17 Nutritionist-Approved Kid-Friendly Breakfast Recipes for Busy Mornings

Looking for a kid-friendly breakfast that’s nourishing, simple, and a real crowd-pleaser?

How about 17 nutritionist-approved recipes?

It’s the most important meal of the day, but making a quick, balanced, kid-friendly breakfast in the chaos of a weekday morning can sometimes feel like a challenge.

And even when you’ve found a recipe that works for your family, there are days when everyone wants to shake things up a bit.

If you’re looking for simple breakfast ideas even your pickiest eater will love, read on!

Prepare for empty plates all round, mama! 🥣

In this article: 📝

What’s a good breakfast for kids?

Because it’s not just about cheap and cheerful breakfast on the go.

Although these have their place too.

Hands down the best kids’ breakfast ideas take care of all their nutritional needs:

• Protein for their growing bodies. 📏
  
• Long-lasting carbohydrates for energy. ⚡️
  
• Vitamins and antioxidants for their immune systems. 💪
  
• Healthy fats so their bodies can absorb all the good stuff. 🫶

And, of course, it also has to:

• Taste delicious, so you can guarantee a clean plate. 😋
  
• Please everyone, so the whole family can have breakfast together. 😍
  
• Not create a mountain of dishes that’ll take the rest of the morning to clean (we feel you, mama 🥲)
  
• Be quick to prep and serve. ⏱️

No biggie. 🙃

Our nutritionist-approved breakfast guide is full of recipes that tick all the boxes.

So if you’re on the hunt for a kid-friendly breakfast that goes further than toast and cereal, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get started.

What can a child eat in the morning?

So, we’ve got the nutritional needs down but how do you turn this knowledge into dynamic meals worth jumping out of bed for (and into the day)?

Let’s start with the crème de la crème of simple, quick kids’ breakfast ideas:

1. Yogurt and fruit 🍓

No recipe needed!

Just some natural yogurt and your kid’s favorite chopped fruit.

Add some oats or low-sugar muesli for extra fiber.

You could even layer the ingredients in a clear glass to make a ‘breakfast sundae’.

Lots of experts recommend choosing whole milk dairy products rather than the reduced-fat versions until your child is 5 – all the better to fuel their growing brains!

2. Overnight oats 🥣

Specifically banana cream pie overnight oats.

This is peak time-saving territory.

You can make this recipe the night before and serve it up while you’re still waiting for your coffee to kick in.

3. Frittata breakfast casserole 🥘

Fruit is a breakfast staple, so why not veggies?

If time is the enemy, this instant pot recipe promises to make this kid-friendly breakfast a breeze.

Your perfectly fluffy, cheesy eggs will be waiting for you whenever you’ve solved today’s morning crisis.

4. Easy scrambled eggs 🍳

You cannot go wrong with scrambled eggs – they even work as nutritious finger foods for baby

The ‘proper’ way to cook scrambled eggs (according to Gordon Ramsey, anyway) is slowly, over low heat, while stirring constantly.

But keeping your back to your kids for 10 minutes and never leaving the stove just doesn’t work for a lot of families in the mornings.

Thankfully, you can also make fluffy scrambled eggs in the microwave.

Your kids might even like to help with the whisking.

Just don’t tell Ramsay. 🤫

5. Avocado toast 🥑

Lots of kids love toast.

You can up the nutritional value by smashing some avocado and spreading it on top.

Season it with a little lemon juice to keep the sodium down, and add some cottage cheese for an extra boost of protein.

Even better, sprinkle some hemp seeds on top for the ultimate protein and fiber boost. 💪

6. Funny faces toast 🥸🍞

Sometimes it’s okay to play with your food.

Sometimes

Instead of spreading peanut butter (a great source of healthy fats) on toast and pushing it across the counter, try making silly faces with fresh berries and dried fruit.

What are bananas for if not to chop in half to make a smiley face? 😃

What are some healthy breakfast options for kids?

Looking for kid-friendly breakfast ideas that are even healthier?

All these recipes are vegetarian, too. 🌱

7. Smoothie bowl 🥥

If you really want to pop a smile on your kiddo’s face, try this raspberry smoothie bowl recipe

It looks like a bowl of bright pink soup, plus there are all kinds of yumminess as a garnish on top.

What kid could say no?

8. Summer smoothies 🥤

If your morning calls for breakfast on the go, this summer smoothies recipes is perfect to serve in a kid travel cup.

They’re also a great way to introduce fruits that your child would otherwise prefer not to eat.

Kacie Barnes, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and founder of Mama Knows Nutrition also recommends throwing in a handful of spinach or kale into smoothies too.

“It’s an easy way to get in a serving of veggies at breakfast, and they don’t change the flavor of the smoothies, so kids usually don’t mind!”

Depending on what you have in the fridge, you can make smoothies with either fruit juice or dairy as a base.

This makes them spontaneous and super flexible as well as quick to make. 🏆

Savory breakfast ideas for kids

After some healthy, simple kids’ breakfast ideas that don’t have the sweet stuff?

Here are a few of our faves:

9. Sweet Potato Kale Frittata: Another breakfast dish you can make in advance and then grab in the morning. 🍠
   
10. Veggie Breakfast Burritos: This recipe even recommends cooking a big batch, freezing them in foil, and warming them in the mornings when you’re short on time. 🌯
    
11. Veggie and Quinoa Egg Bites: Have your kids tried quinoa? They’ll love it in these crispy, cheesy, veggie-packed bites that cover all the nutritional bases. 🥦

What to serve for brunch party for kids?

Remember the smell of pancakes, fresh waffles, or bacon and eggs on weekend mornings when you were a kid?

Who doesn’t love a breakfast treat on the weekends?

