Most years during high school, our band director planned a week-long trip for our marching band during the second half of our winter break. A few days after Christmas, we packed our suitcases and loaded our instruments onto five big charter buses, and we headed down I-5 to Southern California.
Although the main destination was always a field show competition, one where we performed a selection of music while moving all around a football field to the corresponding choreography, our band director was a huge Disneyland fan… So our trips always included a stop at the Happiest Place On Earth, too!
To justify the day or two we spent at the theme park, our band director set up a parade performance for us. We met in Toontown, in the very back of Disneyland, and a few park employees led us through the hidden performers’ gate and around the backstage areas to the locker rooms so we could change into our dark blue band uniforms.
After grabbing our instruments and warming up, the same employees walked us through more secret backstage pathways, and we ended up at a gate towards the very front of the theme park that opened up onto Main Street. At the designated time, they flung open the gate, and we marched down Main Street, turned right at the statue of Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney in the middle of the park, and wove our way past the Matterhorn and Tea Cups to turn right at It’s A Small World and exit out a different gate, all while playing festive Christmas-themed music.
As a result, we spent many New Year’s Eves and New Year’s Days in Anaheim! We stayed in hotels less than a mile down the street from Disneyland, along with the dozens of parent chaperones who kept an eye on us, and each morning, the hotel kitchens would prepare a large buffet breakfast for us.
With over 300 people to feed, the kitchens put out plenty of options — scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, oatmeal, pancakes and maple syrup, toast and jam, cereal and milk, and even cupcake-like muffins! — yet very few of the items seemed healthy… Besides the platters of fresh fruit.
But as teenagers, we didn’t mind one bit! We loaded up our plates, often with as many carbs as possible to fuel us for long days of running around Disneyland and trying to hop on as many rides as possible, and we thoroughly enjoyed every bite of our sugary breakfasts.
While driving past Anaheim earlier this week shortly after Christmas with my dad, those high school band trip memories came flooding back… Especially the days in Disneyland and sweet hotel breakfasts!
Yet as an adult, I was so grateful for and happy with these Healthy Morning Glory Oatmeal Muffins I had tucked into the car for us instead! Unlike the hotel’s options, these contain no refined flour or sugar… Yet they’re just as supremely moist and fluffy!
They also have lots of cozy spices, fun mix-ins (carrots! apples! raisins! coconut! nuts!), and protein-packed Greek yogurt to keep you full all morning long. Even better? These healthy oatmeal morning glory muffins are 130 calories!
Continue reading & see the rest! ›› Healthy Morning Glory Oatmeal Muffins
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