Sponsored Post: This post is a paid collaboration with Nellie’s Free Range Eggs. As always, opinions are my own.

Is this healthy for you? A question that we hear frequently in our house these days. Ever since my kids started to go to school, they come home saying things like, “John’s mom gives him Doritos every day at lunch, how come we can’t have them?” My answer, “Go live at John’s house…” I’d like to think that we are a middle of the road kind of family – my kids eat veggies and fruits with every meal and yet, sometimes I let them have ice-cream before lunch….

We have been talking a bit about proteins and carbohydrates, and how if we don’t eat a good breakfast, we will be hungry later in the day. Protein gives you fuel to get through your day. I have one really good eater, and one that is just recently becoming a bit more adventurous. A staple in my house has always been eggs. They are quick and easy to make, and my dad lets the kids help make them, so that instantly makes them awesome in our house. Everybody can agree on scrambled eggs, but we are slowly trying other styles.

For breakfast, we tried baseball eggs on a bagel sliver (basically a quarter of a bagel). The adults had it with Sriracha and the kids had it with ketchup. We made them with yolks and without. The kids thought that having a “baseball” for breakfast was pretty cool.

(Top right) I made some egg salad and put it in a cute baseball helmet – the kids could decide if they wanted it as a lettuce wrap or if they wanted it on bread. Super easy to make ahead for lunch at home.

(Middle right) We tried “toad in a hole” with my best (read: sad) attempt at making a baseball glove out of brown bread. We added a little fruit on the side and yes, my children won’t eat a thing if it is touching another thing on the plate. Are your kids like that too?

(Bottom right) Egg salad sandwiches with baseball cheese. I bought slices of cheddar cheese and used a baseball bat cookie cutter to make them into cool shapes. You could use any shape that makes your kid happy. I also used those mini babybel cheeses and made them into baseballs. I get in a rut at school because lunches are already hard for me, and then add on no peanuts, tree nuts or coconut in their meals. I’ll admit, there were many days in a row where I just sent my kids to school with cold pizza.

(Middle bottom) We rarely have bagels in the house, but when we do, I buy them from Stop and Shop pre sliced. Each bagel is sliced into four pieces, you’re still getting the delicious bagel, but cutting those calories (and carbohydrates) down significantly. I am not a huge fan of cream cheese, but I have these great memories as a kid of visiting my grandparents in New York and my grandma would always have Temp Tee cream cheese (and pink grapefruits). So I put a little schmear on a bagel for the kids with some peppers to make it look like a baseball. Super easy, super cute.

So what’s with all the baseball themed eggs you ask? The Red Sox just named Nellie’s Free Range Eggs the official egg of the Red Sox. Nellie’s eggs are certified humane. What does that mean? The hens have room to run in fields, have a more diverse diet and are in general healthier. How can you tell they are healthier? Their deep gold color of the yolks of their eggs. And let me tell you, it’s instantly noticeable when you crack open that first Nellie’s egg.

For more information about Nellie’s Free Range Eggs, click here.

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Located on Guest Street, Kōhi Coffee Co. seems so spacious due to the floor to ceiling windows and the high ceilings. It has a standing bar as well as a place to sit if you want to catch up on some emails. While it was quiet on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I can see it being packed on the week days. After all, it is close to the Bruins, the Celtics, WGBH and New Balance.

I’m not a big coffee drinker – so I don’t know about the subtle differences, but they offer batch brew and pour over coffee as well as Siphon, Chemex and Aeropress from their brew bar. I picked up a single origin cold brew and they also offer NOLA, which is brewed with chicory root.

Pair a cup of coffee wth a savory scone, house made granola, homemade biscuits with jam and butter, seasonal muffins or a chocolate chip cookie. They have a light breakfast and lunch menu featuring a vegan sandie, a morning salad, a season fruit bowl, toad in a hole and a breakfast sandwich, to name a few.

Kōhi Coffee Co.

130 Guest Street, Brighton, MA

http://www.kohicoffee.com/

Hours:
mon-fri: 7a – 7p
sat-sun: 8a – 5p

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I’m always on the hunt for a good breakfast spot. Big Apple is located just over the Marlborough line and the prices can’t be beat. I have to admit that it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the packed parking lot every weekend should be a hint that they’re serving up some good food. I recommend going early – as it can fill up pretty quickly.

The egg sandwiches were the way we decided to go – $2.95 for an egg and cheese and $4.45 for an egg and cheese with either sausage or bacon. Pretty tasty! What else is on their menu? Omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, mini potato cakes and waffles to name just a few things. Kids can get 2 pieces of French toast, 2 pancakes or 1 egg and their choice of meat for $5.95 (drink included).

