Looking for some breakfast inspiration? Here you’ll find 20+ healthy breakfast ideas for kids that are fun, quick, balanced and nutritious! Mix and match these easy breakfast ideas for lots of variety for those busy mornings!
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Healthy Breakfast Ideas
With all the chaos in the morning, sometimes it can be hard to come up with easy and healthy breakfast ideas for the kids. Am I right? That’s why we’re featuring 20+ healthy breakfast ideas for kids to get those creative juices flowing!
These breakfast ideas are not only kid-friendly, they’re also nutritious, fun and easy as well! As an added bonus, many of the options can be made ahead of time for totally stress-free mornings. And they’re not just limited to kids, the whole family can enjoy them too!
Aren’t those the best types of breakfasts?
Why We Love These Kid-Friendly Breakfast Ideas
- Easy: All of the breakfast ideas provided are quick and easy to assemble. The bonus is that many of the options can be made in advance so you just have to defrost or reheat, then quickly assemble and you’re good to go. Perfect for the school year or any busy weekday morning!
- Fun: Presentation is everything especially when it comes to kids. The truth is, if food looks good and sounds fun and delicious, kids will be more likely to try it. The great thing about these options is that they’re fun and creative, yet easy enough to customize according to your family’s preferences.
- Balanced: A balanced breakfast is key in providing kids with sufficient energy and nutrients to get through their daily activities. It also helps them to feel satisfied so that they’re not constantly begging for snacks throughout the day. The nutritious breakfast ideas provided are all balanced options and include a number of different food groups to optimize nutrient intake.
Breakfast for Kids: Tips & Recommendations
- Pair a source of protein with a source of fibre: This is the winning combination for feeling full and satisfied so that the kids aren’t begging for a snack an hour later. Some examples of protein include: eggs, nut or seed butters, nuts and seeds, breakfast sausage, yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese. Sources of fibre include: whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and beans and legumes.
- Include a serving of produce: I always recommend that both kids and adults have a serving of produce at every meal and breakfast is a great place to start! Not only are fruits and vegetables a great source of fibre, vitamins and minerals, they can also add some extra colour and flavour at breakfast time too.
- Make if fun! Kids love colour and when foods are presented in a fun and creative way. Where possible, try presenting colourful foods (like fruits and vegetables) and give the foods that you’re serving fun and catchy names like Green monster muffins, egg boats or teddy bear toast. And serve it up with a smile on your face! If you’re excited, it will rub off on your kids and can go a long way in terms of encouraging kids to try something new.
- Offer variety: When serving up breakfast, it’s important to offer a few different options so that kids get a balance of nutrients. Aim to get at least three different foods groups at breakfast time.
- Something is better than nothing: If your kids don’t have much of an appetite in the morning or they tend to be picky eaters, it’s important to encourage them to eat breakfast to kickstart the day, even if it’s something small like a smoothie, an apple with peanut butter or a piece of toast. Once they start to regularly incorporate breakfast into their morning routine, you may find that they may begin to feel more hungry in the morning and actually start requesting breakfast.
Kids Breakfast FAQs
Breakfast time is the most important meal of the day and for good reason. First, by having breakfast, it can help children to refuel after going without food for 8 to 12 hours while sleeping. This will give them more energy and they’ll be more likely to participate in physical activity, which can assist in maintaining a healthier weight and overall body.
Additionally, by choosing healthier options that are rich in fibre and protein and lower in added sugar, it can help enhance children’s attention span, memory and overall concentration so that they can better perform in school and other daily activities. Kickstarting the day with breakfast means that they’ll also be less likely to feel tired, restless and moody.
Kids are also more likely to be healthier overall since they obtain important nutrients such as fibre, protein, calcium in addition to other essential vitamins and minerals during breakfast time. This can relate to healthier cholesterol levels and less absences from school in the long run. There are so many reasons to start the day off with a healthy breakfast!
There are a few ways to encourage children to start the day off with a nutritious meal. First, it’s important that you’re a positive role model. If the kids see you eating a healthy breakfast, they’re more likely to follow suit. So be sure to set a good example!
