Feeding your toddlers a nutritious breakfast is important for their energy levels throughout the day. But coming up with healthy breakfast ideas that thy will actually eat can be tough!
These breakfast ideas for kids and toddlers are convenient and nutritious. You can even involve your kids in the preparation to make it a little easier.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas For Kids and Toddlers
We’ve all heard it – breakfast is the most important meal of the day! But it can also be tough to get a good meal in. Mornings are often cluttered with preparations for work, daycare or school, or whatever activities you have that day.
I recommend offering a variety of foods. I always offer an unfamiliar food with something I know my 2 year old will enjoy to make sure they get something to eat but are still being offered new foods.
I also like to keep things fun! I add some colorful sprinkles to more boring foods like cottage cheese, or a dollop of jam on plain yogurt. Choosing fun, themed plates can help make their least favorite meals more exciting.
Quick Breakfast Ideas For Toddlers
These simply breakfasts can be thrown together in under 5 minutes and will quickly become your toddler’s favorite meal!
Overnight Oats
Oatmeal is a great way to start the day and is so versatile. You can prep the oatmeal at the start of the week for an easy breakfast to last all week!
Add something fun, like sprinkles or chocolate chips, to keep it exciting! Add a tablespoon of chia seeds soaked in milk or water to add some fiber. You can top with fresh fruit for added nutrients as well.
There are so many different ways to make overnight oats, but here’s a few ideas:
- Banana Chocolate Chip: ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup milk of choice, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, ½ mashed banana, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey, and a pinch of chocolate chips
- Blueberry: ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup milk of choice, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey, and a handful of blueberries
- Berry Banana: ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup milk of choice, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, ½ mashed banana, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey, a tablespoon of freeze dried raspberries, a handful of blueberries
- Coconut Chocolate Chip: ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup coconut milk, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey, a tablespoon of coconut flakes, a pinch of chocolate chips, and a pinch of salt
Related: Best Airplane Snacks For Toddlers (Make Travel Easier)
Yogurt With Berries
Yogurt is a staple breakfast in our house. You can choose a full fat yogurt or a high-protein Greek yogurt, depending on your little one’s needs. Yogurt has protein, fat, and carbohydrates to help keep your kids full.
Toast With Peanut Butter
Help your little one get some whole grains with a slice or two of whole grain toast. Top it with a nut butter, like peanut butter, to help them get the protein, fat, and carbohydrates they need to grow!
You can also top the toast with some bananas, honey, or cinnamon to hit multiple food groups. You can even get your babe to giggle with some silly bear toast!
Finger Food Plate
A little breakfast charcuterie board is always fun! You can add things like hard-boiled egg, strawberries, apple slices, banana, and bite sized muffins for a complete breakfast. Focus on adding healthy fats, like avocados, and a good dose of protein, like with eggs, to keep your little one feeling satisfied.
Don’t give it too much thought just add some healthy snacks to a tray or plate and let them feast!
Cottage cheese with jam or fruit
Cottage cheese has lots of protein and calcium. With a dollop of jam or jelly, you can sweeten it up for your toddler. This meal will keep them feeling full all morning.
This one of those easy meals that some kids just don’t love. But I encourage you to give it a try – they may surprise you and love it! This is a great breakfast idea for little ones that are still mastering how to chew.
Avocado Toast
This is my 2 year old’s favorite breakfast! I use a whole grain bread lightly toasted and add ½ of a mashed avocado. I top with some sesame seeds and sometimes a poached egg. She absolutely loves it!
If your baby hasn’t mastered toast yet, try cutting it into strips. This is how my daughter prefers it for easy grasping.
Easy Breakfast Ideas For Kids
These ideas are great for the entire family on busy mornings! Breakfast doesn’t have to be stressful.
English muffin
This is a great idea to help get some whole grains! Add some nut butter and serve with a glass of whole milk and fresh fruit for a healthy meal.
French Toast Sticks
This is a quick and easy breakfast that is always a hit in our home! You can make these yourself ahead of time and freeze them, or can buy some from the grocery store.
Serve with a side of yogurt and some pure maple syrup for a balanced breakfast.
Mini bagels and cream cheese
Mini bagels are great for kids – they are filling and convenient. Since bagels have carbohydrates, and the cream cheese has some fats, you can add something like eggs on the side for a good source of protein.
Mini Muffins
While these are not the healthiest choice on here, mini muffins are a great way to get your toddler to eat something in the morning. You can make your own and add in healthy things like chia seeds, flax seeds, shredded carrots or zucchini, and fruits.
Making a bite sized muffin is a fun way to make breakfast feel manageable for kids. A couple of mini muffins with a glass of milk can make breakfast filling and delicious.
Yogurt Parfaits
Yogurt is a great way to make breakfast fun – especially if you can put it in a pretty glass where you can see the layers of fruit, yogurt, and granola stacked beautifully!
