By: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN, MBA  

How’s your back to school checklist going? Backpacks? Notebooks and folders? Check! So, what could possibly be left to ease the transition? A new schedule calls for new mealtimes. Often, the most challenging one to implement is breakfast!

Did you know? Though 93% of Americans agree that it is the most important meal of the day, a recent study found that 56% never eat breakfast!

• Breakfast is the first dose of fuel your body gets for the day . Avoid a case of sleepy-eyes and set aside time each morning for breakfast to refuel for the day.
• Breakfast is essential to meet the nutrition demands of growing children.
• Think quick and portable foods like sandwiches and smoothies when time is of the essence. Prepping food the night before is also a major time-saver!
• Keep it simple! Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and strawberries, fruit & yogurt smoothie, egg and cheese sandwich or peanut butter breakfast bars will do the trick.

Peanut Butter Choco-Banana Cookies

These breakfast cookies will give your student an energized running start to their day!  

Prep: 8-10 minutes

Bake: 20 minutes

Makes: 12 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 Very Ripe banana, mashed
• 1 ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup Crazy Richards Natural Peanut Butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
• ½ cup 60 to 70% Dark Chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Combine all of your ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well.
3. Using a ¼ cup ice cream scoop or measuring cup place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use your hands to form into a circle.
4. Bake for approximately 20 minutes and let cool for 10 minutes before enjoying.
5. Refrigerate for up to a week.

Nutrition Information per cookie: 239 calories; 28.5g carbohydrate; 7g protein; 13g fat; 4g fiber; 50mg sodium 

Recipe By: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN