Back-to-school season happened early to us this year, Gwen’s school started classes last June 7. I now have a 1st grader! She’s excited with everything… her school service, her new school, her big stroller bag, and her new school schedule. Back in her Preparatory days, she’s at school for only 3 hours and she only brought snacks as her baon, mostly biscuits or sandwiches. But now that she’s in Grade 1, she’s at school until 2 pm. During the first week, her baon were biscuits or sandwiches for recess, and a rice meal for lunch. I was surprised to see her snack/lunch box wiped out, and looks like she wanted more because she’ll go straight to the fridge once she gets home. Her yaya said that maybe Gwen’s baon is not enough, and I have to include a more filling baon for her. And when it comes to a filling baon, potatoes always come to mind. I keep a stash of US Potatoes Hash Browns in the freezer because we love them for breakfast. Jeff and I also grab one of these to keep us satiated while on a 2-hour commute to work. Gwen loves the hash browns extra crispy!
US Potato Hash Browns for breakfast!
I thought since we’re already cooking hash browns for breakfast, why not make it as Gwen’s baon too. It’s also very timely because July is Nutrition Month. In her old school, kids are not allowed to bring processed foods as baon to observe Nutrition Month. They were given a checklist of allowed foods to bring such as fruits and vegetables including potatoes. Well, that was easy. All kids love potatoes, good for us parents because our kids get the nutritional benefits that potatoes has to offer. Here are some of them:
- Potatoes provide the carbohydrate, potassium & energy kids need to perform at their best. Potatoes are energy-packed and even have more potassium than a banana. Having potatoes as baon especially during PE day will keep our kids bustling with energy.
- Potatoes are vitamin-enriched. Potatoes are excellent source of Vitamin C. This is a revelation for me, I thought citrus fruits are the only ones high in Vitamin C. Typically, a 100-gram potato will contain about 17 mg of Vitamin C. In addition, they also contain iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin A, B, and P.
- Potatoes help in the proper functioning of the brain. The brain depends largely on the glucose level, oxygen supply, various components of the vitamin-B complex and certain hormones, amino acids and fatty acids like omega-3.
- Potatoes are a good source of dietary fiber. It provides 8% of the recommended daily value of fiber which is important for growth, development and overall health of children.
- Potatoes are a naturally fat-free and sodium-free vegetable. According to the 2010 Dietary guidelines by the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, potatoes have no cholesterol or saturated fat.
Now that we know that potatoes are nutrient-dense, let’s try to incorporate it more in their school snacks or lunches. Try adding another fruit or vegetable in your child’s potato baon. Research showed that when potatoes are served, a wider variety of vegetables are consumed.
It’s avocado season and I have a few ripe ones so I made a US Potatoes Hash Brown with Avocado and Poached Egg for Gwen’s baon. If you’re into Paleo diet, this one’s for you too.
US Potatoes Hash Brown with Avocado and Poached Egg Recipe
Ingredients:
2 pcs. US Potatoes Hash Brown
1 small avocado, pitted and sliced
2 poached eggs
salt and pepper to taste
Procedure:
- In a small non-stick pan, put a small amount of oil. Fry the US Potatoes Hash Brown until golden brown.
- In a separate pot, heat the water until bubbles start to appear. Add salt, stir the water before putting the egg. Cook for 3 minutes, and drain in paper towel.
- Arrange the hash browns in your kids’ lunchboxes. Top it with avocado slices, salt, and pepper.
- Enjoy!
TIP:
Instead of poached egg, you can use sunny-side up egg over easy.
You don’t have to cook the same potato everyday though. This is what I like about US Potatoes, they are available in wide varieties such as wedges, straight-cut, chips, twister fries, basket weave, and hash brown. Just look for the frozen section in the grocery like this one here in SM Makati…
For more information about US Potatoes, follow https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines/.
Here are other baon ideas using US Potatoes from my #KumareBloggers:
Mommy Peachy’s Easy Baon Ideas
Mommy Pehpot’s 5 Reasons Why US Potatoes is the Best Baon for Kids
Mommy Levy’s 5 Healthy Baon Ideas Using US Potatoes
You make this look so easy. i like cooking and trying new recipes but I am more of a baker. >If >I do try these, will let you know how they turned out.
It sounds like she is getting a good, filling lunch now. I love potatoes too. There are just so many ways to serve them! Her avocado breakfast looks delicious. My kids won’t even try avocados, but I don’t think I did either until I was in my 30s!
Avocados and Hash Browns are favorites of mine, so I know I’ll enjoy your recipe. It looks delicious.
Confession time, I didn’t know what a baon was. We love potatoes as well and there are so many different ways to enjoy them. Adding the egg and avocado sounds like a perfect meal.
I am never thought about doing something like this with hashbrowns but I love hashbrowns so much that I will try it anyway. This looks a whole lot healthier than what I have done in the past.
I am on a low carb diet right now, so I can’t eat the potatoes. I can, however, enjoy the avocado and egg combo!
I’ve never had hash browns like this but I like. I would cook my egg a bit harder but I love avocado. I would probably add in a piece of bacon.
My daughter is always telling me how much potassium potatoes have. She hates bananas so she eats a lot of potatoes.
Ohh now I like the sound of this, hashbrowns with avocado, yes please! I’m going to have to try and make it myself.
I always wanted to learn how to prepare hash brown! But your recipe is way more special with avocado. I’m going to try this.
This sounds totally delicious. Anything with potatoes and I am all for it.
I used the store-bought ones, brand is US Potatoes, you can also use Frenchies or Lamb Weston.
Match made in heaven 🙂
Good choice!
Oh yes! Bacon!
Baon is a Filipino word meaning snack 🙂
I cook more than I bake :p. Let me know how it goes
Love Avocados and Hash Browns. Baon is a good meal that we can carry for breakfast either at work or at school. It is nutritious too. I made this today morning. It was fantastic. I used sweet potatoes and it took 5 mins per side for the patty. It was very delicious indeed.
We haven’t tried cooking anything with avocado. This is a healthy and delicious breakfast recipe that we can try next time. It looks easy to do, in fairness!
Wow, I never knew that hash brown will work well with avocado. Would love to try this one.
My kids love those type of hashbrown. I cannot wait to try this out on them the next time I fix the square hashbrowns for them.
I definitely love hash browns and avocado, will have to try the pairing! I’ve never seen frozen potatoes sold in cases like you show above, I’d love that.
Looks like a great breakfast option. When i get back to the states I would love to make this!