One of the stark realities I face every day as a parent is deciding what to serve my family for breakfast. It’s enough for me to miss my younger days when my mom prepared a breakfast feast for us. Adding to that pressure is breakfast's moniker of being the 'most important meal of the day' because it breaks the overnight fasting period.According to WebMD, studies have linked eating breakfast to good health, “including better memory and concentration, lower levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, and lower chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, and being overweight.”
Considering the health benefits alone, breakfast is a must. But as parents, we know the real struggle of preparing breakfast on time for school and work, on top of deciding what to make.
Here’s something to help parents who consider breakfast a daily morning hurdle—the first Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024. We asked the Smart Parenting community, composed of editors, Smart Parenting Village members, and the Smart Parenting Squad, for their recommended and go-to breakfast items to provide Filipino parents with easy-to-prepare and affordable breakfast options.
The winning products in the Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 Breakfast Category include:
- Ready-to-Cook Meat
- Canned Goods
- Meat-Free Breakfast
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Milk
- Probiotic Drink
- Fruit Juice
- Tea
- Energy Boost Drink
Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 – Breakfast
Ready-to-Cook Meat: Premium Choice Longanisa Hamonado
Are you even a Filipino if you’ve never had longanisa for breakfast? The combo of longanisa, fried eggs, and sinangag rice is a beloved comfort breakfast for every Filipino family. Premium Choice’s version of this dish is the preferred ready-to-cook meat ulam among Smart Parenting parents.
The Premium Choice Longanisa Hamonado is one of our family’s must-haves in our breakfast lineup. Their version of longanisa is tender and juicy, with the right combination of savory and sweet flavors–ideal to pair with sinangag or even plain rice.
Available on their website.
Canned Goods - Meat: Spam
Every parent needs a breakfast option that’s easy to prepare as 1-2-3, and the classic, ever reliable, Spam is the winner in this regard.
Mom of two and Smart Parenting Squad Member Love Cosio shares, “Rice or bread, it’s a perfect match with Spam! I just love how it can make my daily food preparation easier. With just fried rice, egg, fruits on the side, or a simple sandwich and veggies, Spam perfectly complements. So hindi talaga mawawala sa food rotation for the whole family. Plus, the kids know if it’s Spam or not, so hindi ka pwede magkamali ng bili.”
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Canned Goods - Seafood: Rosebowl Gold Sardines in Tomato Sauce
For days when you want to take a break from meats, Rosebowl Gold Sardines in Tomato Sauce is the go-to for the Smart Parenting community.
“Rosebowl Gold Sardines is a top-ranked sardine brand for us, first, because of its sauce—‘sauce pa lang, ulam na,’” Smart Parenting contributing writer and mom of one Riyalyn Pasimio said. “Aside from its tasty sauce, it’s also fresh and not malansa compared to other sardines. Another plus, the fish are big and chunky, not crushed. Sulit na sulit since one can is good for a small family. And finally, the fact that it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart makes it a staple for us. I usually serve it as is or sauteed with pechay leaves.”
Available on their website.
Meat-Free Breakfast: Veega Meat-Free Tocino
For meat-free days that your family won't even notice, the parent-recommended Veega Meat-Free Tocino is a great option. You can serve up a sweet and savory Filipino breakfast that’s high in protein and fiber while also taking a break from animal-based meat.
It can pass as traditional tocino, thanks to its flavor and texture. Another perk that makes it a must-have in our kitchen is that it’s fully cooked, so I can easily reheat it on hectic school and work mornings.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Cereal: Koko Krunch
For cereal days or days when cooking is a chore, Koko Krunch is the favorite cereal for the Smart Parenting community, proving it’s every mom’s preferred bowl of energy to serve their kids in the morning.
Mom of three and Smart Parenting Editor-in-Chief Ronna Capili-Bonifacio said, “All my three kids always ask for Koko Krunch. As young as 1 or 2 years old, they felt proud to prepare their own breakfast so I loved giving them a sense of independence as toddlers.