It feels inviting and fancy, but it is a sweet treat loaded with nutrition. You can start their day with a boost of vitamin C from fruits as well as calcium and healthy fats from yogurt.
Add some rainbow sprinkles for an added bonus of fun!
Make-ahead Breakfast Cookies
Breakfast cookies are basically like eating oatmeal – they’re just in cookie form! This healthy breakfast cookie is perfect for toddlers. These are easy to make in a big batch and eat on the run.
Here’s a few great recipes:
Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas
Though these are even great for the whole family! These breakfast ideas are loaded with nutrients to help your little one grow.
Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to add a bunch of nutrients and satisfy a picky eater! They are the best way to get your little one a highly nutritious breakfast without spending a lot of time.
Smoothies are a great option for a family on the go. You can make a large amount in a blender for the whole family.
If your toddler or little kid will try it, add some spinach for extra nutrients! Load up the smoothie with nutrient dense foods like berries and fruits.
To keep your little one feeling full, add some milk or yogurt for some added fats and protein. A scoop of nut or seed butter is also a great addition!
Here’s a few easy ideas for smoothies:
- Strawberry banana: ½ frozen banana, ½ cup frozen strawberries, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup almond milk.
- Chocolate cherry: ½ cup frozen cherries, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup chocolate almond milk
- Blueberry banana: ½ frozen banana, ½ cup frozen blueberries, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup almond milk, drizzle of honey
- Peach mango: ½ frozen peach, ½ cup frozen mango chunks, 1 cup almond milk
- Orange creamsicle: 1 frozen banana, ½ cup orange juice, ½ cup almond milk
- Chocolate peanut butter: ½ banana, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp. peanut butter, 1 cup chocolate milk
If your toddler doesn’t like drinking the smoothie, try making it thicker and creating a smoothie bowl. You can do this by adding less liquid!
Healthy Egg Muffins
Egg muffins are a great way to give your kids exert protein in the morning. I create them in large batches and put them in the refrigerator or freezer to eat throughout the week.
Egg muffins are a great opportunity to use leftover veggies. There are tons of egg muffin recipes, but I like this one from Cooking Classy. These little bite-size eggs are perfect for a 2-year-old’s belly!
Scrambled Eggs & Toast
Breakfast doesn’t have to be fancy!
Scrambled egg made with cheese and milk is full of healthy fats and protein to keep young children full beyond breakfast time. Add a side of whole grain toast (or even an English muffin or bagel) for a breakfast complete with nutritious protein, carbs, and fats.
Banana “Pancakes”
Three-ingredient banana pancakes are a good breakfast idea for little ones. You can make them small for toddlers, or larger for an older child. It’s easy to make them the ideal size for your kids of all ages.
There are tons of pancake breakfast recipes, but this one is just three ingredients: 1 large, soft mashed banana, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons of flour. Mash it all together and add a sprinkle of cinnamon if you’d like! Cook like a regular pancake with a drizzle of oil or butter on a hot skillet. You can top with some peanut butter, Nutella, or a drizzle of real maple syrup or honey!
Blueberry Pancakes
Pancakes are a great thing to make in bulk and toss in the freezer. You can reheat in the microwave in 15 second intervals whenever you need a quick breakfast!
Any fruit will do, but blueberry pancakes tend to be well-loved by healthy little foodies. Use a whole grain batter to meet your little one’s nutritional needs. You can top with honey, a nut butter, or real maple syrup to get your little one off to a great start in the morning.
Frittata
Breakfast frittata are a great way to introduce new foods to your toddler while serving them something else they love: eggs! Since “pie” is a favorite word in my house, we call it a breakfast pie. I use any leftover vegetables and starch that I have to create it!
This one of my favorite easy toddler breakfast ideas because I love it as an adult as well. You can make it in advance and easily warm it up whenever needed.
Spinach and feta frittata is a house favorite, but we also love this ham and cheese frittata. You can really get creative by adding any vegetables laying around! I’ve been known to add leftover broccoli, carrots, peas, and cauliflower to my frittatas.
Baked Oatmeal
Oatmeal has tons of health benefits and it is so versatile! It’s one of my favorite breakfast foods because it is easy to slip in important nutrients in a meal that tastes like dessert!
Here’s a few great baked oatmeal ideas. Click the link for a full recipe:
- Chocolate Chip Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Berry Baked Oatmeal
- Apple Baked Oatmeal
Whole Grain Waffle With Nutella or Peanut Butter
Good nutrition doesn’t need to be complicated. This is one of the easiest meals there is!
Whole grain frozen waffles with a spread of nut butter can be a great way to get some healthy fats and whole grains. Add on a sliced banana or a few slices strawberries for a good way to add some flavor and nutrition!
You can slice into thin strips for toddlers and serve the fruit on the side if it is a choking hazard for your little one.
These little kid breakfast ideas will hopefully make your mornings a breeze!
Do you have other go-to breakfast ideas you love? Leave them in the comments below to share with other parents!