Second, wherever possible, get them involved. Take them grocery shopping and allow them to choose some new fruits and vegetables to try out or get them to help prepare some easy make ahead options like muffins or baked oatmeal or assemble their own parfait. They’ll be more likely to eat the breakfasts that are served if they helped prepare them.
Finally, make it fun. If you’re excited about breakfast time, that positive energy will eventually rub off on your children too! Serve up tasty and colourful options and switch it up the breakfast menu to keep things fresh. They’ll become breakfast lovers in no time!
Make some easy breakfast options ahead of time! Although it requires a little effort initially, doing some breakfast prep for the week can make those busy mornings go a whole lot smoother.
It’s also important to be prepared for the week by keeping the kitchen stocked with quick, easy and healthy breakfast staples such as fresh or frozen fruit (or vegetables!), yogurt, eggs, nut/seed butters, higher fibre lower sugar cereal, oatmeal, whole grain bread, English muffins or bagels. If there are healthier options available, the kids will be more likely to make more nutritious choices.
Make-ahead options can be a huge time saver for those busy mornings. Here are some of my favourite healthy breakfast recipes to prep in advance to store in the fridge or freezer:
– Protein Waffles
– Pancakes
– Mini Muffins
– Protein French Toast
– Overnight Oats
– Baked oatmeal
– Healthy granola bars
– Egg muffins
– Egg Bites
– Breakfast casserole
– Breakfast cookies
– Breakfast burritos
Healthy Kid-Friendly Breakfast Ideas
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #1: Rainbow Yogurt and Green Monster Muffins
This is a super fun and colourful breakfast and such a great way to incorporate some fruits and veggies. We like to call the muffins “Green monster muffins” and the kids love the fun and catchy name. They’re so tasty that no one will ever guess that they’re packed with spinach! The spinach banana muffins are freezer-friendly too so you can make some up to store in the freezer for quick breakfasts and snacks.
Pair it with some fruit that resembles a rainbow in a bowl of plain or flavoured yogurt.
- For red fruit: Try strawberries, raspberries, or diced watermelon
- For orange fruit: Try clementines, cantaloupe, or papaya
- For yellow fruit: Try banana slices, pineapple, or mango
- For green fruit: Try quartered green grapes, kiwi, or honey melon
- For blue/purple fruit: Try blueberries, red grapes, plum, or blackberries
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #2: Waffles, Peanut Butter and Berries
These oatmeal waffles are always a hit and a great alternative to store bought waffles since you can control exactly what’s going into them. It’s the perfect make-ahead breakfast to prepare in big batches and store in the freezer. Simply pop in the toaster to reheat and get them all nice and crispy again.
Top with a drizzle of peanut butter or maple syrup and some fresh fruit like berries!
Or try these 3-Ingredient Banana Waffles or 3-Ingredient Protein Waffles for waffles in a pinch!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #3: Apple Pie Oatmeal
Rather than buying the packets of apple pie oatmeal which tends to be higher in added sugar, why not make your own?
To prepare this delicious breakfast option, mix 1/2 cup quick or rolled oats with 1 cup of water or milk and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook in microwave for 2-3 minutes (you can also cook on stove). Grate one small apple and mix it in with the oatmeal. Top with desired toppings such as hemp hearts, milk, drizzle of maple syrup or nut butter.
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #4: Banana Sushi Roll-Ups
These sushi roll ups are such a fun option and they’re great for kids (and adults) of all ages!
To prepare: Simply lie a whole grain tortilla on a flat surface and spread thinly with peanut butter, almond butter (or sub in a Wow butter or seed butter for a nut-free option). Place a banana close to the edge of the tortilla and wrap tightly around the banana. Cut into slices. Serve with a glass of milk or a smoothie.
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #5: Oatmeal Muffins, Scrambled Egg and Fruit Salad
I’m a huge fan of these healthy oatmeal muffins because they’re easily customizable so you can switch up the flavours, and they’re a great make-ahead option. Make up a batch and store them in the freezer to defrost for a quick breakfast!
