Tag: breakfast

October 30, 2025

Quick Protein Oat Parfait for Busy Mornings

Protein Oat Parfaits – your busy morning solution!

Life with kids is busy. That’s a given. Young children need your attention non-stop. It’s such a full season of life.

But what you may not realize is that as your kids get older the busyness doesn’t decrease. It actually increases! Sorry to burst your bubble if you’re a mom of littles.

True, you won’t be changing diapers, getting up multiple times a night, and reading the same book thirty times in a row. Instead, you’ll be driving your kids here, there, and everywhere. I miss those days of being home with toddlers.

Busy Morning Breakfast Ideas

As a homeschooling mom of four I know just how hectic life can feel. I have one child about to head off to college, one just starting high school, one in the tween stage, and one in full-on elementary mode.

My kids participate in co-ops three days a week plus plenty of other activities. Which means we are coming and going often and have a lot of early mornings.

And while I’m a morning person, I don’t have time (or the desire) to cook breakfast most mornings.

Healthy Breakfast for Busy Mornings

But I always make nutrient-dense food that includes protein, fiber, and healthy fat a priority for my family. That’s why I’ve become the queen of prep-ahead breakfast.

It’s also why I was so excited to try the Naked Nutrition Protein Oats! They are so easy to make the night before. Just add the oats to milk, stir, and stick it in the fridge. The flavor, protein, and fiber are already in there! One serving of Naked Protein Oats contains 20 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber! Plus no added sugar.

In the morning just grab and go for a nourishing breakfast.

Naked Nutrition Protein Oats

There are many great flavors of Naked Nutrition Protein Oats to choose from. They include:

Blueberry cobbler
Cinnamon roll
Chocolate peanut butter banana
Green apple cinnamon
Chocolate peanut butter
Double chocolate
Strawberry cream

I honestly want to taste them all. But to start, my family tried blueberry cobbler and chocolate peanut butter. Something fruity and something chocolatey!

My first thought is that they are so easy. My kids enjoy overnight oats, but I honestly hate making them. So this is a super quick way to make delicious oat cups.

My second thought – both flavors are great, but they have a bitter aftertaste. I was disappointed, but not done experimenting.

How to Make Protein Oat Parfaits

Instead of throwing in the towel, I got creative and turned the Naked Protein Oats into delicious parfaits! We all enjoyed the flavor much better when mixing the oats into Greek yogurt. Plus, it bumps up the protein content! And I can add some extra fat for the kids by using MCT oil or melted coconut oil.

Blueberry Cobbler Protein Oat Parfait

Ingredients

1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 - 1 scoop Naked Nutrition Blueberry Cobbler Protein Oats
1-2 tsp. maple syrup
Optional Add-ins: chia seeds, flax seeds, salt, extra collagen. MCT oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Mix well.
Refrigerate at least one hour or up to overnight.

Recipe Notes

Dairy-free alterantives can be used for the yogurt.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oat Parfait

Servings 1

Ingredients

1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 - 1 scoop Naked Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oats
1 - 2 tsp. maple syrup
Optional Add-ins: chia seeds, flax seeds, salt, extra collagen. peanut butter powder
Optional: 1 tsp. mini chocolate chips
1 - 2 Tbsp. peanut butter, almond butter, or sunbutter

Instructions

Combine all ingredients (except nut butter). Mix well.
Refrigerate at least one hour or up to overnight.
Top with favorite nut or seed butter if desired.

Recipe Notes

Dairy-free alterantives can be used for the yogurt.

How to Use Protein Oats

I’m completely sold on our delicious protein oat parfaits using Naked Protein Oats. I’m adding these parfaits to our regular breakfast rotation.

My protein oat experimentation didn’t stop there. I also tried adding the Naked Protein Oats to a quick bread. I made freshly milled wheat blueberry cinnamon bread. The protein oats gave great texture and a burst of flavor to the bread (in addition to the protein and fiber)! All four kids devoured it. So I made a second loaf. We almost finished off the whole loaf in one meal!

I simply replaced about one half cup of the flour with two scoops of protein oats.

Next on the agenda is chocolate peanut butter muffins! Topped with a simple, nourishing peanut butter frosting they’ll be a real breakfast treat.

The cinnamon roll flavored oats would make amazing cinnamon bread too!

Nourishing Breakfast with Naked Nutrition

Protein oats can simply be mixed with milk for a quick grab-and-go breakfast. Or you can get creative with parfaits, breads, or muffins. The possibilities are endless. My oldest and I are already brainstorming other ways to enjoy Naked Protein Oats. Maybe we’ll try adding some to smoothies or stir them into a warm bowl of oatmeal.

Which flavor of Naked Nutrition Protein Oats would you try first?

February 5, 2025

Naked Nutrition Collagen Creamer Review

I’ve never been a coffee drinker. I tasted black coffee once when I was younger (back when I knew nothing about nutrition and had a big sweet tooth). It was so bitter. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to consume coffee, and I told myself I would never drink coffee again.

Fast forward to my forties, and I started to enjoy an occasional coffee drink. The flavored kind, of course.

That was a fun, once-in-a-while treat…until it wasn’t. The last few times I drank coffee it really made my histamine intolerance flare. I felt awful. So, no more coffee for me.

It’s OK. Like I said, I was never a coffee drinker anyway.

Naked Collagen Creamer

So, why would I want to try a collagen creamer?

One – because creamer isn’t just for coffee.

Two – because I still love hot drinks with flavor!

