Getting breakfast into your Teenager ...or yourself!

Get Your Teenager to Eat Breakfast- Give them Cookies!

I don't often blog about the Nutrition side of my knowledge but after being challenged by trying to get breakfast into the teenager I care for, as well as my early 20-something fitness clients, I thought its about time I discussed the topic!

I watch with interest in the mornings in our office the 20-something year old IT guys come into the office, sometimes with coffees, sushi, Danish style treats or even sit at their desk with sandwich's or if we are lucky, sit at their desk with a bowl of cereal, some with nothing.

As a fitness trainer, I have been educated on the importance of breakfast to ensure your brain function is where it needs to be in the morning, also for maintaining a healthy weight and to ensure the metabolism is a fat burning machine.  Its the one thing my younger clients struggle with the get consistent.

Now I have a teenager living with me.  I have tried all sorts to get him to have breakfast.  Porridge- No. Toast- too hard. Smoothies left in the fridge- forgets them.   Fruit- sometimes. Mcdonalds- this would be the preference...but...!  I've resorted to Up & Go, which is against my judgement- a liquid fuel.  This he will even seek out in the cupboard.  But I don't like it because it has too much sugar.  

So I was onto something- he told me he liked to have it while he was driving.  I also knew it was convenient and easy and felt 'bad' because it was in a box.  So what if I played with this phycology?  Make it look like it was a 'bad' food that you would not eat at breakfast and slam all of the goodies into it that you would have a breakfast.  YESSS!

So I created the ultimate 'Breakfast Cookie'.  Yes, I give him biscuits for breakfast! 
It must have worked as the cookie I left on the bench with a napkin was gone in the morning!

So if you want to give it a go, here is my recipe- which is full of protein, low in fat and no refined sugar and plenty of carbs and fibre...

The Ultimate Breakfast Cookies

Makes 6-7 Cookies
Total prep and cook time- 30 mins

1 banana (Medium)
1 Apple (Medium) (peeled) and chopped
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup skim milk powder
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 dried peaches or dried apricots
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
2 Tablespoons runny honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175C 
2. Line cookie tray with baking paper and set aside.
3. In a food processor, blend the banana until smooth, when add chopped apple and continue to blend until smooth Set aside.
4. Combine all other ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Add the blended banana and apple to the dry ingredients.
6. Add the honey last and blend well
7. Mix well and ensure all of the dry ingredients are coated with banana and apple and honey mix
8. Let  mixture stand for 5-10 minutes to absorb the moisture from the wet mixture.
9. Take approx. 1/4 cup scoop of the mixture and press it together to form a round cookie about 7cm round and 1.5cm thick and place cookie on tray.
10. Repeat with the rest of mixture
11. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden.
12. Remove from the oven, then cool completely.
13. Keep for several days in an airtight container, or freeze.

Enjoy!