Breakfast cereals, pop tarts, and cereal bars line the shelves of every supermarket. But are these really what we want to feed our children or our families for breakfast? These convenient offerings are loaded with high fructose corn syrup (even the ones that claim to be healthy) and other artificial ingredients. Wouldn’t it be much better and cheaper to make healthy and natural breakfast foods ourselves?

Eggs, no matter how you choose to fix them, are always a healthy choice. Eggs from chickens raise outside of cages on a local farm are always your best choice, and you support your local economy when you buy from local farmers.

Another great choice is whole milk yogurt, sweetened with vanilla that you have made yourself, and a tablespoon of raw honey. What makes this perfect for me is a big spoon of natural peanut butter mixed in, but not everyone is as wild about peanut butter as I am.

Fresh fruit is another great choice for breakfast. The fruit of your choice can be mixed in with yogurt or cottage cheese, or simply eaten alone.

A great breakfast food is brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal. This is one of my grandson’s favorites. No matter what time of day he comes to visit mammow, he insists that he must have a bowl of oatmeal. If you wish to make this oatmeal, the ingredients are few.

Take ¼ cup oatmeal and put it in a bowl. Pour ½ cup water in, or less if you want your oatmeal to be thicker, more if you want it thinner. Prepare in the microwave or on the stovetop according to the package directions. When the oatmeal is done, take ½ tablespoon butter (not unnatural margarine) and stir into the oatmeal. Allow it to melt, then add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ½ tablespoon brown sugar. Mix together well, then pour some cream or whole milk on top of it. Enjoy!!

The above recipe is the amount I make for my 3-year-old grandson. You, of course, may want to double it.

Everyone loves pancakes. There is no need for a pancake mix when you know how to make them yourself. To make Buttermilk Beauties, you will need the following ingredients:

1 cup flour (white, whole wheat or a combination)
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon shortening, melted, or oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk

Combine all of your dry ingredients. Add buttermilk, shortening, and vanilla to egg and mix. Combine the dry mixture with the buttermilk mixture just until moistened. Cook your pancakes on a hot griddle or in a hot skillet until both sides are browned.

Instead of topping with syrup, try some unconventional toppings. Mix cinnamon with sugar or honey and spread on each pancake. Spread peanut butter and homemade jam across them. Top with Breyer's Natural Ice Cream sprinkled with wheat germ. Mix applesauce with sour cream or yogurt and spread in between them. Or top with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own. In a 1 cup measuring cup, put 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice; fill the cup the rest of the way with milk. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes. Now you have buttermilk suitable for cooking.

I hope you and your family enjoy the brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal and pancakes.