You've heard it many times before: breakfast is the healthiest way to start the day. Jump-starting the day with breakfast benefits everyone - children, teens and adults. Although this meal helps people of all ages stay more alert and have more energy throughout the day, eating a balanced morning meal is especially important for children and teens, as it prepares them to meet the challenges of learning. Research shows children and teens that regularly eat a morning meal tend to perform better in school and score higher on tests.

Despite its benefits, breakfast may be the meal most often neglected or skipped. A lack of time and hectic lifestyle are often the culprits. Yet it only takes minutes to prepare a healthy, portable breakfast that can be eaten in the car or on the bus and will give the troops the energy they need to meet the demands of their day.

Delicious, on-the-go breakfast options can include muffins, granola bars, bagels or whole wheat toast topped with melted cheese or peanut butter, fresh fruit with cheese and crackers, slices of ham and cheese rolled into pinwheels or a carton of yogurt swirled with berries and granola. Even a slice of pizza warmed up in the microwave is a quick, portable and nutritious breakfast.


Apple Cheddar Muffins

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 22 minutes
Makes 12 muffins

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup (2 oz.) Sargento® Fancy Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese

Combine egg, milk, oil, applesauce and sugar in large bowl. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together; add all at once with cheese to egg mixture. Stir only until flour mixture is moistened (batter will be lumpy).

Divide batter evenly among 12 greased muffin tins (cups will only be 2/3 full). Bake in preheated 400 F oven 22 minutes. Let cool in muffin pan 5 minutes. Run knife around edges of each muffin; turn out onto rack to cool.

Tip: For easy removal, bake muffins in paper cupcake liners.

About the Author
Recipes and ideas have been reprinted with permission from our friends at Sargento®. To receive a free "good mood food" recipe booklet, please call 1-800-243-3737 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday. Mention that you heard of this offer from FamilyCorner.com!

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