When I enter the kitchen for the first time in the morning, I always have something of a glaze over my eyes. Sleep has barely left my head, my coffee has not yet been consumed, and I’m supposed to create a healthy, well-rounded menu for my littles, one that’s preferably not the same as yesterday. For that reason, I have created a list of a handful of our go-to breakfasts around here. Nothing profound or innovative, just one mom sharing what works for her in the sleepy-eyed moments of the morning.
- plain greek yogurt with granola on top
- defrosted frozen muffins (made in batches), served with fruit
- scrambled eggs and toast
- protein balls (recipe here)
- oatmeal, served with fruit
- breakfast tacos with left over scrambled eggs, cheese, lunch meat
Your turn: What other easy, healthy ideas do you have for breakfasts for littles? Leave it in the comments!
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We do cereal & fruit bars (like Earth’s Best Strawberry Bars) and fresh fruit and cheese on 99% of days. Another favorite is frozen whole grain waffle with peanut butter or nutella and fruit.
Frozen waffles! Yum! Where do you find whole grain ones?
a trick i got from Mama pea (peasandthankyou.com) is to make extra pancakes and/or waffles when you make them anyway on the weekend and freeze them in individual baggies. Then, just pop them in the toaster during the week for a homemade healthy breakfast. All of her recipes are dairy free and use whole wheat pastry flour!
We are a huge cereal family. The kids and I share our box of Kix every morning, with a banana on the side. Chia will usually finish Josiah’s banana for him. We only get creative on the weekends. Haha However, my MIL has gotten in the habit of sending home granola bread (bless her soul), that we’ve been indulging lately. We call it “breakfast cake.”
Mmmmm breakfast cake. The protein balls might as well be cookies. Heather of the EO brought some over 2 weeks ago and we’ve been hooked since. Who cares if there are chocolate chips in them – they’re made with flax! Totally evens out.
And then they go to school, and breakfast gets harder, because they have a limited time to consume it (“I don’t care if you’re not hungry now; we have to leave in 2 minutes so EAT!”) and because if they don’t eat, they will be hungry and grumpy all morning.
We do a lot of cold cereal and oatmeal. I also keep a stash of bananas (always) and Kashi bars for mornings on the run.
Yes. I should have clarified, when I say “served with fruit” up there, I mean served with bananas. I always have “baaana” for the little one.
Thanks for the list. You’re right–it’s so hard to get that nutritious breakfast on the table every. day.
Isn’t it? And you’re welcome. :)
Protein balls…snort.
JJ! You would. :)
We do the Kids Cliff Bars on the way to school…so easy and so healthy!
Oooh! Bars are a good idea and great for hurried mornings. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the ideas. Breakfast is a hard one in my house. We leave the house before 630. I am going to try the protein balls.
Oy. I can’t fathom trying to think up meals for someone else at such an early hour. Bless your tired little heart.
J is one of the pickiest kids ever. he either eats homemade oatmeal with cinnamon and dried cranberries (not craisins), homemade muffin/bread (made with whole wheat, applesauce instead of oil and honey or agave nectar instead of sugar), or kashi cereal. kashi cereal is packed full of vitamins so it’s honestly ideal for on the go. he loves the cinnamon kind.
Cereal is hit and miss in our house – I feel like it takes for.ev.er. for OBoy to get on with it… unless it’s fruit loops. He manages to eat that in a timely manner. ;)
it definitely takes forever, especially when J has each individual piece talk to me before he eats it. but at least it’s not messy if we have to eat in the car or something.
oh sometimes he has peanut butter toast.
Yes! That’s a good one too. I need to bring that back into rotation around here. Thanks for sharing!
sure :) he will only eat this on the weekends usually when adam suggests it and they eat it together. if i offer it, he’d turn up his nose at me.
I am working on a similar post over at my website. I love ideas for breakfast! Thank you for sharing!
My life is infinitely easier if my kids have the same thing every day. Oatmeal oatmeal oatmeal, and then baked oatmeal on the weekends to be fancy. :)
I love breakfast foods, so I make hot breakfast for the kids and I quite often. I’m going to try these home made pop tarts next week I think.
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/05/30/recipe-whole-wheat-toaster-pastries-a-k-a-pop-tarts/
I printed the protein ball recipe. My boys would love those.
Well….you don’t wanna hear my suggestions…
For our teens on the run, meal replacement drinks (at least they use milk); dry cereals; toasted English muffins. And when I’m doing REALLY good, bacon/egg/cheese English muffins.
Our best breakfasts are on the weekends or when we do ‘em for supper :).
#momfail??
We LOVE smoothies at our house, some fresh and frozen fruit and some yogurt or juice sometimes we add in some spinach or other greens or a spoonful of almond butter or peanut butter . . . the options are endless :)
My 12 mo old loves silken tofu cut in chunks (weirdo), we also do toast with organic strawberry jam from costco (so good!), he also loves tortilla roll ups with refried beans.. protein, right? Smoothies are a hit too! i totally just pinned that energy ball recipe. thanks!
We love egg sandwiches! Toast an English muffin and use a mug to cook the egg in the microwave (30-60 seconds, I always check every 20 seconds or so) then top it with cheese (target has Colby jack already in circles). Add a side of banana and I get 15-20 minutes of peace and quiet to read blogs and sip coffee :). It’s great for school days too because it travels well.