I’ve been drinking salted hot chocolate with collagen (healing hot cocoa as I call it) daily for over ten years now as part of my hydration strategy. I have yet to find anything that works as well.

But lately I’ve been craving some different flavors. I’ve tried things like matcha, moringa, and maca. They aren’t bad…but they don’t taste that great.

So, when I came across Naked Nutrition collagen creamers I knew I had to give them a try!

Naked collagen creamers come in three flavors – chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. I’ve been doing the chocolate thing for a long time, so I went straight for vanilla and caramel.

How to Easily Add Protein to Your Day

I’m not giving up on my hot chocolate. I’m just elevating it to a new level.

I tried both caramel hot cocoa and vanilla hot cocoa. They are both delicious! It just depends what mood you are in.

Honestly, it tastes like a fancy coffee house drink, but without the high price tag, excess sugar, and toxins. Instead, you get hydration and a protein boost. That’s a drink you can feel good about!

Collagen creamer is a great way to squeeze in a little extra protein if you are working on building muscle. One scoop contains 9 grams of protein from European pasture-raised cows. That’s my favorite thing about collagen.

How to Use Collagen Creamer

If you like to add a little flavor to your coffee, Naked collagen creamer is the perfect solution. But you can enjoy collagen creamer even if you wouldn’t touch coffee with a ten-foot pole. In fact, I’m pretty sure my kids like the creamers more than I do. They each had to try some as soon as it arrived.

Naked Nutrition collagen creamers can be added to smoothies, tea, muffins, oatmeal, or yogurt. We’ve enjoyed the vanilla creamer in banana muffins. My oldest likes to add collagen creamer to protein oats or Greek yogurt. And my younger kids love it mixed into raw milk. Just blend it with a milk frother or blender and let it sit for a few minutes to fully absorb the collagen.

I do have to “warn” you that the flavor intensifies over time. So, start with a small amount. You can gradually increase based on your taste preferences. But a little goes a long way.

All of these are great strategies for getting picky eaters to consume more protein. Plus, it’s just plain fun! For kids, you can adjust the quantity to a fourth to a half scoop.

Benefits of Collagen

Naked Nutrition collagen creamers contain high quality amino acids in addition to a small amount of healthy fat from MCT oil. In addition, each serving contains 0 grams of sugar!

I also love that it is made in the USA and free of GMOs, soy, gluten, and dairy! Which means my dairy-free kiddo can even enjoy it.

Most people using collagen see improvements in their hair, skin, nails, and joints. I know I have.

In general, adding collagen to drinks, oatmeal, or yogurt is a great way to boost protein and give your body essential amino acids.

As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner I do have to mention that collagen is a supplement (a food-based supplement with no additives – my favorite kind!). So, make sure you start with a small amount and gradually work up to the dose that works for your body.

My body is quite sensitive to new products, so I started with a quarter scoop. It still provided plenty of flavor and a little extra protein. Use what works for your bio-individual needs.

Naked Nutrition for Your Health

Naked collagen creamers make a great addition to your daily hot drinks. Just remember they are additions. It’s still important to focus on high-quality protein in your diet.

Naked Nutrition also offers products such as fiber, peanut butter powder, greens, protein powders, sand shakes. Lots of delicious options!

If you’re serious about making positive changes to your health this year, check out Naked Nutrition.

I am working with Naked Nutrition for this review post. I have been compensated for my time commitment to use these products. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

December 14, 2022

Nutrient-Dense Butterscotch “Milkshake” for Kids

When it comes to great recipes I have a theory – most of them are created by accident. And this nutrient-dense butterscotch milkshake is no exception!

As an Analytical Eater I get in food ruts very quickly. Just ask my family. But one day as I was making lunch I was just sick of my usuals. Instead I was in the mood for something cold and creamy. Ice cream sounded awfully good. Back in high school I would have just eaten ice cream and called it a meal. But being a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner I knew I also needed nourishment.

What I really wanted was something chocolate. But my body does not tolerate cocoa well. So I tried to create a carob smoothie, hoping my odd concoction of various forms of protein and frozen fruit would satisfy my craving.

I wasn’t sure it would taste good at all. But to my surprise the end result was the most amazing smoothie that tastes like butterscotch!

My kids all insisted that they had to try it. I only ended up with half of my smoothie. But my protein-packed butterscotch “milkshake” was born.

Healthy Drink for Kids

Nutrient-dense drinks are one of my favorite tools for nourishing under-eaters and selective eaters. Smoothies loaded with desiccated liver and collagen (use code TAKE10 for 10% off) literally saved my daughter’s life! Read more about her story HERE and HERE!

So I’m always trying to create new healthy drinks for kids.

When I say healthy, I mean a drink has a balance of complete protein, complex carbohydrates (think fiber!), and unprocessed fats. This combination is essential for blood sugar reguatlion in kids.

But it also has to taste good. I’ve definitely made my share of smoothies that were loaded with nutrition but were not very palatable. Think way too many greens. Kids need the right balance of nutrition and flavor.

Easy Protein for Picky Eaters

Hands down the most difficult macronutrient to get selective eaters to consume is protein. This is a top concern for many of my clients – especially when it comes to snacks and breakfast.

This easy butterscotch milkshake is your solution!

The recipe starts with hard-boiled eggs. Yes, you read that correctly. It sounds crazy, but you can’t taste them. The eggs add thickness in addition to nutrients like protein, B Vitamins, and healthy fat.

The second ingredient is sunbutter (or any nut butter you like). More protein and healthy fat!