Serve along with some fluffy eggs for extra protein (try these scrambled eggs without milk) and a colourful fruit salad to add a pop of colour to the plate. Feel free to switch up the fruit and try colourful options such as kiwi, berries , pineapple, and clementines!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #6: Yogurt Parfait
I love yogurt parfaits because they’re simple and it’s so easy to switch them up. I typically use a plain or no sugar added fruit flavoured regular or Greek yogurt. Another option is to make up a batch of berry chia seed jam, freeze it into cubes (I like to use these Souper Cubes) and mix it into the yogurt to flavour up plain yogurt.
Top it with some lower sugar homemade granola or sub in a lower sugar store-bought granola if in a pinch.
Sometimes I’ll even crumble some of these oatmeal energy balls on top of the yogurt if I don’t have granola. It makes a great alternative that kids love! Top the parfait with fresh fruit such as raspberries.
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #7: Cheerios, Berries and Hard-Boiled Egg
Cereal can be a good fast option, but many cereals are loaded with added sugar. I generally recommend sticking with a cereal with less than 8 grams of sugar (the lower the better!) Regular cheerios only have 1 gram of sugar per serving and tend to be a kid-friendly option.
Top it with some fresh berries for some added flavour and serve with some hard-boiled egg for an easy meal. We like to cut the boiled egg into slices or wedges that we call “egg boats.” Our little guys love these!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #8: Teddy Bear Toast and Turkey Sausage
This teddy bear toast is super cute and fun, but doesn’t require a lot of effort to prepare. I like to toast a whole grain English muffin and top with some peanut butter or almond butter. Then you stick on three banana slices for the ears and base of the nose and three blueberries for the eyes and inside of the nose.
Serve the peanut butter toast along with a couple of turkey sausages for a different protein option. If serving to toddlers or young children, be sure to slice the sausage thinly and quarter it to make it easier to chew.
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #9: Breakfast Banana Split Bowl
We started doing these banana split bowls a little while back and my little guys fell in love with them! They’re easy enough that the kids can even make their own.
To make, place plain or flavoured yogurt in a bowl and add banana slices. Top with desired ingredients including:
- A drizzle of natural peanut butter or almond butter
- Chia seed jam or lower sugar regular jam
- Sprinkle of unsweetened coconut flakes
- Hemp hearts
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Granola
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #10: Frittata Muffins, Avocado Toast, and Clementine Slices
Breakfast doesn’t always have to be sweet! Sometimes we like to switch it up and do a more savoury option too.
We like to make these Frittata fingers or bake the egg mixture into a regular or heart shaped muffin tin (like these zucchini frittata muffins) for a quick grab and go option.
Serve along with avocado mashed on half a bagel or toast and some clementines slices for a hearty breakfast option.
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #11: Banana Egg Pancakes and Yogurt with Berries
Our little guys are a huge fan of these banana egg pancakes. We’ve been serving them ever since they started on baby-led weaning when they were 6 months old and they continue to be a favourite. Plus, you can make up a double or triple batch for the week and they’re so easy to reheat.
These delicious pancakes are sweet enough that you can eat them on their own, but we also like to top them up with unsweetened applesauce or drizzle them with some peanut butter or almond butter. Serve along with some yogurt and berries and you’ve got a great balanced breakfast for the kids!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #12: Green Smoothie
Some kids don’t have much of an appetite in the morning or prefer to have something on the lighter side. That’s where fruit smoothies can be a great option!
This simple green smoothie only contains a few simple ingredients so you can whip it together in a flash and it’s a delicious way to get some greens in too! This tropical island green smoothie would be a tasty option too!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #13: Bagel and Cream Cheese
You can never go wrong with a simple breakfast, and a bagel and cream cheese always saves the day! We like to use smaller whole grain bagels since it’s the perfect size for little hands, but any bagel will work well.
Spread it with cream cheese and either serve some fruit on the side or load it up on the bagel!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #14: Peanut Butter Banana Rice Cakes
There’s something about the peanut butter banana combo that’s hard to resist. Top it up on some rice cakes and you get a delicious crunch that kids love! We usually like to use the thin rice cakes to make it easier to eat, but thicker ones work too.
