Kellogg's Back To School PJ Party

This past Saturday over 30 moms came out with their kids and some dads to enjoy breakfast on us, courtesy of Kellogg's. They got to sit back (as much as the kids let them) and let momstown do the prep work. And to make things even easier for them, we made it a pajama party, so moms didn't even have to change their kids in the morning (well diapers may have needed a changing). Even lots of moms came out to party in the pj's!

The kids ran around and played while us mamas sat back, relaxed and enjoyed our coffee and tea.

We started off the party will some fun discussions on our crazy morning routines and learning the importance of ensuring we all eat breakfast, including moms. I myself am terrible for skipping breakfast because I'm so focused on the kids that I forget to take care of myself. This bad habit has got to stop. One fun icebreaker questions was "did you ever leave the house and realized you are still in your slippers?" Glad to know I'm not the only one that this has happened too!

Everyone got to enjoy a variety of different cereal that Kellogg's sent. Many of us parents were reminiscing about the good old days when we ate Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes. We have all tended to shift to 'adult' cereal, such as Kellogg's Special K, Mini Wheats, All Bran or Raisin Bran. I ate my bowl of Frosted Flakes rather quickly. We also had yogurt and lots of different fruit available.

Enjoying her apple! Check out her adorable silky pajamas. I don't even own pajamas that fancy! Lucky little girl!

Our party wasn't just about eating. We talked about nutrition, the facts about various breakfast food choices, and learned some interesting stuff. Many of us did not know that 'cereal contains less sodium than many popular breakfast items, including one slice of whole wheat toast, one croissant, one medium biscuit, one English muffin, and half a bagel.'

Every mom is looking for a fast and simple way to get breakfast on the table in the morning! Kellogg's cereal answers all the demands, and meets the nutritional needs of our growing kids. It was also convenient to have the cereals on hand to check out the nutritional value for themselves. We often don't have the time in the grocery store to read the labels. This breakfast provided the kids with a chance to sit down and try the food, and gave mom a moment to check out the labels.

What's a party without a prize! Congratulations Candis for winning our awesome prize loaded with cereal and fun stuff from Kellogg's. 

 What's a party without loot bags. Every family got to take home a gift bag from Kellogg's!

 We had a great time! It was nice to get together and enjoy breakfast with our momstown mama friends!

Brake for Breakfast & Party in Your PJ's!

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day.  Numerous studies outline the myriad benefits of breakfast.  Kids who eat breakfast tend to score higher on tests, and have more energy,  and longer attention spans. Moreover, since four out of five children don't get sufficient vitamins and minerals from lunch and dinner alone, a well balanced breakfast can help fill this nutrition gap.

The benefits of breakfast are clear, but the reality is that mornings can be hard.  From packing lunches, to managing drop off at day care and school, to wrangling toddlers (with or without their toys) out the door and into the car, breakfast sometimes get missed.  I can't count the number of times that my own breakfast has consisted of a cup of coffee, and not realizing I never ate breakfast until 11:30 am (just in time for lunch). Not exactly a balanced meal... Purchasing breakfast en route isn't always a solution either.  The cost adds up quickly, and many fast food options are loaded with sugar, fat, and sodium.

Thank goodness for cereal! At only 50 cents per serving with milk, its inexpensive and simple to prepare, and even preschoolers can help get it ready by bringing bowls to the table, and pouring cereal into them.  As a bonus, being involved in creating the meal fosters self confidence and a sense of self sufficiency, and can reduce picky eating.  Cereal is healthy too.  Paired with milk or yogurt for protein, and either fresh or dried fruit, you have a nutritionally balanced meal that is full of vitamins and minerals.

Cereal doesn't just have to be eaten in a bowl at the breakfast table either.  Here are just a few ideas for when you need to have breakfast on the go:
    •    Create customized trail mix with finger friendly cereals, nuts or seeds, and dried fruits. Divide into bags and keep in the pantry to grab when you need them
    •    Make a batch of cereal, fruit, and nut bars to eat throughout the week
    •    Blend cereal with yogurt, milk, and fruit in a smoothie
    •    Layer yogurt, berries, and cereal in reusable lidded bowls so that kids can enjoy yogurt parfaits in the car
    •    Allow preschool and school aged children to string Fruit Loops or other "O" shaped cereal onto lengths of stretchable string cord to create edible necklaces or bracelets.  Stringing the "o"s onto the string is great fine motor practice, and the "jewelery" can be munched on the go. 

If you and your family are cereal fans too, then you'll definitely want to join us at our Back to School PJ Party!  Kellogg's is providing us with a variety of yummy cereals, milk, yogurt and fruit to enjoy.  We will also be giving out gift bags packed with Kellogg's coupons and products to each mom in attendance, and one lucky mom will also go home with a special Kellogg's prize pack.  Come out in your pjs, and let Kellogg's and momstown take care of breakfast for once. It will be a great chance to meet and socialize with other momstown Winnipeg members too.  Head over to our main website to RSVP.  We are almost at capacity!

If you aren't a momstown member yet, now is the time to join. We have a free two week trial for moms to check out what momstown is all about.