The next two ingredients are whole milk and collagen. Even more protein! This breakfast butterscotch milkshake is a protein powerhouse. Using two eggs, two tablespoons of sunbutter, three fourths cup of milk, and two scoops of collagen gives you 44 grams of protein!

It serves two-to-four kids. So each child gets 11 to 22 grams of protein in one drink!

Adults, you can drink this as well. Even if you only drink half of this you’re still getting a great start to your protein goals for the day. And you can always add an extra scoop of collagen or an extra egg to boost it even more.

Dairy-Free Butterscotch

Don’t feel disappointed if your child is dairy-free. This butterscotch milkshake can definitely be made dairy-free! Simply use your favorite milk substitute (like homemade rice milk) in place of the whole milk.

If you don’t have any milk substitutes simply use water. It will still taste great. And there will still be 38 grams of protein!

Delicious dairy-free butterscotch is possible.

Breakfast Butterscotch Milkshake Recipe

Many kids struggle with breakfast. It can be a sign of low blood sugar, low stomach acid, or even nervous system dysregulation. Whatever the cause, serving an easy-to-consume, highly palatable breakfast can help things turn around.

The healthy dose of protein will help a child with low blood sugar. The easily absorbed nutrients will help a child with low stomach acid. And comforting food will help a child with nervous system dysregulation. You really can’t go wrong with a butterscotch milkshake for breakfast.

It can be a stand-alone breakfast. Or you can serve it alongside other nutrient-dense options like:

breakfast cupcakes (yes, cupcakes and milkshakes for breakfast!)
sourdough toast with butter and smashed avocado
breakfast cookies
coconut flour squash scones
broth scrambled eggs
granola bars
baked oatmeal
pumpkin pie breakfast bites
puffy pancake
granola bar bowl

Nutrient-Dense Butterscotch Smoothie

Whether you call it a milkshake or a smoothie, the taste and the nutrition is the same. If you have a selective eater, butterscotch milkshake probably sounds more appealing.

My kids like it really thick. By adding extra ice it gets so thick it’s almost like ice cream! Sometimes I even serve it with a spoon.

While I do love serving smoothies with breakfast, my kids love this nourishing drink any time of day. Sometimes we have it for a snack. Sometimes we have it with lunch. The other day I even made a batch for the whole family to go with our Friday breakfast-for-dinner meal.

No matter when you serve this nutrient-dense butterscotch smoothie, it’s a kid-pleasing way to nourish your child!

Do you ever serve milkshakes for breakfast?!

Butterscotch Milkshake

Prep Time 10 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

2-3 hard-boiled eggs
2-3 Tbsp. sunbutter or any nut butter
3/4 cup whole milk or milk substitute or water
2 Tbsp. collagen
1 1/2 Tbsp. carob powder
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Real Salt
1 1/2 cups frozen, sliced bananas
1/2 - 1 cup ice

Instructions

Blend all ingredients in a high-power blender until smooth. The milkshake will be thick.
Add more ice if desired for extra thickness.

January 8, 2022

Metabolism Boosting Salted Caramel {With A Secret Ingredient!}

Looking for an easy way to get some liver down the hatch? This metabolism boosting salted caramel is easy to make, tastes great and is loaded with Vitamin A!

This recipe was an accident.

For about a year now I’ve had so many things I can’t eat while breastfeeding that I stopped making salad dressing. I can’t do tomatoes, dairy, nuts, peas, coconut, mustard, garlic, eggs, vinegar. Seriously.

Getting creative.

But I LOVE salad. And I was not about to eat plain lettuce. So I would just put some olive oil, honey and salt on my salad and call it good.

After a while I decided to experiment a bit and added desiccated liver (this is the brand I use). Who knew I’d actually love the taste?! And it’s so healthy for a slow oxidizer like me with high tissue calcium levels. I need all the Vitamin A I can get.

I’m not one to mix up a bottle of dressing. I always just add the ingredients directly to my lettuce and mix it all together. But one day I tried mixing up the dressing first to see if it was easier.

Accidental Caramel

Imagine my surprise when instead of a dressing I ended up with a thick, gooey salted caramel! And my kids gathered around like baby birds begging for bites.

That is how my nutrient dense salted caramel came about.

It tastes great, is easy to make and my kids love it. Want to know something else? It’s great for boosting your metabolism too!

Metabolism Boosting Combination

If I am low on energy or haven’t gotten enough sleep this is the perfect pick-me-up. A little salt, a little sugar, a little fat and some vitamins.

My girls and I all have slow metabolisms and are in need of some serious rest and recovery. So this salted caramel makes a great snack for all of us.

Easy Toddler Treat

In fact, my toddler eats half of the lettuce and cucumbers out of my salad just because of this dressing. She’ll suck it off and then eat the vegetables. It’s that good!

You can eat the salted caramel with a spoon. I like to dip banana in it. Then you even get some starch with your sugar, salt and fat. It’s the perfect combination for a metabolic boost. Any fruit you like will work.

Metabolic Recovery

My journey with healing my metabolism has been a long one. You can read about what happened to me in 2013 and all of the things I learned in the process.

One thing that was pivotal for healing was The Nourished Metabolism by Elizabeth Walling of The Nourished Life. I have recommended this book to more people than any other book or real food resource.

I’ve probably read it five or six times myself. And I learn something new every time. I’m so glad I have a hard copy now! It’s a great reference.

I think just about everyone could benefit from Elizabeth’s advice. Especially all of my sleep-deprived mama friends. Even children and teens these days that are over scheduled, over stressed and under nourished need some help with their metabolism (have you checked your child’s body temperature lately? You might be surprised how low it is…it’s supposed to be 98.6!).