Add a sprinkle of Hemp hearts or chia seeds for an extra source of healthy fats, protein and fibre for a simple grab and go breakfast!
Kid-friendly Breakfast Idea #15: Pita, applesauce and cheese
Some mornings are super chaotic and the last thing you have time for is preparing some elaborate breakfast. That’s why I’m a huge fan of this quick breakfast idea — pita wedges, unsweetened applesauce, and Baby-bel cheese!
We typically use the Ozery Bakery whole-grain breakfast pitas and pop them in the toaster to warm them a bit before slicing into wedges, but any type of pita will work. An applesauce cup or pouch and pre-portioned cheese makes this breakfast the perfect portable option for those mornings where you’re rushing out the door.
Breakfast Substitutions & Variations
- To make nut-free: For any breakfast ideas requiring nuts or nut butter, sub in sunbutter or wow butter or replace any nuts with seeds.
- To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free breads, wraps or certified GF oatmeal.
- To make dairy-free: Use a plant-based milk alternative instead of regular cow’s milk or sub in a plant-based yogurt such as coconut, almond or soy yogurt for the dairy-based yogurts.
More similar posts
- Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
- Cold Lunch Ideas
- Baby-Led Weaning Meal Ideas
- Healthy Lunch Box Ideas
- Healthy Easter Snacks
- Sweet and Salty Snack Ideas
- Healthy Christmas Snacks
- Baby Oatmeal
Did you try any of these breakfast ideas? Scroll down to leave a comment!
Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids
Ingredients
Kid Breakfast #1:
- 1 spinach banana muffin
- 1/2 cup plain or flavoured Greek or regular yogurt or use dairy-free alternative if necessary
- Assorted rainbow-coloured fruit
Kid Breakfast #2:
- 1 oatmeal waffle
- 1/2 cup mixed fresh or thawed berries
- 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter
Kid Breakfast #3:
- 1/2 cup rolled or quick oats
- 1 cup water or milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 small apple grated
Kid Breakfast #4
- 1 large whole grain tortilla
- 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter (or sub in nut-free alternative)
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 cup milk or use dairy-free alternative if necessary
Kid Breakfast #5:
- 1 oatmeal muffin
- 1 egg scrambled
- 1/2 cup mixed fruit salad
Kid Breakfast #6:
- 3/4 cup plain or flavoured regular or Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup low sugar granola homemade or store-bought
- 1/4 cup berries
Kid Breakfast #7:
- 1 cup regular cheerios or other low sugar cereal
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup diced strawberries
- 1 hard-boiled egg cut into slices or "boats"
Kid Breakfast #8:
- 1/2 whole grain English muffin
- 3 banana slices for ears and nose
- 3 blueberries for eyes and nose
- 2 turkey sausage links
Kid Breakfast #9:
- 3/4 cup plain or flavoured regular or Greek yogurt or use dairy-free alternative if necessary
- 1 medium ripe banana cut into slices
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter or sub in nut free alternative if necessary
- Sprinkle of unsweetened coconut
- Sprinkle of hemp hearts
- Drizzle of chia seed jam (or sub in regular lower sugar jam)
- Sprinkle of mini chocolate chips
Kid Breakfast #10:
- 2 frittata muffins or fingers
- 1/2 whole grain bagel toasted
- 1/4 ripe avocado mashed
- 1 clementine
Kid Breakfast #11:
- 4 banana egg pancakes
- 1/2 cup plain or flavoured regular or Greek yogurt or use dairy-free alternative if necessary
- 1/2 cup berries
Kid Breakfast #12:
Kid Breakfast #13:
- 1 whole-grain bagel
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mixed berries
Kid Breakfast #14:
- 2 thin rice cakes
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1/2 banana sliced
- 1/2 tablespoon Hemp hearts
Kid Breakfast #15
- 1 mini whole-grain pita cut into wedges
- 1 unsweetened applesauce cup
- 1 Baby-bel cheese
Instructions
- This list of breakfast ideas has been provided so that you can print the list of ingredients. See post above for more specific instructions and details about each breakfast.
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