Brandy:

 

chocolatechic:

Oatmeal fills you up and keeps you full till lunch. 

But then someone has to cook that.

 

giggle.

Your so right.   Have you considered making up microwave oatmeal packets?    Putting it in baggies and microwaving it for 90 seconds? 

Two of my middle kids, 13 and 11, always eat  cereal or toast, then they buy a snack at school.  The younger kids eat cereal, oatmeal, or  toast.  The two little girls get dry cereal and sippy cups of pink milk, whole milk  with strawberry flavoring.  They are both little for their age.  Luckily, all of our schools start a little later, I think that it works to have cereal, I'm convinced it's pretty healthy.  I'm happy with cereal, teeth brushed, homework done, I guess our standards are pretty low, I'm not going to start hauling out pots and pans in the morning.  During the summer, they are still happy with cereal.  

most cereal is good. Just the stuff like lucky charms etc you have to watch out for.  The kids get cereal alot because they like to eat first thing in the morning and I don't like food or cooking for a couple of hours after I get up.  They also have the choice of toast or fruit or yogurt.   They don't like oatmeal.

chocolatechic:

Have you considered making up microwave oatmeal packets?    Putting it in baggies and microwaving it for 90 seconds

 I did discover that work around a few months ago. I do mix up several jars with the flavor additions. This works if the kids are not up yet and I am only preparing for myself and my husband or for the kids later to do for themselves. If we are all having breakfast then I cook a pot of oatmeal.

Beyond being funny, oatmeal is a quick breakfast. We have cold cereal, oatmeal, grits and cream of wheat that we are alternating for fast breakfasts. The kids don't like having oatmeal every day so I have to find other quick meals.

We usually eat toast. The cheapest cereal I can find usually only at Walmart is $2 on sale and I buy that as a treat. Its a granola cereal. I do have a great granola recipe but I tend to eat it as soon as I make it so it only last about 2 days. My daughter though eats other things for breakfast if she can. She'll eat leftovers or cold pizza and even chicken for breakfast...even bean burritoes. The child is nutz! But, we do eat pancakes on occasion and cream of wheat during the winter time.

 I picked up milk today. The one I buy went up to $5.99 a gallon.

 How many gallons are you using a month, and have you cut back?  That is a high price.   

We used to use about a gallon a day, 30 a month, for the 9 of us.  It has been cut back to about 4-5 a week, 15-20 a month.  We miss drinking it like water, we all love milk except for dh, but we are adapting!  Glad I live in dairy area, where there are still sales for $3 a gallon occasionally, the usual is now $4.59 for the hormone free 2%, and for a half gallon of whole hormone free for the little girls, it is $2.69.   

 We were drinking 4 gallons a week. We have cut back to two. I am using a lot of dry and canned milk in cooking. I get both for free from MIL. I do miss drinking all the milk that I want. I love whole milk but buy the 2%. Cutting down has saved money. Babs

latenightleader:

That is a high price.   

The milk I am buying is supplied from a local dairy farm to the grocery store and is not homogenised and is hormone free. At this same store, organic milk is $7 or so a gallon and the regular store brand whole milk is $4.99.

The cheapest price I have found for milk is Borden's at the gas station for $4. I'd rather spend the $5.99 to have the milk I buy.

We are using about 6 gallons a month so no, I am not buying less milk. I did find that I can mix it half with water and it tastes fine for using with cereal, other foods and for my daughter to drink. I get more like a gallon and a half from each jug. I have tried to stretch other brands this way without success in taste.