Whip up a batch of salted caramel (with liver!). Grab a spoon, your favorite fruit or even a homemade graham cracker for dipping. Then dive into The Nourished Metabolism. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down. I read it almost cover-to-cover the first time through.

Have you assessed your metabolism lately? What are you doing to keep it running at full speed?

Try some salted caramel and all of Elizabeth’s tips in The Nourished Metabolism. You’ll be amazed at how great you feel.

This post is linked to Allergy Free Thursdays.

Metabolism Boosting Salted Caramel (With A Secret Ingredient!)

2016-06-19 19:55:51

Serves 1

A simple gooey caramel that will boost your metabolism and your nutrients with liver!

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

3/4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. unrefined sea salt (adjust to taste)
1 capsule Perfect Supplements desiccated liver

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until well mixed. The mixture will thicken in about a minute.
Eat with a spoon, with fruit for dipping or with graham crackers.

Notes

This can be used as a salad dressing if you increase the oil to make it thinner.
You can add one capsule of Organic India moringa to the mixture when using it as a salad dressing for extra nutrients.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

December 10, 2021

Breakfast Neapolitan and Spumoni Parfaits | Simple, Whole Foods!

Looking for a way to get your winter dessert fix without reaching for ice cream? Turn breakfast into a special treat with these Neapolitan and spumoni parfaits!

I have fond memories of eating lots of Neapolitan ice cream and spumoni ice cream growing up.

Of course I was like most kids and really just wanted the chocolate! Who doesn’t want chocolate?

Updated Neapolitan and Spumoni

I have recreated these classic flavor combinations in a healthy breakfast treat. Did I mention they are super easy to make too?

Neapolitan and spumoni parfaits use plain, whole milk yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit, organic cocoa powder and pistachio nuts. You get the flavors you love without any high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, or food dyes.

Unique, Kid-Friendly Breakfast

My kids went crazy over these parfaits! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them eat yogurt that quickly. I can’t blame them. What’s not to love about vanilla and chocolate yogurt combined with sweet strawberries?

Kids can help prepare Neapolitan and spumoni parfaits. It only requires pouring and mixing. They love the assembly part too.

Holiday Breakfast Parfait

I love how festive these parfaits look. Hosting guests for the holidays? Prepare the parfaits the night before. Then wow your guests with a special treat in the morning. Wine glasses make fancy serving dishes.

You could even use these as a special Valentine’s Day dessert.

This winter spruce up Saturday morning breakfast with a classic dessert flavor. Try both parfaits and see which one you like best. Or combine them to make a four layer parfait that includes chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and pistachio.

Are you ready to try something new for breakfast (or dessert!)?

Neapolitan and spumoni parfaits are simple and nutritious. Plus they are packed with flavor.

Looking for an actual dessert that captures the Neapolitan flavor? Try my grain and dairy free Neapolitan ice cream cake.

Neapolitan Parfait

2015-12-17 05:28:57

Serves 1

A yogurt parfait with the classic Neapolitan flavor of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Vanilla layer

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. organic cane sugar
optional: 1/2 tsp. organic vanilla extract

Chocolate layer

1/3 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp. organic cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
optional: 2 tsp. mini chocolate chips

Strawberry layer

1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries

Instructions

In a small bowl combine the vanilla layer ingredients. Let sit 1 minute.
In a small bowl combine the chocolate layer ingredients. Let sit 1 minute.
Layer the vanilla yogurt, chocolate yogurt, chocolate chips and strawberries in a serving dish.
Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Notes

The cocoa powder and maple syrup can be replaced with 1 Tbsp. homemade chocolate sauce.
If using frozen strawberries allow them to thaw for a few minutes before serving.
The cocoa powder can be replaced with carob powder.
Coconut yogurt can be used in place of the whole milk yogurt.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Spumoni Parfait

2015-12-17 05:40:45

Serves 1

A breakfast parfait with the classic spumoni flavor of chocolate, strawberry and pistachio.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Chocolate layer

2/3 cup plain yogurt
4 tsp. organic cocoa powder
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
optional: 3 tsp. mini chocolate chips

Strawberry layer

1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries

Pistachio layer

1/4 cup shelled pistachios

Instructions

In a small bowl combine the chocolate layer ingredients. Let sit 1 minute.
Layer the chocolate yogurt, chocolate chips, strawberries and pistachios in a serving dish.
Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Notes

The cocoa powder and maple syrup can be replaced with 1 Tbsp. homemade chocolate sauce.
If using frozen strawberries allow them to thaw for a few minutes before serving.
The cocoa powder can be replaced with carob powder.
Coconut yogurt can be used in place of the whole milk yogurt.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

August 14, 2020

What To Do With Leftover Muffins…Make Leftover Muffin Bread Pudding!

Don’t let those extra muffins go to waste! Whether they are getting stale or are starting to crumble, leftover muffins make amazing bread pudding.

Growing up there was a great debate in my house – should bread pudding have raisins or not?

The debate was between my big sister and me. As an Analytical Eater, I L-O-V-E chunks in my food. Bread pudding without a contrasting texture was too boring.

But my sister wanted nothing to do with raisins!

My poor mother. She never knew who to please. I’m sure we had it both ways many times.

In the end the bigger conundrum in my mind was why we didn’t get bread pudding more often!

What is Bread Pudding?

Bread pudding is sort of a misleading name. It’s not really pudding like we know it. No creamy chocolate dessert here. It’s more of a custard made with chunks of bread…or muffins!

You mix bread or muffins with eggs, milk, and some type of sweetener. When baked it creates a cake-like breakfast or dessert with a custard feel to it. The more eggs and milk you add, the more custard you get.

Why do Muffins Fall Apart?

How many ways can you mess up a batch of muffins? Far too many!

Muffins mishaps can be caused by too much or too little of a lot of things:

too little moisture (milk, water, or fruit/veggie purees) (crumble)
too few eggs (fall apart)
too many eggs (won’t fully bake)
not enough baking powder (stay flat)
not enough oil/fat (dry)
no binder (gluten, psyllium husk, flax seeds, gelatin) (fall apart)
overbeating (chewy)

Who knew something as simple as a muffin could cause such trouble?! But it happens to the best of us.

Sometimes it’s not even a bad batch of muffins that causes problems, but a lack of paying attention to them.

Normally when I bake muffins I use them for a couple breakfasts and freeze the rest to have later. But sometimes I get busy. And the muffins just sit there, staring at me for a week.

Or once in a while there is that batch of muffins that didn’t turn out quite right. That happens more than I care to admit with gluten-free baking! They are crumbly and messy and you just want to toss them. Don’t!

Use them to make muffin bread pudding!

Leftover Muffin Bread Pudding

Traditional bread pudding is made with chunks of bread. But it’s just as easy to make it with leftover muffins.

Bread pudding with muffins is simple to prepare. Just crumble the muffins (if they aren’t a big mess already!), mix them with eggs, milk, and sweetener, and bake! You can assemble a delicious dessert or breakfast in minutes.

The next time you have a few leftover muffins turn them into something new.

It’s fun because you get a variety of flavors depending on the muffins. I have tried flavors like orange raisin and blueberry. These double raspberry chocolate chip muffins would make amazing bread pudding! If your muffins are kind of bland you can add extra fruit or dried fruit to the bread pudding to boost the flavor without adding refined sugar.

Easy Bread Pudding for One or For a Crowd

You can make leftover muffin bread pudding with a whole batch or just a few muffins. Enjoy it as a breakfast or dessert. I like to pour milk on top, like baked oatmeal.

I have fond memories of my mom serving bread pudding when I was a child. It was one of my favorite treats. But I don’t take the time to make it often these days. When I do, though, it’s usually using leftover muffins (these allergen-free blueberry muffins are perfect for making bread pudding!)

Kid-Friendly Bread Pudding with Muffins

My kids are very proficient in the kitchen thanks to the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. My oldest is actually the muffin maker around here. Most of the time they turn out well. But once in a while we have a muffin flop. It’s part of the learning process.

Then all the kids can chip in to make leftover muffin bread pudding. The little one can have fun breaking or cutting muffins into chunks. While the older kids can practice cracking eggs, measuring ingredients and oven safety. Plus they get a delicious reward at the end. Muffin mistakes never tasted so good.

Not sure what to do with leftover muffins? Turn them into bread pudding – a delicious breakfast or dessert the whole family will love.

Leftover Muffin Bread Pudding

2017-12-24 05:40:41

A simple breakfast or dessert using leftover muffins.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

Leftover muffins
2 eggs for every 4 medium-size muffins
1/2 cup milk for every 4 muffins
2 - 3 Tbsp. organic cane sugar, sucanat or coconut sugar (depends on the sweetness of the muffins) for every 4 muffins
optional: fresh fruit, frozen fruit or dried fruit

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease a baking dish.
Add the eggs, milk and sugar (and fruit) to the baking dish. Beat with a fork.
Crumble the muffins and add to the dish. Push the muffin pieces down to get fully coated. If there is not enough moisture add extra milk.
Adjust sweetness to taste.
Bake for about 1 hour, until golden on top and baked through.

Notes

Serve plain or with milk, yogurt or ice cream.
Serve warm or room temperature.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

August 8, 2020

Protein-Rich Salted Chocolate Milk

Have a kid that won’t eat meat or isn’t getting enough protein? Chocolate milk to the rescue! This refined sugar-free protein-rich salted chocolate milk is perfect!

When it comes to drinks in our house we basically have two options: milk or water.

It may seem boring. But really, we don’t need much else. Once in a while my kids get a little pure grape juice (if they are fighting a cold or if we are making our “smart water.”). And of course we do love our smoothies for added nourishment (check out my book full of recipes here!).

But if my kids are thirsty it’s generally water or milk.

Kid-Friendly Drink Without Refined Sugar

Then there are those days where we just want something a little extra. Or maybe my Intuitve Eater is in one of her “I don’t want to eat much” slumps. And I have to be sneaky.

That’s when I bust out the chocolate milk! Who doesn’t love chocolate milk? I know I sure do!

Protein-Rich Drink for Kids

My version of chocolate milk is taken to a new level with extra protein from grassfed collagen (THIS is the brand we use – use TAKE10 to get 10% off). It blends right in with no added taste. Plus it’s loaded with a whole array of essential amino acids.

The kids and I have been studying human anatomy and physiology for science this year. Our unit on nutrition introduced us to amino acids and how they are the building blocks of protein. And they are so important! So when I showed the collagen container to my oldest she was fascinated to look at the amino acid profile. Science lesson built in to making chocolate milk!

The good stuff doesn’t stop there. We are big fans of adding salt to chocolate. When I say salt I mean real, unrefined sea salt (like this). Not only does it contain a broad spectrum of minerals, it is also hydrating/good for balancing electrolytes and delicious! We even use it to make salted dark chocolate ice cream, healing hot cocoa and salted honey chocolates . Salt and chocolate go so well together.

To really boost nutrition we like to add probiotics and raw egg yolks (from our own free-range chickens). So you are getting extra protein, essential minerals, probiotics, and vitamins! All in a glass of chocolate milk. It’s a mom win!

If you like your chocolate milk a bit thicker, like a shake, you can add a little banana and/or avocado.

Healthy Chocolate Milk

When I gave this protein-rich salted chocolate milk to my daughter she had two comments:

Does this have salt?! Yum! When can we make salted chocolate ice cream?
You have to make this every single day!

How to get Kids to Eat Enough Protein

My youngest can be really picky when it comes to meat. Veggies? She’ll out eat anyone. Meat? Turns up her nose. We have to bribe her to take bites of meat…then she can have thirds of veggies! For real. So I’m always glad when I can sneak in extra protein for her in something so delicious like chocolate milk. Collagen is a great way to do this. A scoops gives her the protein boost her little body needs. Added to the raw milk and egg yolks it makes a complete protein.

Her ideal meal is a huge pile of vegetables with a glass of salted chocolate milk. And I love to give it to her.

Quick & Easy Nutrition for Kids

It only takes about three minutes to make salted chocolate milk (mostly just the time required to gather ingredients). Older kids can make it themselves. My six and nine-year-olds know how to separate egg yolks thanks to the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. My three year-old loves to help with the blender. It’s a family event! And we all enjoy the reward at the end.

The next time you’re in a beverage rut or your kids need a little protein boost, make a batch of salted chocolate milk. Use your favorite milk and some grassfed collagen to blend a nourishing drink the whole family will love.

Protein-Rich Salted Chocolate Milk

A nourishing drink filled with extra protein and minerals.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 2

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

2 cups raw whole milk, full fat coconut milk, almond milk, or rice milk
2 Tbsp. organic cocoa, carob, or cacao powder
2 Tbsp. maple syrup or raw honey
1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt
2 Tbsp. collagen
1 capsule probiotics optional
1/2 medium banana optional
1/4 avocado optional
1-3 egg yolks from free-range chickens

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a high-powered blender.
Blend on high until well combined.
Serve immediately.

February 12, 2020

Gluten-Free Egg-Free Orange Raisin Muffins

Looking for an easy, egg-free snack or breakfast? These naturally sweetened gluten-free orange raisin muffins are the perfect hand-held treat that both kid and adults love! Free of eggs, dairy, gluten, and nuts, these muffins are very allergy friendly!

Not sure if it’s just my kids or a kid thing in general, but my kids LOVE muffins. Really any hand-held, round bread. If I make sourdough bread, they enjoy it. If I make sourdough rolls you’d think I hadn’t fed them in three days the way they eat them.

I guess kids just like to eat with their hands. Which explains why my kids refuse to use utensils no matter what kind of food they are eating.

But muffins are definitely a favorite around here.

Which is why I find myself baking muffins a LOT!

Egg Sensitivity in Babies

A few months ago I had to cut eggs back out of my diet and my toddler’s diet. We were off eggs for about a year (almost since birth) and then reintroduced them. I think eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. But as much as I love eating the eggs fresh from our hens, they were giving my son a diaper rash. They were also giving me phlegm in my throat on a daily basis.

Eggs seem to be a common sensitivity in babies these days. It’s unfortunate since eggs provide many essential vitamins and minerals.

Some people can tolerate eggs in baked goods even if they can’t eat plain eggs. But we are generally not that fortunate. If a food is bothersome at all…it has to be cut completely. For some reason it seems to be worse when my kids are very young too.

My five-year-old was egg-free for at least the first two years of life. Now she can eat them every day!

Egg-Free Muffins

Eliminating eggs from your diet definitely eliminates some food options. This includes not only egg dishes, but many baked goods. Yes, our beloved muffins had eggs!

Thankfully there are some great egg substitutes for baking. My favorite way to bake egg-free is with gelatin.

That is exactly what I do in these allergen-free orange raisin muffins.

Mix the juice of a couple oranges with gelatin. Then add hot water to dissolve. It’s the perfect binder to make egg-free muffins.

Make sure you use high quality gelatin in your baking. We always use Perfect Supplements gelatin. It is the only gelatin that is certified glyphosate free. You can stock up on Perfect Supplements gelatin HERE with the code TAKE10 for 10% off your order.

Baking Without Refined Sugar

An added bonus of these orange muffins is that they contain no refined sweeteners. Maple syrup or honey combined with orange juice provides plenty of flavor and sweetness.

The raisins add a little extra natural sugar as well. Dried cranberries or even mini chocolate chips would work too.

We prefer to top gluten-free orange muffins with a generous pat of butter to help metabolize the carbohydrates. The flavor contrast with the salty butter and sweet orange is another plus.

Easy Allergen-Free Snack for Kids

Gluten-free orange raisin muffins make a great addition to a quick weekday breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or packed up in a lunch box.

Combine it with a nourishing drink, a bowl of soup made with bone broth, or another form of protein and fat like bacon, sunbutter, or sausage. You really can’t go wrong!

Grab a couple organic oranges, some Perfect Supplements gelatin, and your favorite gluten-free flour blend and whip up a batch of egg-free orange raisin muffins today!

It also helps to have a very cute assistant for quality control. My toddler gave these muffins his seal of approval!

5 from 1 vote

Gluten-Free Egg-Free Orange Raisin Muffins

A quick allergen-free muffin with no refined sweeteners and a bright orange flavor.

