahead breakfasts for a while now. I just can’t seem to make myself get up early enough to make anything. I have found that I like to just make double batches at a time-eating one the next morning and freezing the other for future use. Generally, I prefer to make the muffins and freeze them fully cooked, so that I just need to thaw them the day before, and they are ready to go the next morning-no brain power required. We have found that coffee cakes, granola bars, sweet breads, English muffin bread, biscuits, and pancakes also freeze very well. I will also cook bacon ahead and crumble it, then pop it back into the freezer for use in breakfast burritos. I hope someone can use some of these ideas!
I’m going to try to get muffins, pancakes and maybe some of that french toast casserole in the freezer. Yum!
Working on the Pancake sausage muffins this morning.
I’m in too! Yet, with my week ahead I can’t be as ambitious as some of you ladies! I plan to make a big batch of Lara’s breakfast sausage, some granola, and two kinds of muffins: walnut and pumpkin (and I plan to freeze the muffins before baking!)Thanks for initiating this “group project” Laura. I love the cyber-camaraderie.
I’m in! I’m working on things right now! I’m excited to see where this goes. I have 7 kids and a husband who leaves early. I want to make sure they all get a healthy breakfast before daddy leaves and before we start our homeschooling. Thanks for the challenge!
This is great! Breakfast is difficult for me and getting ahead sounds like a good plan! I love the freezer muffins!! We’ve been eating those since you wrote about it the first time :) I’m going to try the oatmeal packets and some egg/sausage “muffins” to freeze for a good protein breakfast.
ok, i’m in. i am also in the middle of reading your e-course. that’s for putting that together. last week was our first week of homeschooling (kindergarten and preschool) and i’m definately feeling the need to get ahead in my kitchen, not just flounder along.
great giveaway
I would absolutely love to win this! I have made bread from bagged flour, but never from fresh ground flour. I would love to make the switch to something more natural. Thank you for the opportunity! ^_~
I have joined the breakfast challenge and so far I have made the instant oatmeal, two batches of banana muffins and one batch of sausage balls..Love the extra time it has given me in the mornings!
Thanks Laura for this wonderful site. I have purchased your cookbook (yesterday) and can’t wait to get it. I also have purchased the ecourses and wanted to say that I am SOOOO pleased with each of them!
Yes, joining the challenge! We are in a cold cereal rut around here! I have made the Cranberry White chocolate chip cookies, baked oatmeal and some banana muffins. Love having healthy breakfast items available!