Lunch items include sandwiches (pastrami, egg salad, ham, tuna, etc.), burgers, salads and wraps. Kids can order chicken fingers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, mozzarella sticks or a flatbread pizza for $5.95. Big Apple is open 7 days a week from 6am – 2pm.

Big Apple

890 Boston Post Road E, Marlborough, MA

www.bigapplerestaurant.net

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It’s no secret that I love the biscuits at Sweet Cheeks – and oooh that honey butter makes my heart skip a beat. They recently introduced breakfast into their repertoire – choose from a pork belly, egg and cheese for $8, a sausage, egg and cheese for $8 or just  an egg and cheese for $6. Customers can pair their sandwich with Dan Raia’s hash browns ($4) and a cold brew coffee. Not feeling that breakfast sandwich? Pick up some plain biscuits and honey butter for just $3.50 each.

Breakfast is available for take out only, Monday – Friday, 8am – 11am. Hurry in and get your sandwich because the last day is April 5th! Because you know that once the Red Sox are back in town, all things Fenway will be crazy!

Let me just tell you that this is the most decadent breakfast – I had the sausage, egg and cheese and it was ENORMOUS! The sausage was well seasoned and generous in size and the eggs were fluffy and light. The hash browns had a really nice crisp on the outside that I really liked!

Where’s your go – to breakfast spot?

Disclaimer: Sweet Cheeks provided me with a complimentary breakfast. All opinions are my own.

Sweet Cheeks

1381 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

www.sweetcheeksq.com

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We recently headed out to Worcester to check out a few shops and grab some breakfast at the Birch Tree Bread Co. See my previous post here. In the winter, the Canal District Farmers’ Market heads indoors to a room off of the Crompton Collective. Birch Tree Bread Co. is located right upstairs, so it was packed. We waited in a long line to order our breakfast sandwiches and then I went on the hunt for a seat. Seats are a on a first come basis, with many people sharing tables and grabbing any free corner they can find. I managed to score a corner of a large table in the back and we all waited for them to bring out our breakfast.

I had been before and tried their breads and desserts, but this time I went with something savory – the egg sandwich. The $6.50 sandwich is worth the price: North Country ham and Cabot extra sharp cheddar topped with a fried farm fresh egg on a bacon fat brioche bread. Birch Tree Bread Co’s menu includes other delicious breakfast items such as a rotating selection of toasts (Brittany’s toast is champagne and orange cream cheese with strawberry coulis on toasted challah!!), bread puddings (sweet and savory), quiches, and a nice selection of gourmet sandwiches. Make sure to add a specialty drink to your order, like a gin rickey or a bourbon hot apple cinnamon cider!

Birch Tree Bread Co.

138 Green Street, Worcester, MA

www.birchtreebreadco.com

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J&M Diner, a popular breakfast spot that burned down in a fire last year in March, re-opened in November last year in a new location, right behind Legal Sea Foods in Framingham. We tried, and failed, to go a few times, only to be met with a long wait. We continued to try, at different times, to get in, because surely a place with that long of a wait time had great food.

We finally lucked out on day, going for more brunch than breakfast, on a weekday, and only had to wait about 30 minutes. The diner that is open daily from 6am – 2pm, is only closed on Christmas. Their menu includes classic favorites – eggs, omelets, pancakes and hash. I went with something a little different – the “wicked sinful French Toast” ($9) which is a cinnamon danish, cut in half, battered and dipped French Toast style.  It’s grilled and served in cinnamon and butter and topped with their homemade icing (see top right photo). Not as super sweet as I had expected, although I certainly couldn’t finish it in one sitting.

Try their sweet potato hash with grass fed beef, onions, bacon, craisins and sweet potatoes or their loaded home fries with bacon, onions, scallions, melted cheese and your choice of ranch, bbq or sour cream on top (or all three).

The diner is family friendly, all kids under 12 can get a meal for $7: French Toast, pancake, omelet, eggs or cereal. Let me just tell you that one pancake from the kids menu is as big as a dinner plate!!

Have you been to J&M Diner before? What’s your favorite breakfast spot?

J&M Diner

50 Worcester Street, Framingham (Route 9 East)

www.jmdiner.com

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I almost don’t want to tell you about Villatoro, it’s just that good. This cute little diner is located in Marlborough and has about 4 booths and maybe a dozen counter seats. You might miss it if you were just driving along the main road, but it is not to be missed.