Course Breakfast, Snack

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 12

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup amaranth flour
1 tsp. psyllium husk
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cups unsweetened applesauce
2 organic oranges juice (about 1/2 cup) and zest
1/3 cup avocado oil or olive oil
6 Tbsp. maple syrup or honey
3 tsp. gelatin
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup raisins, cranberries, or chocolate chips optional

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line or grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
In a large bowl combine the flours, psyllium husk, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and orange zest.
Add the applesauce, oil, and maple syrup. Mix well.
In a small bowl combine the gelatin and orange juice (about 1/2 cup). Let sit 1 minute.
Add the hot water to the gelatin mixture and stir until dissolved.
Immediately add to the batter and mix well.
Stir in raisins.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake 35-40 minutes, until golden.

Recipe Notes

This makes 12 large muffins, 16 medium-size muffins, or 24 mini muffins.

October 13, 2019

Kid-Friendly Kettle Corn Granola Recipe

Kettle corn granola is a little salty and little sweet. You get the flavor of kettle corn in your breakfast bowl!

Granola is one of my absolute favorite foods. I got hooked on it in college…and ate it every day. I wish I had known back then just how easy it is to make your own granola.

Now I make it all the time. I always have some on hand for an easy snack or quick breakfast. It’s great mixed in yogurt or eaten plain with milk. I even love putting some in my daughter’s lunch for a filling finger food.

A super easy breakfast that my kids love is a granola bar bowl – you get the taste of granola bars without the work. Grab the recipe here.

Sweet and Salty Homemade Granola

I’ve been making granola for many years now. I have several granola recipes already on the blog. I don’t usually follow a recipe anymore. I just use what we have on hand and create something new every time.

But this version of granola is hands down my favorite!

It’s salty and sweet and very addictive!! I call it kettle corn granola because it really tastes like kettle corn.

Easy Finger Food Snack

My kids love to munch on this stuff. As you can see my son had no problems helping me make the granola and being my taste tester.

One of the great things about granola is that you can make a huge batch (I usually do about 10 cups of oats at a time – a double batch of this recipe) and freeze it. Then when you want granola you are set.

You don’t even have to thaw it! Granola is ready straight from the freezer. I usually keep a small jar in the cupboard and refill it from the freezer stash as we use it up.

Budget-Friendly Breakfast

The other thing I love about granola is how much money it saves. Have you looked at the price of granola made with quality ingredients? I was recently at a small meat market. They had locally made granola…$4 for about 6 oz.!!! That is insane. My kids would eat that much in one sitting.

When you make granola at home you control the ingredients AND you save a ton of money. Always good.

You also make a very allergy-friendly breakfast treat. This one is gluten, dairy, nut and egg free.

Quick-Prep Homemade Granola

Granola only takes about five minutes to prepare. The end result is a huge batch of homemade cereal that will last a long time. It is also the perfect project to do with kids. When I make granola each kids gets his or her own bowl to create their own batch. They can add whatever they like. My kids love being creative with granola. Sometimes we end up baking theirs, but usually they eat it before it gets to the oven.

This would make a great Christmas gift. Make a couple batches, package it and pass it around to family and friends. Throw a few mini chocolate chips in after the granola has cooled and you’ll really be giving a delicious treat.

Soaked Granola Recipe

If you want to be sure you’re really getting all of the nutrients out of your granola you can make this into a soaked version. You’ll have to plan ahead, but it’s still oh, so delicious!

Do you like the salty sweet combination of kettle corn? Now you can enjoy it for breakfast with kettle corn granola.

Kettle Corn Granola

2014-10-30 06:08:22

A delicious granola cereal that has the sweet and salty flavor of kettle corn.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Unsoaked

5 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup coconut oil and/or butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Soaked

5 cups old fashioned oats
2 1/2 cups warm water + 2 Tbsp. yogurt, kefir or lemon juice
1/3 cup coconut oil and/or butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup honey and/or maple syrup
1 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Unsoaked

Heat the oven to 350*F.
In a large bowl combine the oats, water and salt.
In a saucepan heat the sugar, honey, syrup and oil until the oil is melted and the sugars and oil combine.
Pour the sugar/oil mixture over the oats. Mix until well combined.
Spread the oat mixture onto a large parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for about one hour, stirring every 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Store in an air tight container in the cupboard or in the freezer for long term storage.

Soaked

Combine the oats, warm water and soaking agent.
Cover and let sit 24 hours.
Spread the oat mixture onto dehydrator trays and dry until crisp, about 8 hours.
Crumble dried oats into a large bowl.
Heat oven to 350*F.
In a small saucepan combine the salt, butter, sugar and honey.
Cook until melted and combined.
Pour the butter mixture over the oats. Mix well.
Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet (it may fit on one large sheet or you may need to spread it on two sheets).
Bake for 30 minutes.
Allow to cool completely.
Crumble the granola and store in an air tight container or in the freezer.

Notes

This recipe easily doubles or triples and freezes well.
Granola is ready straight from the freezer.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

This post is linked to From The Archives Friday.

May 18, 2019

Gluten-Free Sunbutter Breakfast Cookies

In need of an easy, allergen-free breakfast? These sunbutter breakfast cookies only take a few minutes of prep time and are free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, rice, corn, soy and coconut.

When I ask my kids what they want for breakfast nine times out of ten they say breakfast cookies.

I don’t blame them. Who doesn’t want a cookie for breakfast?!

Easy Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies

I’ve been making a variety of breakfast cookies for years. But recently we experimented with an egg free diet for my oldest. So I had to come up with yet another version.

