While most parents agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for children, getting them up, fed and out the door on time can feel like a huge challenge. It might feel easier to rely on frozen waffles or cold cereal, but breakfast for kids can be hassle-free with many delicious and nutritious options that you can quickly make or prep ahead of time. With these breakfast ideas, you can ensure your kids are fueled up and still make it to school on time.
Why is breakfast important for kids?
Parents agree that ensuring their child has breakfast before school is an important part of helping them succeed as students. Eating breakfast gives kids the energy to tackle their day, leading to better performance in school.
With the price of food increasing, it’s also becoming more affordable to eat at home rather than go through a drive-through on the way. In today’s digital age, there are many tips to save money on groceries to help stretch your dollar, especially when it comes to making healthy and affordable breakfasts.
“Every few weeks, my daughter and I will make a big batch of her favorite healthy breakfast recipes — breakfast sandwiches, homemade protein pancakes, etc. — and we’ll freeze them,” shares Sage Scott of Sage Alpha Gal. “All she has to do each morning is grab one out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave or air fryer, and she’s out the door with a healthy, filling breakfast in her tummy.”
Not sure where to start? To create balanced meals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends making your plate half vegetables and fruits, one-quarter whole grains and one-quarter protein, with a moderate use of healthy plant oils.
Busy mornings can make getting a nutritious breakfast for your children more challenging. This list of breakfast for kids is full of different ideas to help ensure your little learners get a great start to their day.
Healthy and fast breakfasts for kids
Making a healthy breakfast on busy mornings doesn’t have to be complicated. This collection of easy and fast breakfast ideas for kids includes make-ahead meals, grab-and-go breakfast ideas and healthy options that even picky eaters will love.
Instant pot egg bites
These Instant Pot egg bites are so easy to customize for your child’s taste preferences. Make them the night before, or cook up a batch on the weekend. Bonus: they also freeze well, so you can make a big batch and just defrost them as you need them.
Overnight oats
Overnight oats are simple to meal prep in advance. The best part? You can have different toppings every day to keep it interesting, and each child can customize their own. All that’s needed for this easy meal are old-fashioned oats, a liquid, like milk or even water in a pinch and a variety of toppings like fresh fruit, peanut butter and seasoning.
Dairy-free yogurt parfait
A yogurt parfait is an easy breakfast idea that can be meal-prepped the night before, making chaotic mornings a little easier. Layer yogurt with fresh fruit and granola for an easy meal to eat on the go if needed.
Air fryer breakfast frittata
This delicious and healthy breakfast for kids is actually incredibly easy to make in the air fryer. It’s also a great dish to incorporate leftover protein from last night’s dinner to help add some extra protein to your child’s day. Start by mixing scrambled eggs with chopped veggies or protein. Using either an air fryer silicone basket or a simple sheet of parchment paper layered at the bottom of the air fryer basket, simply pour the egg mixture in and cook.
Fruit and oatmeal smoothie
If your kids prefer a breakfast they can drink, fruit and oatmeal smoothies are super easy to whip up and ready in under five minutes using a blender. You can use fresh or frozen berries for a healthy beverage.
Protein pancakes
Making sure your children have enough protein to stay full in the morning at school can sometimes be tough. Protein pancakes are a great idea, and the batter can also be incorporated into a variety of other breakfasts that call for pancake mix. Love pancakes? You might also enjoy some of these delicious hotcakes recipes.
Classic Bisquick sausage balls
These cute little bite-size breakfast balls are made with sausage, cheese, pancake mix and milk. You can cook up a batch of these on a Sunday evening and eat these delicious sausage bites as you’re running out the door the next few mornings. They taste great straight from the refrigerator, at room temperature or heated up for a few seconds in the microwave.
Old fashioned granola
If your child prefers more of a snack-style breakfast, homemade granola is packed with almonds, pecans, old-fashioned oats, honey and delicious spices. Bake it in advance, and your children can easily eat it on the go. You can also sweeten granola and overnight oats with your own vanilla sugar and spice blend.
Fresh fruit
Fresh fruit makes an excellent breakfast for kids on busy mornings. If you’re finding that your bananas are quickly becoming overripe, make sure that you’re following proper storage tips for an extended life.
Based in Atlanta, GA, Siobhán Alvarez-Borland is a pregnancy and parenting writer who has been featured in Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple and more. A certified postpartum doula PCP(DONA), she is the creator of Mimosas & Motherhood and is passionate about empowering parents across the world.