We arrived before 8:30 on a Sunday morning and sat in a booth – they have a great coloring placemat for kids and it kept mine occupied until our food came. While space is tight, they do have high chairs and are very family friendly.

My husband decided to go with the egg and cheese sandwich which he really liked – one of the best he has had he said.

The kids split a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and home fries with toast. Portions were generous and we even had some to take home for later.

It was hard for me to decide if I should go with a sweet or savory breakfast – I was going back and forth between the huevos rancheros and the tres leches pancakes, but ultimately went for the pancakes. I figured that I would be back soon enough and could try the huevos rancheros then. The pancakes were delicious – and not as sweet as I had expected them to be – a pleasant surprise.

Villatoro is open 7 days a week, Monday 7-3, Tuesday – Saturday 7-9 and Sunday 7-5. For lunch and dinner they have something for everyone – make sure to check out their Facebook page and their Instagram to follow the daily specials. One of these days I am going to make it in for Taco Tuesday and the brisket on Thursdays – people are RAVING about the brisket.

Have you been to Villatoro? What’s your favorite dish?

Villatoro

353 Lincoln Street, Marlborough

Check out their Facebook page here.

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After a morning filled with all things sweet and delicious, my body was craving something savory. Leah and I popped into the Prudential Mall (because it was the closest thing and it was freezing outside) and grabbed some food from Dig Inn. This fast casual restaurant serves up mostly vegetables that will satisfy even this meat eater.

Choose your protein base and add on your sides from there. Choose from herb roasted chicken, charred chicken, herb grilled steak, grilled tofu or Atlantic salmon. Pick sides like broccoli three ways with sesame crunch, autumn kale and beet salad, maple cauliflower with chickpea crumble, upstate mac and cheese, charred Brussels sprouts or roasted kale with acorn squash. Try a sauce with your dish, maybe the tarragon mustard, pesto, a rosemary vinaigrette or perhaps something as simple as a lemon wedge. In a rush? You can order online and pick up at the nearest location.

The portion was generous and I even had some left over for lunch the next day. Would definitely come back for another meal here. Seating is available just outside the restaurant near Pinkberry. Perhaps next time I’m there I will try their breakfast options.

Have you been to Dig Inn? What’s your favorite combination?

Dig Inn

800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

www.diginn.com

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I had heard about Eli’s from a fellow blogger and had to check it out for myself. Located in Natick, it was an easy drive and bonus points that there is a lot out back and plenty of street parking. We have gone on the weekends and didn’t have to wait when we arrived at around 8am. Anything after 9 on the weekends, you should expect a wait.

Very cute space, with a decent amount of tables. The wait staff is friendly and attentive and our food came out quickly.

Here is the Little Eli ($5.99) a one egg sandwich served with a sausage patty and American cheese on a biscuit. It’s served with a generous side of home fries. You can get the Big Elie for $3 more, and it’s 2 eggs, ham, a sausage patty, spinach and cheddar cheese on brioche.

I went with the Common ($6.99) which was two eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese served on a croissant. Hit the spot.

The second time we went to Eli’s I ordered the breakfast bowl ($9.99) that was AMAZING! Bacon, pit ham, scrambled eggs and jack cheese served over a bed of home fries. Yes, speaking my language indeed!

Eggs not your thing? Don’t worry, they have pancakes, French Toast and Belgian waffles.

Extra bonus points that they have the coolest coloring pages for kids.

Eli’s

12 Washington Street, Natick, MA

https://www.elisnatick.com

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3 Little Figs has also been on my list of ‘go to’ places for quite some time. While Leah and I were doing a little tour of Somerville, we stopped in here for breakfast on a Saturday. Packed. Jam packed actually. Line outside the door.

Totally worth the wait. Leah and I grab a seat at the bar at the window and wait for our breakfast. Want an idea of what is on their menu:

SAUSAGE BREAKFAST PIE (weekends only) – local pork sausage from MF Dulock, egg, potato, cheddar, sun-dried tomatoes, flakey crust

SPINACH PIE (best ever!) – sheep’s milk feta, spinach, leeks, buttery phyllo dough

I chose the avocado torta because it reminded me of Chacarero. So this delicious sandwich may sound a little odd, but the flavor combination just works. Trust me. Avocado, green beans, muenster cheese, tomato and a spicy walnut chili pesto. This is like the more sophisticated version of the Chacarero sandwich.

3 Little Figs

278 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA

www.3littlefigs.com

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