For the March celebration of the Week of Love and the VMonologues, I presented on how to feed yourself easy, fast and nutritiously the Q/A was wonderful. I also served a breakfast of Oatmeal in a Jar. Oatmeal in a jar is a cute idea but for a large group not practical. When it is brilliant idea and technique is if you want to make a weeks worth of grab and go meals on your day off. We seem to be in a revival of how to do old fashioned fast. These fast techniques seem expensive and cumbersome. Go back to techniques, recipes and menues women used at home between 1920-1945. They had stoves, some had refrigerators and most had more than 5 children. 

Mother-recipes, these are recipes that are proportions and one varies the presentation, and flavors with different ingredients. This is one of those Mother recipes. I researched the DIY oatmeal in a jar and experimented, for the best outcomes use Old Fashion Rolled Oats and milk/milk alternative in a 1/1 ratio. The half pint jar is enough oatmeal for most, although online all the recipes are using pts. I found that was a 2 day or 2 persons meal. To that add 1/2-1/3 cup of fruit, my favorite was 1 tbs dried raisins or cranberries and 1/3 cup finely diced apples, 1/8 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp molasses. This tasted like my recipe and if making ahead toss the apples in 1 cup of water with 1/2 tsp of honey to keep them from turning dark. You leave this mixture in the refrigerator over night or for at least 4-6 hours. Longer, such as 5 days is okay. Remember nothing should remain in the refrigerator for more than 7 days and may items have a 3 day shelf life. 
Here is the link! https://goo.gl/photos/JvYiiHHW62Gv5dSs8
other great ideas for fast breakfast are hardboiled egg and an apple or banana, PB and fresh fruit, PBJ sandwich and milk or alternative.....cold pizza and other leftovers!!!

Visit http://www.eatright.org/resources/national-nutrition-month. Locally, I celebrated it at Hartnell College and the Week of Love March 6-9 with a Breakfast presentation at 8am on the 9th. Breaking the Fast is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. We would never think of driving off in the morning without putting gas in our cars yet day after day students, parents, teachers and too many others are out the door without even a cup of coffee? ITo arrive at my office I have to weave around the line of drivers blocking the driveway to the shopping center at Starbucks --Scarey! because I assume they may still be asleep! My morning ritual starts with brewing a gourmet cup of coffee in my french press, taking a moment to check my email and think about my day then breakfast, getting dressed and out the door. Yes, it takes getting up 1-2 hours before I leave the house but for me it is worth it. When I don't do it I forget stuff. 

The recipes for the events I did on March 9th and March 14th will be in a separate blog posts because I want to be able to fit them into their categories along with slide shows on how to prepare them. (sorry---I have a backlog of how to recipes to post) They are super easy with lots of variations. One of course is oatmeal done many ways and the other is silken chocolate pie. For now remember that those leftovers from dinner or you last take out are a perfect breaking the fast meal, get over that breakfast has to be breakfast items. I think eggs and toast or cereal and milk became breakfast because they are fast, simple have protein, fat and carbohydrates. Left over pizza and a glass of milk is a favorite of many teens it also gives them a reason not to eat the whole thing at once the night before. We didn't have leftovers until our son left home, he was the leftover king, he did not like eggs and was luke warm on cereal. Did you know in many countries folks eat 2 breakfasts and in Germany they even call it early breakfast and second breakfast. The Italians and French also start their days with an espresso and croissant or baguette and cheese. Slow down, cut your day down, when you leave your job no one remember how much you worked they may even hire two people to replace you! Now for students, it is more about time management and today's students have so many time eating activities such as social media, that is the diet we should be talking about!

Be nice to yourself! I have been know after a large heavy meal at night to opt for a soy latte and an apple or banana as my breakfast any faster it can't be. Maybe, PBJ or PB and banana--I like mine toasted! post your ideas....