Christmas Morning Breakfast Traditions
The following blog and recipes appeared on Life’s Simple Ingredient as part of a collaboration with Revive Wellness.
As kids growing up, it was not uncommon to wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning, wake up our poor parents, and race to the tree to start opening presents. There was one year we were done everything by 7:00 a.m. After that, my parents instituted a rule that Christmas present opening could only start at a certain time, and usually after they had their first cup of coffee. As a parent now myself, I’m realizing how extending the “magic” of Christmas morning makes the whole day feel a little more special and not so rushed.
Whether you open presents before everyone is adequately caffeinated or after, this year why not try incorporating a Christmas breakfast tradition? We all have memories from childhood of this time of year, and sometimes all it takes is a taste or a smell to take you right back to that moment. Christmas morning or maybe Boxing Day breakfast could be a special time to create memories and moments of bonding for your family.
A simple way to do this is to incorporate Christmas flavours into everyday foods. Gingerbread Pancakes are a fast breakfast to whip up yet can be something special and festive. They are also a simple enough dish that kids can help to make – get in the kitchen together in your pajamas and make your gingerbread pancakes in special shapes like snowmen or candy canes if you want to.
Sample Christmas morning breakfast menu:
- Scrambled eggs with red and green diced peppers
- Gingerbread Pancakes
- Orange slices cut out with a star-shaped cookie cutter
Another recipe that can be prepared ahead of time is Plum Yogurt Cheesecake Muffins. You can even call them “sugar plum muffins,” referencing the image of sugar plums dancing in our heads from that old Christmas poem, “The Night Before Christmas.”
Sample Boxing Day breakfast menu:
- Plum Yogurt Cheesecake Muffins
- Turkey bacon
- “Candy cane” Greek yogurt parfaits (alternating layers of red berries and yogurt) in mason jars
No matter what you choose to serve, or which day you choose to serve it, you can create memories at meals that will be part of your family traditions for a long time. If there isn’t a special breakfast day in your home at Christmas time, pick a day surrounding the holidays that can become part of your family traditions and gather everyone around the table, probably after presents are opened.
About Raina Beugelink, Registered Dietitian
At the start of Raina’s career, she was interested in health and wellness, and knew the impact that food could have on one’s energy, vitality and overall health. Raina quickly realized she was passionate about helping people find their “ah ha” moment and empowering them to choose foods that nourished and fueled their body. As people grow and mature, we develop an intricate relationship with food, sometimes very positive and sometimes a little more negative. Working with someone to define (or redefine) their relationship with food and speak the truth about their health is something Raina feels both passionate and privileged to do. Raina’s areas of specialty include weight loss, shift work, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition.