Before School Oatmeal and Jon Hamm or Hip Hop Class? Help!!!!

Hi everyone. First off, if you would like to bake for a bakesale this Sunday, Sept. 19th,to raise money for birthday gift cards for kids in Essex County group homes, email me at alma@takebackthekitchen.com

Well, what a morning. My sister Peggy called at the throws of early morning chaos to tell me that Jon Hamm was on the Today Show. I rushed to discreetly put on channel 4 (I forbid my kids to watch TV during the week now-another blog post) but could not figure out the remote! Oh, well, I really should be paying attention to getting the kids shoes on.

THEN,I get to the gym, am just in time for class, and who is on the TV in the lobby talking with Regis and what’s her name? Jon Hamm! I pause to watch, thrilled that life gave me a second chance, but then realized I would be late to my hip hop class. I needed to make a choice to stay committed to firm triceps or fall prey to the ever present temptation of Jon Hamm.

Well, I left Jon and went to class and was glad I did because the class rocked today.

We are all tempted during our busy days, eat this pop tart for breakfast, buy this hot lunch at school so I don’t have to pack a lunch, give my kids mac n’ cheese from a box because I did not prepare and shop for a whole chicken. When we commit and follow through with a healthy plan, however, it can feel really good. Even if it means giving up Hamm, we may enjoy being vegetarians 🙂 (get my joke?)

Anyway, I have committed to giving my kids fresh fruit EVERY morning with their breakfast which helps me know they got off to a good start. I have been serving it with oatmeal lately which is extra healthy:

Oatmeal with Fresh Strawberries
Heat up 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 cup skim milk. Stir for about 5-10 minutes until creamy. If too dry, add some water or more milk until it is creamy

Add some real maple syrup , some chopped walnuts and even some butter if they like
Serve with fresh strawberries on the side