WeÕve all know the saying: Òbreakfast is the most important meal of the day.Ó This is especially true when it comes to our mini meÕs who have a full day of learning and growing ahead of them. Mornings, however, also happen to be some of our most chaotic moments in the kitchen, but they donÕt have to be!

Here are 5 back-to-school breakfast ideas that will save your mornings and help your kids start the school year off right.

5 Back to School Breakfast Ideas That Will Save Your Mornings

1. Make use of your crock pot

Add a few ingredients at night, and your breakfast will be warm and ready when you awake. Your slow cooker can be used to make everything from oatmeal to egg casserole with very little preparation time or cleanup required. Keep in mind that foods such as muffins or French Toast may require less time to cook, and therefore might best be prepared in a programmable crock pot to prevent burning.

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2. Have some pre-made smoothies ready

Bag up some fresh fruit and yogurt so that you can easily make a smoothie by simply placing the ingredients in a blender. While youÕre at it, make a few extra containers of fruit so that you can easily throw them in a lunch pail during your rush out the door. That way, you can be sure your children have healthy snacks during the school day as well. You can even freeze your pre-made smoothies if your fruit is a bit over-ripe.

3. Use your waffle iron for more than just waffles

While you can use your waffle iron to make waffles quickly, there are a number of other uses for it as well. For example, you can easily get crispy hash browns from frozen potatoes, or make strips of juicy bacon. Waffle irons also make delicious Panini sandwiches that are perfect for eating on the go. Since waffle irons are one of the easiest appliances to use, children will be able to make their own hot breakfast in the event you are too busy to cook for them.

5 Back to School Breakfast Ideas That Will Save Your Mornings

4. Make hard-boiled eggs in the oven

Place eggs in a muffin tin and then bake at approximately 325 degrees Fahrenheit for around 30 minutes. Oven temperatures do vary, so you may want to experiment a bit to find the combination that works best for you. Eggs should be firm and not rubbery, although the shells may have brown dots when finished. After taking your eggs out of the oven, use a pair of tongs to place them in a bowl of cool water. Allow to soak for around 10 minutes or so, and you will find them extremely easy to peel. You can then place these eggs in a container in your refrigerator, making it easy to grab in the morning when you are short on time.

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5. Use cookie cutters to make eggs and pancakes

Use a cookie cutter to make eggs (scrambled or fried), or pancakes with. Not only will your children enjoy eating them more, but you will also find they do not Òrun togetherÓ in your skillet and make flipping difficult. Make pouring easier by placing pancake batter or well-beaten eggs in a squeeze bottle-an old ketchup bottle that has been thoroughly washed and rinsed is perfect for this.

The good news is that these tips take very little time to implement into your routine. Plan now to use one or more of them to make getting ready for work or school as easy as possible!

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