Today's post brings with it a bit of nostalgia for the 1980's. For those of us on the younger end of things, famous stars like Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson were not the only beloved figures of that decade. Fruit Loops loving Toucan Sam, the Silly Trix Rabbit, Count Chocula and Lucky the Leprechaun were icons that every kid knew and loved. They greeted us each morning from our cereal boxes, while shouting enthusiastically from our tv sets in-between our beloved Saturday morning cartoons.
By my parent's standards, these cereals were too much money and too much sugar for any kid to eat. Only after many months of begging was I finally allowed to have a box of these candy-colored treats. For some unknown reason, I chose Apple Jacks. As I chewed the first mouthful, I remember wondering if I had picked up the wrong box. How could this fun, colorful, fruity goodness possibly taste so awful? Three bites later, I proved my parents right - it was too much on many fronts and not enough for me to finish even one bowlful.
Then, on a Saturday morning after a kids sleepover, I was hesitantly offered a breakfast of Lucky Charms cereal by a friend's mom who worried that MY mom would be furious. The alternative was cardboard,
I mean Grape-Nuts, so "absolutely, of COURSE I'm allowed to eat Lucky Charms," I told her. While mildly better in flavor, I cringed at the hard, gritty, nails-on-a-chalkboard texture of the marshmallows.
Next, I somehow got my hands on a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. I have no memory of where I was or who gave them to me, but I do recall handing them back after one bite and asking for buttered toast instead.
Most kids have a stronger sweet tooth than I did at that age. It takes a lot of work to convince a little person that a cocoa puff is not a food group. But there are many healthier whole grain "puffs" in all sorts of shapes and sizes that can replace sugarcoated, nutrient deficient corn and white flour varieties. Puffed millet is great because it does not become soggy and is gluten free. Quinoa puffs are also gluten free and more closely resemble rice krispies in texture. Kamut is similar to puffed wheat, but full of fiber. Uncooked oats are versatile and hold their texture well when eaten with fruit and milk. With endless flavor combinations, there is a healthier cereal bowl for everyone.
By my parent's standards, these cereals were too much money and too much sugar for any kid to eat. Only after many months of begging was I finally allowed to have a box of these candy-colored treats. For some unknown reason, I chose Apple Jacks. As I chewed the first mouthful, I remember wondering if I had picked up the wrong box. How could this fun, colorful, fruity goodness possibly taste so awful? Three bites later, I proved my parents right - it was too much on many fronts and not enough for me to finish even one bowlful.
Then, on a Saturday morning after a kids sleepover, I was hesitantly offered a breakfast of Lucky Charms cereal by a friend's mom who worried that MY mom would be furious. The alternative was cardboard,
I mean Grape-Nuts, so "absolutely, of COURSE I'm allowed to eat Lucky Charms," I told her. While mildly better in flavor, I cringed at the hard, gritty, nails-on-a-chalkboard texture of the marshmallows.
Next, I somehow got my hands on a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. I have no memory of where I was or who gave them to me, but I do recall handing them back after one bite and asking for buttered toast instead.
Most kids have a stronger sweet tooth than I did at that age. It takes a lot of work to convince a little person that a cocoa puff is not a food group. But there are many healthier whole grain "puffs" in all sorts of shapes and sizes that can replace sugarcoated, nutrient deficient corn and white flour varieties. Puffed millet is great because it does not become soggy and is gluten free. Quinoa puffs are also gluten free and more closely resemble rice krispies in texture. Kamut is similar to puffed wheat, but full of fiber. Uncooked oats are versatile and hold their texture well when eaten with fruit and milk. With endless flavor combinations, there is a healthier cereal bowl for everyone.
Raspberry Bowl
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1 & 1/2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/4 cup oats
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1 & 1/2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/4 cup oats
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
Chocolate Strawberry Bowl
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, diced
1 tablespoon chopped dates
1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts
1 tablespoon semi-sweet or cacao chips
1 cup puffed quinoa
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, diced
1 tablespoon chopped dates
1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts
1 tablespoon semi-sweet or cacao chips
1 cup puffed quinoa
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
Blueberry Bowl
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dried apricots
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 cup puffed millet
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dried apricots
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 cup puffed millet
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
Tropical Bowl
1/4 cup fresh or frozen diced mango
1/4 cup fresh or frozen diced pineapple
1 tablespoon flaked coconut
1 tablespoon chopped cashews
1 cup puffed kamut
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
1/4 cup fresh or frozen diced mango
1/4 cup fresh or frozen diced pineapple
1 tablespoon flaked coconut
1 tablespoon chopped cashews
1 cup puffed kamut
1 cup unsweetened milk, (nut, coconut or soy)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
Yield: 1 serving
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