In our household, as I’m sure it is in many homes across the country, breakfast can be a crazy time. Especially during the school and work week. Most of the time my kids can make their own breakfast. Other times they want me to make something for them. Often I might find myself making one child an omelet, another child oatmeal and pancakes for my hubby. I don’t mind making breakfast. I just prefer to make ONE kind of breakfast for everyone rather than several different things.
Serving a healthy breakfast for my family is just one of the many “mom” things that I feel the need to do. After all, a good mom takes the time to make sure her family is well fed before they head off to school or work. Or at least that is how we feel.
According to a recent survey by Quaker, more than 90% of moms feel that there is no definition of the perfect mom or that it means different things to different people. I agree with these findings. There is no such thing as a “perfect mom”. Many of us strive to be one, but there is nothing we can compare to. No one is perfect, despite what we think. My idea of a “perfect mom” might be much different than your idea. And that is fine. Having different ideas and opinions is a part of life. It doesn’t make me wrong, nor does it make you wrong.
I personally feel that as a mom I need to ensure that my family is healthy, and one of the ways I accomplish that is by serving health meals and giving them healthy options, such as for snacks. Even with that in mind I’ll be the first person to jump on the idea of ordering pizza if given a chance. Eating healthy all the time would be ideal, but not in the real world. Every now and then you need to enjoy an ooey gooey pizza or a melt-in-your-mouth piece of Chocolate Cream Pie.
I think part of being a “perfect mom” is the ability to be flexible as well as accepting of the fact that it’s OK to make mistakes and “be human” from time to time. We can’t be Super Mom 24/7, that is for sure.
Getting back to breakfast.
I like to offer my family healthy breakfast options that not only fill a nutritional need, but also ones that will keep them feeling full and satisfied.
Oatmeal is a product that I always have one hand. I admit that I keep instant oatmeal available. Breakfast time it too crazy to worry about making the non-instant type of oatmeal. I rather pop it in the microwave, or boil some milk or water, to make oatmeal.
Sometimes both of my kids want oatmeal at the same time. We only have on microwave which means I can only cook for one child at a time.
My son also eats A LOT. He has his father’s metabolism (thankfully) so he’s not gaining a lot of weight. He’s just a teenage boy who eats us out of house and home. Plenty of times he has eaten two packages of oatmeal. He’ll eat one and then have to make another one since trying to combine two packages is not always easy.
Quaker has created a new product that helps busy moms make a healthy, nutritious and satisfying breakfast for their family that is totally customizable. It’s called Quaker Perfect Portions.
Quaker Perfect Portions is a multi serve instant oatmeal that allows you to make as many portions as you need (so you can prepare breakfast for your whole family at one time), or create larger portions for those with bigger appetites (like growing teenage boys!).
Quaker sent me samples of their new Perfect Portions oatmeal to try out with my family.
Currently the available flavors are Maple and Cinnamon.
Perfect portions lets you measure out the amount of oatmeal you need. Instead of having to open up multiple packages like you do with other instant oatmeals, all you need to do with Perfect Portions is to use a measuring cup to measure out how much you need, whether you are making the oatmeal for just you or for your whole family. You can make oatmeal for everyone instantly at one time. That is great for busy families, especially on school/work mornings.
Quaker Perfect Portions has been especially handy for my son. Now I can measure out the perfect portion size for him so that he feels like he’s had enough to eat and isn’t looking for more to eat before heading off to school.
The first time we made Perfect Portions my husband used it to make himself some Maple oatmeal. He didn’t read the package enough to see that the Perfect Portion oatmeal are UNSWEETENED. You sweeten them the way you like it, whether it’s super sweet or not sweet at all. You can also sweeten with sugar, honey, artificial sweeteners or whatever you fancy. My husband didn’t realize that and when he took the first taste of the Maple oatmeal he almost gagged and said “This is gross!”. That is when I asked him if he remembered to add a little sugar. He didn’t know he had to. So we dumped out that bowl of oatmeal and make a new one – this time with sugar. 🙂 He enjoyed it the second time around.
Like I said, you don’t have to sweeten it if you don’t want to. I like having control over the sweetness of the oatmeal. I don’t like my oatmeal to be too sweet. When I make the Perfect Portions I just use one packet of raw sugar to sweeten is and it’s perfectly sweetened for me. Perfect Portions also allows moms to control how much sugar/sweetener their children get too.
Quaker Perfect Portions can be make with either milk or water. We perfect water, but milk tastes just as good.
Both flavors are delicious but the Maple is by far my family’s favorite. It smells amazing too! Even without making it you can smell it. I keep bags of Perfect Portions in our pantry and every morning when I open the pantry I can smell the Maple from the Perfect Portions oatmeal. That is probably why it’s our family’s favorite. Once you get a whiff of the Maple you start to crave anything with Maple.
As you can see, Perfect Portions is totally customizable, from the serving size to how sweet you like it and from the ingredients (milk or water) and whatever toppings you want (if you decide to top it off with fruit or nuts).
Quaker Perfect Portions oatmeal is YOUR oatmeal YOUR way.
Look for Quaker Perfect Portions are a grocery store near you.
For more information about this and other Quaker products visit www.QuakerOats.com. You can also follow the brand on Twitter and on Facebook.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.
saminder gumer says
i love this idea and it is great for the family because not everyone eats the same amount or likes it prepared the same way.
ANN*H says
I like this that its an amount you can do for how ever hungry you are. They look delicious
cant wait to try them I love amount – it feels you up and is good for you
June M. says
I will have to check these out. I love Quaker oats and love that I can make as little or as much as I need 🙂 Plus, oats are good for you, lots of fiber
Alicia K says
i love that they are portioning things
Shani F. says
This is a really great idea! I could even see this idea giving kids independence in preparing their own food.
Tammy S says
This is great. My son is like yours, one package isn’t enough some days. Now he can make as much as he wants. Thanks!
Vickie COuturier says
my husband loves this type of oatmeal,,an he always uses 2 packages ,so this would nice for him to use
Sandy VanHoey says
Glad to see this is the cinnamon flavor and love this idea.
Yona says
Im glad they chose the cinnamon and the maple to make perfect portions of – I LOVE the maple.
Holly @ Woman Tribune says
Quaker Perfect Portions look like a great way to get a balanced breakfast on the table in no time. I eat oatmeal a lot, it’s actually one of my favorite breakfasts because it is heart healthy, low in calories, and very filling. I hardly sweeten it at all, just a little sprinkle of brown sugar on top, and I really like putting raisins or sliced almonds in it. Delicious!
jamie braun says
i think you hit it right on the nose when you said part of being a “perfect” mom is being flexible. these perfect portions are a really great idea
Elena says
I haven’t tried this yet. Thank you for the review!