Sunbutter makes a great allergy-friendly substitute for eggs. Not to mention it is delicious! It also replaces the fat. So there is no need to use dairy or coconut.

I also add some ground flax seeds to make sure the cookies hold together.

Soak Grains for Better Digestion

Sunbutter breakfast cookies start with a long soak to reduce the phytic acid content. This is especially important when using oats as they are very high in phytic acid.

If you’ve never soaked your grains before, rest assured it’s a very simple thing to do. Mix the grains with water and lemon juice. Done.

When you are ready to bake all you have to do is add the remaining ingredients, mix, scoop and bake.

Kids in the Kitchen

This is a great recipe to let little ones help with. No chopping. No egg cracking. No butter melting. Just measure, pour and mix.

You can teach even your youngest children all the necessary skills for making these delicious breakfast cookies with the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse! Check it out HERE.

Kids can even sample the ingredients as you go. Somebody has to make sure the honey tastes good, right?!

You can add whatever extras you like to sunbutter breakfast cookies. My kids always ask for mini chocolate chips. Dried fruit, nuts, seeds and coconut all work, depending on your dietary needs.

Seasonally-Inspired Breakfast Cookies

Change up the flavor of your sunbutter breakfast cookies by adding seasonal ingredients.

In the summer add diced strawberries, blueberries, or peaches.

For fall you could add some diced apples and cinnamon. Be sure to chop the apples finely enough to make them bite sized for kids.

Dried cranberries make a very festive cookie during the holidays.

Are you looking for an allergen friendly breakfast treat for your family? Sunbutter breakfast cookies will be a family favorite.

Easy Prep-Ahead Breakfast Cookies

Be sure to make a big batch so you can stock the freezer for effortless breakfasts on busy school mornings. Paired with a big glass of homemade rice milk you’ll have breakfast on the table in under a minute!

You can also add them to lunch boxes for a delicious and healthy treat.

I have to share a fun fact that I learned while making these.

When you mix a lot of baking soda with sunbutter it turns green!

Don’t worry. I adjusted the recipe so you won’t have green cookies like we did. But it is perfectly safe to eat them even if they are green.

5 from 1 vote

Allergen Free Sunbutter Breakfast Cookies

A simple breakfast cookies that is free of gluten, eggs, dairy, nuts, rice, corn and coconut.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 20

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups gluten-free oats
1/2 cup sorghum flour or brown rice or amaranth
3/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup sunbutter unsweetened
2/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup add-ins: chocolate chips dried fruit, coconut, seeds, nuts

Instructions

Combine the oats, sorghum, water and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover and let sit 24 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Add the sunbutter, honey, salt, soda, and flax seeds to the oat mixture. Mix well.
Stir in the add-ins.
Scoop mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet (as large or as small as you like).
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes (less time for smaller cookies, more time for larger cookies).
Let cool.
Store in sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

Busy Morning Breakfast Ideas

Healthy Breakfast for Busy Mornings

Naked Nutrition Protein Oats

How to Make Protein Oat Parfaits

Blueberry Cobbler Protein Oat Parfait

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oat Parfait

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

How to Use Protein Oats

Nourishing Breakfast with Naked Nutrition

Naked Collagen Creamer

How to Easily Add Protein to Your Day

How to Use Collagen Creamer

Benefits of Collagen

Naked Nutrition for Your Health

Healthy Drink for Kids

Easy Protein for Picky Eaters

Dairy-Free Butterscotch

Breakfast Butterscotch Milkshake Recipe

Nutrient-Dense Butterscotch Smoothie

Butterscotch Milkshake

Ingredients

Instructions

Getting creative.

Accidental Caramel

Metabolism Boosting Combination

Easy Toddler Treat

Metabolic Recovery

Have you assessed your metabolism lately? What are you doing to keep it running at full speed?

Updated Neapolitan and Spumoni

Unique, Kid-Friendly Breakfast

Holiday Breakfast Parfait

Are you ready to try something new for breakfast (or dessert!)?

What is Bread Pudding?

Why do Muffins Fall Apart?

Leftover Muffin Bread Pudding

Easy Bread Pudding for One or For a Crowd

Kid-Friendly Bread Pudding with Muffins

Not sure what to do with leftover muffins? Turn them into bread pudding – a delicious breakfast or dessert the whole family will love.

Kid-Friendly Drink Without Refined Sugar

Protein-Rich Drink for Kids

Healthy Chocolate Milk

How to get Kids to Eat Enough Protein

Quick & Easy Nutrition for Kids

The next time you’re in a beverage rut or your kids need a little protein boost, make a batch of salted chocolate milk. Use your favorite milk and some grassfed collagen to blend a nourishing drink the whole family will love.

Protein-Rich Salted Chocolate Milk

Ingredients

Instructions

Egg Sensitivity in Babies

Egg-Free Muffins

Baking Without Refined Sugar

Easy Allergen-Free Snack for Kids

Gluten-Free Egg-Free Orange Raisin Muffins

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

Sweet and Salty Homemade Granola

Easy Finger Food Snack

Budget-Friendly Breakfast

Quick-Prep Homemade Granola

Soaked Granola Recipe

Easy Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies

Soak Grains for Better Digestion

Kids in the Kitchen

Seasonally-Inspired Breakfast Cookies

Are you looking for an allergen friendly breakfast treat for your family? Sunbutter breakfast cookies will be a family favorite.

Easy Prep-Ahead Breakfast Cookies

When you mix a lot of baking soda with sunbutter it turns green!

Allergen Free Sunbutter Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

Pin It on Pinterest