She adds, "It's a go-to for days when we can't sit down for a full breakfast. And if I'm being really honest, it's also something they snack on when we have movie nights at home sans the milk!"
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Oatmeal: Quaker Quick Cooking Oatmeal
Aside from cereal, another option for yummy breakfast bowls for the Smart Parenting community is the Quaker Quick Cooking Oatmeal. Made from natural wholegrain oats, it’s a delicious source of fiber, calcium, iron, and essential vitamins and minerals for the whole family.
Riya likes it for its ease and flexibility, “Quaker Quick Cooking Oatmeal has been a cupboard essential from when we were kids until now as parents. It’s one of the easiest ways to serve a healthy breakfast and snacks to our kids, especially on days when we don’t have too much time. Cooked in just a minute, we serve it with milk or pair it with fruits, nuts, honey, syrups, and even eggs. We also like to refrigerate it overnight with fruits and chia seeds for a yummy and ready-to-go breakfast in the morning.”
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Milk: Nestle Fresh Milk
A glass of milk is a must-have for a good breakfast, and the Smart Parenting community’s choice is Nestle Fresh Milk.
Soon-to-be mom of two and Smart Parenting section editor Judy Aladin shared, “This is my preferred fresh milk brand because of its taste and price. As a expectant mom, I make sure we never run out of fresh milk so we buy this in bulk.”
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Probiotic Drink: Yakult
Another breakfast (or any time of the day) drink staple many Filipinos grew up with is the well-loved and Smart Parenting community’s choice for probiotic drink, Yakult.
Thea Masakayan, mom of a preschooler and Summit Media’s deputy content director says her family loves Yakult for its classic taste and probiotic benefits, sharing, "This beverage is a brand I grew up with, so it's a joy that my son loves to drink it too. It's the perfect after meal drink for my son because its sweetness is just right."
Available on Lazada.
Fruit Juice: Del Monte Pineapple Juice
Nothing else can get the family all bright and shiny in the morning like a refreshing glass of fruit juice. The Smart Parenting community’s pick is Del Monte Pineapple Juice Drink which is made from real fruit juice.
For Cherrie Julian, Smart Parenting associate video director and mom of one, “On mornings that I don’t drink coffee, I enjoy drinking Del Monte Pineapple Juice to start my day. It’s a refreshing breakfast drink that helps me have better digestion and gives me an immunity boost for the day.“
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Tea: No Brand Citron Tea
For the tea-loving parents, the Smart Parenting community recommends the No Brand Citron Tea for those days when you crave a soothing cup of tea.
I discovered my preference for citrusy and honey-flavored teas during the pandemic, and the No Brand Citron Tea has the right blend of sweetness and tea flavors that never fails to wake me up in the morning. And since it can be served warm or cold, I can also enjoy it any time of the day.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Energy Boost Drink: Milo
When it comes to chocolate breakfast drinks, Smart Parenting parents’ go-to is Milo. Aside from its tasty chocolate flavor that the whole family loves, it also provides a much-needed energy boost to start the morning.
Milo is one of our family’s must-haves for school drop offs. Its chocolatey-goodness gives my daughters the boost they need for a full day in school.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Stay tuned for the announcement of Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 winners in the other categories: baon and snacks, ulam, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and baby, and kitchen tools.
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Produced by Em Cruz
Photographs by Paola Aseron
Styling by Lady Badoy
Other props provided by Beaba Philippines
Editor in Chief: Ronna Capili Bonifacio
Shoot assisted by Yuuki Dela Cruz, and Justine Renee Cruz
Video producer: Cherrie Julian
Videographers: Jino Del Mundo, Rolando Pingco Jr.
Editor: Rolando Pingco Jr.
Art Director: Stephanie Ocampo
Socials Media by Zen Arganda
Marketing Specialist: Marie Bilgera
Associate Publisher: Bettina Santos
Publisher: Iza Santos-Cuyos
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