Inspirational back-to-school breakfasts

It’s difficult enough to get them up in the morning. Inspiring groggy children to eat before they leave the house is often a parent’s biggest challenge.

We’ve taken a look at a quick recipes you can prep the night before, to make the morning rush a bit less, well, rushed.

Homemade granola can be made in bulk, and even bagged, so your child, tween or teen can eat on the way to school.

If you’re an early riser, nothing will tempt even the pickiest eater more than a crepe. Make the batter the night before, slice some berries, and your child will will enjoy a delicious breakfast.

If your child insists that eating is too difficult in the morning, bring out the smoothies, we say. Pick their favorite fruits, like bananas or mangoes, and slip in a little antioxidant goodness like flaxseed, blueberry juice, acai berries and even coconut oil.

Bed, Bath & Beyond offers this make-ahead recipe that’s inexpensive, tasty and easy to grab on the go.

Recipe: Powered-up Crispy Treats

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 cup orange juice
1 cup dried fruits (raisins, apricots, bananas, apples, cranberries, or a mix of all)
2 cups puffed rice cereal

Directions

1. Stir together all ingredients with a wooden spoon in a large bowl. Shape into walnut-size balls. Store in the refrigerator in snack bags ready to grab and go!

As for tools to make these goodies: A simple blender will do the trick, as will a sturdy pan for the classic breakfast featuring a pancake or omelet, but we’ve found a few winners that will have staying power through the school year:

The name says it all: The Kitchen Aid Torrent Magic Blender. When making a smoothie, no need to even reach for a juicer. Most often a tough number like this will do the trick. Kitchen Aid Torrnet Magic Blender, $449.99 (plus 3% Cash Back), Bedbathandbeyond.com

You can buy an inexpensive omelet maker, but we say purchase the Calphalon Unison Slide Nonstick 12-inch Omelet Pan, and you’ll have it for years. Plus, it’s perfect for fried eggs or anything that needs a shallow, small pan. Calphalon Unison Slide Nonstick 12-inch Omlet Pan, $149.99 (plus 3% Cash Back), Bedbathandbeyond.com

If you’re looking for a true juicer that can extract pulp and fiber from most any fruit or vegetable, consider the Jack LaLanne Juicer, which is compact and dishwasher safe Jack LaLaine Juicer, $124.99 (plus up to 1% Cash Back), Target.com