Family traditions that center around food can be really magical and when you have some extra time, preparing something special together can be a great way to make memories.

You might even be shaping a celebrity chef in the making… 👩‍🍳

Whether you value your Sunday morning me-time by the stove or you want to encourage your kids to learn to cook with you, here are some kid-friendly weekend brunch ideas to try:

12. Peanut butter and chocolate chip pancakes 🥞

Even the fussiest eater couldn’t say no to chocolate for breakfast. 🍫

Plus pancakes are easier than you think (swear).

You can upgrade any pancake mix with chocolate chips and a few spoons of nut butter.

Or, if you really want to build lifelong childhood memories, you can make the batter from scratch.

13. Tasty pastry turnovers 🥐

Lots of kids love Honey Nut Cheerios.

But if you really want to dazzle them, try this honey nut cheerio turnovers recipe.

Forever the brunch queen in their eyes! 👑

14. French toast with a twist 🧇

Who doesn’t love a twist to a breakfast classic?

How about this French toast recipe to whet your kiddo’s appetite?

Or this instant pot French toast casserole is another winning brunch idea, just bake for 30 minutes in an instant pot while you enjoy your coffee (we can dream, mama). ☕️

You can even add praline streusel topping and vanilla icing on very special occasions.

A new weekend birthday tradition perhaps?

And, according to Barnes – the expert on picky eaters – “French toast is also a way for kids who don’t normally eat eggs to get in some of those great nutrients from eggs in the batter”.

Sold!

15. Whole grain chocolate chip muffins 🧁

We love a balanced breakfast.

And this banana oat chocolate chip muffin recipe will taste like a treat to kids while ticking all the nutritional boxes. ✅

They’ll want seconds, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that they’ve had the potassium, protein, and vitamins they need for their day.

16. Breakfast smoothie ice pops 🍧

Ice cream for breakfast??

Don’t panic.

These breakfast pops are more like a frozen smoothie – healthy but sweet.

Plus they’re an amazing breakfast for the middle of the sticky summer holidays.

17. Banana split 🍌

Replace the ice cream with yogurt and the sprinkles with granola, and you have another breakfast dessert fit for special occasions.

Kids will love to build their own breakfast banana splits, so you can sit back and enjoy the show.

You can even drizzle some honey as a final flourish.

What do you give a child who won’t eat breakfast?

We get it, mornings can be tough!

Kids sometimes just aren’t hungry that early, or maybe they’re rushing to avoid being late.

It can be frustrating, because we know breakfast is important, right?

Here’s what you can try when your kiddo isn’t feeling the morning munchies:

• Options, not ultimatums: Instead of one set breakfast, have a few quick, easy things ready. “Would you like avocado toast or fruit and yogurt?” gives them a sense of control.
  
• Breakfast to-go: In a rush? Pack something for later. A piece of fruit, a yogurt tube, smoothie in a sippie cup, or even a granola bar is better than nothing.
  
• Get them involved: Even the littlest toddlers can get their chef hat on. They could chop up their own fruit with kid-safe knives, mix up the batter for their choc chip muffins, assemble their own smoothie bowl… you get the idea.
  
• Eat later in the day: Maybe their stomach is just on a slightly different schedule.
  
• Breakfast together: Monkey see, monkey do — if you’re sitting next to them enjoying your breakfast, that could encourage them to chow down, too.

Is it okay for a child to skip breakfast?

Yes and no — it’s complicated.

Sure, your kid skipping breakfast every now and then isn’t a big deal (it happens to us all!), but it’s not such a good thing if it becomes a habit.

According to a 2023 study, skipping breakfast as a child could be linked to obesity.

And, since eating breakfast gives kids the fuel they need to learn well in school, if they skip it, they might miss out on that important brain boost.

Skipping breakfast could also mean they could act up later in the day — even kids get hangry!

Are children who skip breakfast more likely to be overweight?

Well, there is a link between kids skipping breakfast and weight, but every child is different — what works for your child might not work for every kid.

But really are loads of studies showing that skipping breakfast can lead to obesity or children being overweight.

Ultimately, it’s all about encouraging healthy habits that give your kid the best chance to thrive! 😊

How long do kids need to eat breakfast?

Oof. How long is a piece of string? 🙃

Honestly, it depends.

Some kids are super-fast eaters, others like to take their time.

Toddlers might be done in 10 minutes, while older kids may take a bit longer.

It also depends on what they’re eating — a smoothie is quicker to eat than a plate of pancakes. 💁‍♀️

As long as they’re getting enough nutritious food, the how long it takes them to eat it isn’t super important.

But if you’re stuck in a constant morning rush (we’ve all been there!), we have some tried-and-tested tips from our moms of Peanut:

• Prep the night before: ”Set out bowls, cut up fruit, anything to save time in the morning scramble.”
  
• Quick options: ”Having healthy grab ‘n’ go choices like yogurt tubes, fruit pouches, and pre-made smoothies can be a lifesaver on a busy morning.”
  
• Allow time for breakfast: “Even just 15 minutes can go a long way.”
  
• Keep calm and carry on: ”It’s hard, but even if you’re in a rush, try to keep your cool. The more you panic, the less they’re likely to eat.”

What’s the best time to eat breakfast?

Whenever works for you and your family!

Eating later in the morning can mean that your child’s other meals are later, too, which can mean they get to bed later, so it could be worth going from their bedtime and working backward.

It also depends on when everyone gets out of bed — this study suggests that having breakfast within 2 hours of waking up could “lower odds of being obese and double probability of having a healthy weight”.

But every child and every family is different, so it’s up to you, mama!

Looking forward to breakfast again?

We love to hear it.

Why not bring carry some of that energy into the afternoon with our nutritionist-approved toddler lunch ideas

Check out with other mamas are whipping up on Peanut.