This post is sponsored by NESTLÉ® NESQUIK® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s that time of year again!

All of our little munchkins are heading off to school! For many of you, it’s Back to School season, but for me it’s the first time. While sending my little smidgen off to kindergarten is sorta killing me, my obsessive-planner side is relishing laying out her clothes each night, packing her backpack, and meticulously arranging her lunchbox with the full knowledge that it will all jumble up as soon as she lifts it.

Yet, in spite of all my careful planning, I totally neglected one thing:

We suddenly have to get up and out the door MUCH earlier than usual, and my child eats slower than a snail scoots through molasses.

So, I was faced with a new challenge: how do I get a full, nutritious breakfast – and ANY protein at all – into my little girl’s belly in 15 minutes or less?

My first instinct was to laugh maniacally and just accept that it wasn’t going to happen. I thought my only hope was to just take solace in the fact that she’s going to be eating lunch two hours earlier than usual.

*insert defeated mama dance here*

*actually, it’s more of a shuffle*

 

Turns out my worrying was all for naught, because when I was grocery shopping at Walmart I found NEW NESTLÉ® NESQUIK® Super Breakfast , and it totally came to the rescue!

GAME. CHANGED.

My daughter already LOVES some Quik mixed into her milk in the morning, but NESTLÉ® has really raised the bar with this NESQUIK® Super Breakfast. Available in chocolate or vanilla, each bottle packs in 12 GRAMS of protein with NO high fructose corn syrup! I honestly feel like someone was watching my family and knew EXACTLY what we needed.

NESQUIK® Super Breakfast is a perfect way to complete a nutritious breakfast: just add a grain and a serving of fruit, and you’re golden! I’ve put together a list of our 5 fave breakfast combos to give you a jumpstart, because at least one part of your morning routine should be easy!

 

1) Whole Grain Waffle + Fresh Berries + NESQUIK® Super Breakfast = YUM!!!

 

One of Aria’s favorite breakfasts has always been a whole grain waffle and LOTS of berries with a cup of milk. It’s a decently balanced breakfast, but since she would rarely finish her milk it was sorely lacking in protein which left her lacking in energy way too early in the day. Swapping milk for NESQUIK® Super Breakfast made a HUGE difference! Suddenly, not only was she getting a GREAT amount of protien, but the NESQUIK® Super Breakfast was so delicious that she finished every. single. drop. without hesitation!!! Talk about a huge MOM WIN! And the breakfast took all of 3 minutes to prepare. Seriously – how awesome is that?!?

 

2) Mini Bagel + Banana + NESQUIK® Super Breakfast = MEGA WIN!!!

 

Bagels are a delicious breakfast staple, but they’re loaded with all. the. carbs. and that’s not really what I’m looking for in a healthy breakfast for my little angel girl. Thank goodness, bagels now come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to find a thin or mini whole-grain version and they’re still delicious! Aria loves her bagels untoasted, with a super thin layer of cream cheese and a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning – I know it sounds crazy, but don’t knock it ’til you try it! Sometimes, she likes to play with her toppings and do a thin layer of peanut butter and banana slices or strawberries, but when she sticks to her usual shmear, the banana is usually on the side. Add the delicious NESQUIK® Super Breakfast in chocolate or vanilla, and you’ve got another easy Back-to-School breakfast ready in under 5 minutes!

 

3) Whole Grain Toast + Apple + NESQUIK® Super Breakfast = HAPPY DAY!!!

 

My daughter is OBSESSED with cinnamon toast! Just pop a slice of whole grain bread in the toaster, spread on a little bit of butter, and sprinkle with ground cinnamon and less than a teaspoon of sugar, and I have one happy little munchkin! Add apple slices and a chocolate NESQUIK® Super Breakfast and she’s over-the-moon ecstatic! But she doesn’t stop at cinnamon toast! One of her favorite things to do in the morning is create fun combos for her toast toppings. Some of her faves are Peanut Butter + Honey, Peanut Butter + Banana, Peanut Butter + Mixed Berries, Cream Cheese + Strawberries, and Cream Cheese + Raspberry Preserves + Cinnamon + Salt. No matter what she chooses, breakfast is served so fast that Mom might even be able to get away with hitting snooze once or twice – not that I would know from experience or anything…

 

4) Homemade Blueberry Muffin + Strawberries + NESQUIK® Super Breakfast = BEST DAY EVER!!!

 

Okay, this one isn’t EXACTLY a 5-minute meal, since you do have to bake the muffins, but I make them the night before and have enough for four days of breakfasts. They freeze well, and warm up deliciously in the microwave. You can use your favorite recipe, or keep an eye on the blog – I’ll be posting mine later this week! One muffin, three sliced strawberries, and a chocolate NESQUIK® Super Breakfast combine to make a scrumptious, satisfying morning meal. And, okay, baking muffins takes time that not every mom has (or wants to spend in the kitchen – which is totally me 90% of the time.) I’m going to pull a Barefoot Contessa and tell you that if you can’t – or don’t want to – bake your own, store-bought is totally fine. This is Aria’s #1 FAVORITE breakfast, especially if she gets to help me bake the muffins!

 

5) Oatmeal + Blueberries & Banana + NESQUIK® Super Breakfast = HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!

 

Rounding out this list is a classic breakfast, which is a great go-to as the mornings get chilly. And they will get chilly again… right? I can’t be the only one who’s 100% done with summer. My favorite thing about oatmeal is how easy it is to mix it up! You can put so many things in there to make it unique. I prefer to make mine with water instead of milk, because it feels lighter. I use about a teaspoon each of butter and brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Aria loves hers with fruit mixed in, and she’s always trying new combinations. Of course, she also likes to add food coloring, but I cannot recommend that in good conscience because it looks absolutely awful… So, experiment, mix it up, and don’t add food coloring! Mix in your fruit, or eat it on the side, and wash it down with a delicious NESQUIK® Super Breakfast in your choice of chocolate or vanilla, and enjoy the knowledge that you just made it through a week of Back-to-School breakfasts, and you sent your kids to school well fueled for the day ahead. You are amazing. You are Super Mom. And you are going to ROCK this school year!

 

But wait, there’s more! If you’re ready to try out the super yummy, protein packed Nesquik Super Breakfast, I’ve got great news for you! Just click here and get an awesome $1.50 rebate when you purchase a 6 pack at Walmart thanks to iBotta!!!

 

Alright, Grasshoppers, I have done all I can to arm you for the upcoming battles that are School Day Mornings. Now go forth, make delicious, balanced breakfasts, and don’t forget backpacks and matching shoes!!! You got this, mamas!