Variety and a surprise now and then will refresh your daily breakfast bar.
You don't need special furniture or restaurant-style heat tables to create a fun, nutritious breakfast bar at home. Everyone loves a choice of foods, and your family will appreciate the option to sit down with a plate or grab a nutritious to-go breakfast. If you have a few standard foods like cereal and English muffins always on hand, then vary the fresh fruits according to season; you can keep everyone interested and fueled for a busy day at work or school. Throw in some new breakfast buffet ideas now and then for extra spice.
Instructions
1. Set aside a kitchen cupboard or a section in your pantry for storing nonperishable breakfast bar staples. Store a selection of cold cereals in air-tight containers for convenience and freshness. Place paper plates, bowls, plastic forks, spoons and knives, and paper napkins in a basket for easy transfer to your breakfast bar area. Have a small caddy filled with artificial sweetener and sugar packets. If family members will be taking coffee or hot chocolate to go, consider adding to-go hot beverage cups with lids to your paper product basket.
2. Offer a selection of breads that will cover your family members' cravings.
Stock your freezer with a variety of bread items for your breakfast bar. Bagels, English muffins, banana bread, blueberry muffins, cinnamon bread and scones are all great choices. Have some frozen waffles on hand, too. Each evening, remove a small selection of bread items, arrange them on a platter, cover well with plastic wrap and set on the counter to thaw for the morning meal.
3. Prepare your fresh fruit the night before so it is ready to go.
Devote a section in your refrigerator where you keep your breakfast bar supplies at the ready. Stock it with milk, cream for coffee, juice, yogurt, cream cheese and smoked salmon for bagels, butter, jam and fresh fruit. Make sure everything is stored in a ready-to-go format so all you need do in the morning is place it on the breakfast bar. When you bring home fresh fruit such as melon, slice it and store it in airtight containers so it is ready to eat in the morning.
4. Assemble your breakfast bar in the morning. Start the coffee maker, then place paper products and condiments on the bar. Set out a selection of cold cereal containers. Put the bread platter near the toaster and place butter and jam, cream cheese and smoked salmon nearby. Set out your other refrigerated foods as well as glassware for juice and milk. Encourage family members to dispose of used paper products as they finish. Store any unused items in their places, and your breakfast bar is cleared, the kitchen tidy and your family fueled up with a selection of nutritious breakfast foods.
Tags: your breakfast, family members, fresh fruit, your family, bread items, cheese smoked, cheese smoked salmon