Back To School Nutritional Tips from Midwest Dairy Council AND Prize Pack Giveaway!

We've all heard the saying, 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day', right?! A nutritious breakfast is a great source of key nutrients, including calcium, and has been linked to sustained energy levels throughout the day, improved attendance, higher math and reading scores, increased creativity and more! I don't know about you, but I always feel better having had a little something to eat before I start my day.

Now that it's October (can you believe it?!), many of you are back into the school year routine and all that comes along with it. It can often be a hectic time for families getting everyone ready in the morning and out the door on time. The Midwest Dairy Council understands how busy mornings can be, which is why they've designed a few tips designed to not only save you time, but also to help make sure that kids take on the day with a healthy and balanced breakfast. Some of these include:

• Set out cereal boxes and bowls the night before, add milk in the morning and enjoy
• Divide mini pretzels, nuts, and dried fruit into baggies the night before to sprinkle over yogurt
• Bake a fresh batch of muffins with your kids over the weekend to grab on the way to school
• Stock up on self-serve options such as individual flavored milk and granola bars
• Heat nutrient-rich leftovers for a quick, non-traditional breakfast.
• If kids don't have time to eat at home, take advantage of school breakfast programs

I especially like the idea of preparing for breakfast the night before. Having everything ready is a great way to make sure there's time for breakfast. I also never thought about it, but a non-traditional breakfast with nutrient-rich leftovers would be easy and fun every once in a while.
We were sent a few things to help make our morning routine easier. I absolutely love the high quality reusable grocery bag. The recipe cards are great as well! I am always up for new breakfast ideas!

You can visit the Dairy Make Sense website for more information on the importance of breakfast as well as more quick breakfast tips!

Win It: To help families get off to a good start each morning, Midwest Dairy wants to provide a lucky reader with a prize pack that will make the routine quick, easy and yummy! The giveaway bundle includes:

• A Cool Touch Griddle (valued at $30!), plus handy kitchen tools

• AND Dairy Makes Sense Recipe cards, including a fall favorite, Pumpkin Pancake and a high quality reusable Dairy Makes Sense insulated grocery bag -- perfect for stocking up on milk, cheese and yogurt at the grocery store.

Mandatory Entry - Visit Dairy Makes Sense and leave a comment letting me know something you learned.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 2 extra entries- Follow Midwest Dairy on Twitter

2. 2 extra entries- Become a Fan/Like Midwest Dairy on Facebook

3. 3 extra entries- blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and DairyMakesSense.com) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

4. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

Make your breakfast routine easier. WIN a prize pack (griddle, recipes, etc) from @MidwestDairy #momsbalancingact http://tinyurl.com/2ac3xqc

5. 2 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

6. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

7. 2 extra entries- Become a Fan/Like A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

8. 1 extra entry- Share about this giveaway on Facebook (when sharing, please tag @A Mom's Balancing Act so I can easily verify) Share - You can click here for easy instructions on how to do this

9. 1 extra entry- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

10. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address so that I can easily contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end October 21st and is open to the US Only

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided at no cost by Midwest Dairy Council. All opinions found here are my own. The opinions and experiences of others may differ from my own**