What does every engine need to run at maximum capacity? The right fuel. Mornings can be hectic with everyone hustling and bustling to be on time for work or school. So get up bright and early to make plenty of time for a nutritious Breakfast, or use the weekends for family activities that include preparing and freezing your own "grab and go breakfasts" or snacks. Try to stay away from high glycemic foods such as sugary cereals, donuts and pastries. They tend to feed the brain too quickly, create fidgeting, nervousness and inattentiveness. Low glycemic foods tend to feed nutrients to the brain more slowly and systematically. A traditional breakfast including orange juice, rich in vitamin c and powerful antioxidants, whole grain toast and an egg, which contains the brainy "choline" is a great start. Oatmeal is another great breakfast with staying power, only takes a few minutes to prepare and goes with small fruits like raisins, chopped apple, blueberries, etc. Of course my personal favorite is the pancake.

You can turn an ordinary looking pancake into a nutritional powerhouse by being creative and incorporating some foods they may not necessarily suspect, like toasted wheat germ for example. Here's some other ideas for sneaky nutrition to get you going:

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour -- "Since it has less gluten than regular whole wheat flour, pastry flour makes for light and fluffy pancakes, waffles and muffins. Try a mix of whole wheat pastry and regular whole wheat for more texture; you might want to start with 3/4 pastry and 1/4 regular."

Toasted Wheat Germ -- "Adds a nutty, sweet flavor and is high in B vitamins and fiber. Replace up to 1/2 cup of flour with wheat germ in your favorite recipes. It can also be sprinkled onto cereal and sandwiches."

Grind up Nuts and Seeds -- "Many kids and some adults don't like nuts. It's too bad because nuts and seeds are high in good fats, protein and minerals. Grind them up and add them to your Baked Goods, even cakes. Replace up to 1/2 cup of flour with the ground nuts."

Ground Flax seeds -- "Flax is high in beneficial fatty acids for proper brain development in kids. It is also high in fiber. Sneak this one into baked goods, cereals, smoothies and sandwiches."

Mornings are usually too hectic for much experimentation. I like to cook on the weekends and turn in it into a huge production, making bran muffins, pancakes, oatmeal cookies and sealing them up fresh to toss in the freezer. If you have enough space, I highly recommend this week-end activity. It adds to so many aspects of health for yourself, your family, and your spirit. Oh and did I mention you can save time and money! Enjoy!

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