First-Day-of-School Tailgate Party
Start the Year Off Right with Breakfast at the Bus Stop
Before putting your children on the school bus, treat them to a delicious breakfast with their friends and neighbors.
What better way to start a new school year than a party?
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the first day of school is the most important day of the year, then your child’s first-day-of-school morning meal should be a delicious, nutritious event.
Start early and make some of the menu items the night before. Let your neighbors know about your tailgate party so they can get their children to the bus stop early. Chill the juices and fruit and make ahead what you can.
On that first morning of the school year, you and your children are likely to be up and out of bed early. Finish up your food, pack the cooler, load your car and head to the bus stop early.
If you have a busy bus stop with lots of little ones, you may want to bring a thermos jug of coffee for the parents, too. This is an exciting day for parents and kids alike. Celebrate new beginnings, eat a hearty breakfast and off to school they go!
. . . and the bus driver just might like a leftover or two!
Breakfast Tailgate Party Ideas
- Buy and chill small plastic bottles of orange juice and apple juice. Avoid red juices and grape juice and you’ll avoid stained clothes on the first day of school.
- Toast mini waffles and spread with a thin layer of peanut butter. Sprinkle with raisins.
- Make mini bagel sandwiches. Cut mini bagels in half, spread with cream cheese and place top back on.
- Breakfast roll-ups are packed with protein and easy to eat. Slice a hard-boiled egg and layer it on a flour tortilla shell. Add a slice of American cheese and a slice of ham. Roll up tightly, folding in ends.
- Make muffin sandwiches. Scramble an egg and place it on a toasted English muffin, top with cheese and crumbled bacon. Top with muffin half and wrap in foil to keep warm.
- Yogurt is better with extras. Take a large container of vanilla yogurt and remove some into a separate container. Into the original container, add diced fresh strawberries and chopped bananas. Stir to combine and scoop into small plastic containers with lids. Top with a sprinkling of Grape Nuts cereal. Chill before taking to your tailgate.
- Cut apples into slices and serve them with bite-sized pieces of cheddar cheese. Offer bananas and grapes, too.
- Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins are nutritious and low in fat.
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
- 1½ cups old-fashioned oatmeal
- 1¼ cups flour
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup skim milk
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 egg white
- ¼ cup old-fashioned oats
For topping:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Line 12 medium muffin cups with paper baking cups. Combine oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda. Add applesauce, milk, brown sugar, oil and egg white. Mix until dry ingredients are moistened. Fill muffin cups almost full. Combine remaining ingredients for topping and sprinkle evenly over batter. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 20-22 minutes or until deep golden brown. Makes 1 dozen.
