Florida Orange Juice Pancakes – A Nutritious and Delicious Breakfast

There are so many things you can do to help support a healthy immune system. But when it comes to keeping kids healthy or fighting off an illness, it always boils down to a healthy diet. And the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” isn’t wrong. A healthy breakfast is really the key to supporting your child’s immunity and jump-starting their day. And now, starting the day with a healthy, delicious, and immune supportive meal is easier than you think!

Let’s be honest – pancakes are always a crowd pleaser. My kids will gladly eat pancakes for basically any meal of the day! So why not add a little something to pancakes that will do some good for your kids, too? We thought it would be fun to make these Florida Orange Juice Pancakes that will help set a healthy foundation for your little ones. And during these uncertain times, it’s even more important that we keep our kids healthy and provide all the right nutrients they need to get through each day.

Cooking with Kids

Being home with the kids almost 24/7 isn’t easy. We try to look for the fun in everything we do. And creating a delicious and nutritious breakfast is no exception! Making these pancakes is a perfect activity for you to do with your kiddos.

I have always felt the importance of teaching kids basic cooking skills at an early age. Creating a meal from a recipe really is a great break from the traditional schoolwork the kids are doing at home right now. They flex so many skills from reading to math and even science! It also helps hone their skills in listening and following directions. Win win! Cooking any meal is the perfect time to bring the whole family together.

To make this recipe a little more fun and creative, we decided to put together a big pancake buffet. We let the kids make their own plates and add their own toppings! Since we haven’t been going out to eat, this fun family activity gave them something to look forward to. My kids really loved setting up the table like they were going out to eat a fancy brunch.

Healthy Start Florida Orange Juice Pancakes

Parents often struggle when their kids are ill, especially during cold and flu season, and are always asking for ways to help keep their children healthy. Not only are these pancakes delicious, they pack a healthy punch with our secret ingredient that provides key nutrients to help support your child’s immune system – 100% orange juice!

Florida OJ is a natural way to help promote a healthy lifestyle and provides key nutrients to help keep our kids’ immune systems on track! So why not enjoy a recipe that includes it?! With this added twist, this easy recipe turns your traditional pancakes into healthy pancakes!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup 100% orange juice
• 2 Tbsp orange zest, finely grated
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 5 Tbsp melted butter
• Vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Whisk 100% orange juice, orange zest, buttermilk, and eggs until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and cinnamon.
3. Add the flour mixture into the Florida OJ mixture, stirring to blend well.
4. Stir in melted butter until smooth.
5. Add oil to skillet heated over medium heat; pour 1/4 cup pancake batter into skillet.
6. Pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles appear on top and the edges start to look dry.
7. Grate additional orange zest over the top of warm pancakes for an added kick!

And VOILA! Enjoy your delicious and surprisingly nutritious breakfast!

Round Out Your Healthy Breakfast

So what is your child going to drink with this healthy breakfast? One of the most important things to remember when trying to prevent illness, and especially when your little one is sick, is to encourage fluids! Your child’s hydration status will directly affect their immunity and their recovery process. But take into consideration that not all fluids are created equal.

My go to healthy breakfast drink is always 100% orange juice! 

Citrus juices, such as Florida Orange Juice, are reportedly the largest contributor of vitamin C in the diet – a powerful antioxidant nutrient key in supporting immune health, iron absorption, and skin and bone health. Vitamin C strengthens our immune systems by protecting cells and promoting the production and function of immune cells. Vitamin C is also important in the formation of collagen, which is a vital component for the health of our bones, cartilage, and gums.

One 8-ounce glass of Florida OJ provides more than 100% of your recommended Daily Value of vitamin C, making it a quick and easy source of this important nutrient.*

Fortified Florida Orange Juice is also an excellent source of vitamin D*. Recently, vitamin D has gotten more media attention for its critical role in fighting infection and building immunity. Multiple studies have found an association between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of infections, including influenza and other respiratory infections and sepsis.

100% orange juice is naturally almost 90 percent water, which is perfect for staying well hydrated while being active! In addition to being incredibly hydrating, the benefits of an 8-ounce serving of Florida Orange Juice* are abundant. 100% orange juice can play an instrumental role in supporting immunity for kids. And fortified Florida OJ delivers the calcium and vitamin D kids need to support growth and bone development.

Final Thoughts on Eating a Healthy Breakfast

Growing up in Florida, having a glass of Florida OJ with our breakfast was always a staple in our household. There is something comforting about starting off on the right foot with an 8-oz. glass of 100% orange juice* and some tasty nutrition-packed pancakes!

At Forever Freckled, we are honored and excited to collaborate with the Florida Department of Citrus to spread the word on the amazing health and nutritional benefits of 100% orange juice!

~Dr. Katie

*Nutrient content claims provided herein are based on an 8-ounce serving. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that 100% juice be limited to no more than 4 ounces per day for toddlers age 1-3 years, 4-to-6 ounces per day for children age 4-6 years, and no more than 8 ounces per day for children age 7 years and older.

This post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own.

FOREVER FRECKLED DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TERMS OF USE.