As we welcome the new year, it’s time to introduce healthy routines and reevaluate your family’s eating habits. With a well-balanced regimen and meal plan that the entire household can partake in, your kiddos will learn the importance of nutrition and adopting a wholesome lifestyle.

While it can be tough to get children on board with eating nourishing foods—we’re looking at you, pantry full of snacks—involving them in the decision-making process for meal-time and asking for a lending hand in the kitchen can get the excitement rolling.

To help kickstart your family’s wellness journey, we’ve turned to foodie mom Meghan Allen of @raisingtwinboys for inspiration. With eight-year-old twin boys of her own, Allen knows how important it is to raise healthy eaters who play a role in creating the food they eat.

 

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“We watch cooking shows together and sometimes pick out recipes online to make and try,” Allen says. “They love trying new foods and often put their own spin on them by adding or removing ingredients. We consider cooking an art form and allow them to play around in the kitchen.”

With Sun-Maid’s classic raisins, Allen shares fun, creative and easy breakfast recipes that her sons Hayden and William have tested—and approved. Read on to learn how to make these on-the-go options for busy school mornings.

Build-Your-Own Overnight Oats

Even the pickiest of eaters will look forward to breakfast with these simple yet delicious build-your-own overnight oats that can be made in advance of a hectic school week. “These are made with ingredients you probably have in your pantry already and they can be customized to your and your kiddos’ taste, which makes them a crowd pleaser,” Allen adds.

Ingredients (Makes 4 Jars):

• 4 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
• 2 cups Milk of your choice (I used Almond)
• 8 Tbsp. Almond Butter
• 1 cup Sun-Maid California Raisins
• 4 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
• Toppings of your choice, we love:
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries (sliced)
  • Coconut Chips
  • Cacao Nibs
  • Bananas (sliced)
  • Walnuts

Directions Per Jar:

1. Pick your favorite jar with a lid.
2. Add 2 Tbsp. almond butter to your jar.
3. Add 1 Tbsp. chia seeds on top of almond butter.
4. Add 1 cup oats to cover chia seeds.
5. Add ½ cup of your choice of milk to cover the oat mixture.
6. Add ¼ cup of Sun-Maid California Raisins on top.
7. Top with additional toppings of choice! We loosely use 1-2 Tbsp. of blueberries, strawberries, coconut chips, cacao nibs, bananas and walnuts per jar.
8. When done building, cover each jar with a lid, chill overnight in the fridge or for at least 2 hours.

 

No-Bake Cacao-Raisin Energy Bites

Need a boost in the morning? These bite-sized treats, generously stuffed with cacao and Sun-Maid raisins, can do just the trick. Allen recommends customizing the recipe by rolling the energy bites in shredded coconut, sesame seeds or cacao nibs. “Sun-Maid is a staple in our house,” says Allen. “[These] can help guide moms, like me, who are looking for easy solutions to breakfast and weekday morning chaos.”

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Almonds
• ½ cup Walnuts
• 2 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
• ¼ to ½ Tsp. Salt
• ¾ cup Sun-Maid California Raisins
• 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds
• 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
• ½ cup Almond Butter
• 1-2 Tbsp. Water
• Toppings of your choice, we love:
  • Shredded Coconut
  • Extra Sesame Seeds
  • Cacao Nibs

Directions:

1. Prep a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Pour all ingredients, except almond butter, into a food processor.
3. Use “pulse” button to blend.
4. Add ½ cup of almond butter into food processor.
5. Use “pulse” button again to blend.
6. Form small balls from mixture and add to baking sheet. It’s best to form them into the size of a ping-pong ball.
7. To add some variety to your bites, roll them with toppings of your choice such as shredded coconut, sesame seeds or cacao nibs.
8. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours prior to serving.

For more breakfast ideas with Sun-Maid’s versatile, wholesome products, head to our back-to-school recipe generator!