Getting your kids out the door in the morning is tough enough without cooking. Before you settle for passing them a handful of cereal when they’re already halfway out the door, consider these 15 healthy breakfast ideas for kids that are equal parts low-lift, nutritious and picky eater approved. I love these options (like chai oatmeal and breakfast quesadillas, for starters) because they’re easy enough to prepare on stressful weekdays, plus some are even able to be made ahead.
15 Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids, Whether You Have All Morning or 10 Minutes
Rise and shine, picky eaters
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Published Jul 23, 2024
Kirsten Buck/Alanna Hale/Half Baked Harvest
1. Sweet Potato, Bacon and Broccoli Egg Muffins
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Behold: a make-ahead gem that will keep ’em full all morning. Each muffin contains nine grams of protein and requires only nine ingredients to come together—that’s including salt and pepper. Bake them in advance to reheat as needed.
3. Chai Oatmeal
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
You’re only five ingredients away from a warm-spiced, healthy breakfast idea for kids that they’ll crave on the reg. The cozy oatmeal can be finished with almond butter, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon or white chocolate chips, for a special treat.
4. Paleo Almond Butter Blender Muffins
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, Paleo-friendly, gluten free
Store-bought muffins are typically just about as healthy as cookies. But this take is low in sugar and high in protein, plus it calls for blueberries and chopped chocolate (balance is everything, no?). This meal only requires a few minutes of prep and can easily be baked ahead.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
Perk up your slow-to-rise kid with this vibrant, healthy breakfast idea, starring blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Simply add Greek yogurt (hello, protein) and ice to the produce, blend and top it with their favorite granola, more fruit or even chocolate chips.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Nix the bread altogether and get fruit onto your kid’s plate first thing in the morning. Spritz the apple slices with fresh lemon juice to keep them from browning, and swap deli turkey or ham in for bacon if you want to save a little time.
7. Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pan
Forget rolling out dough minutes after waking up. This one-pan delight is mixed in a single bowl and poured into a baking dish for minimal mess and effort. The two-ingredient icing is technically optional…but I’m guessing your kids will ask for a double helping.
8. Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
It doesn’t get more timeless than this low-lift sammy.. Use any jam, jelly or fruit preserves your kid prefers (and swap the peanut butter for almond or sunflower if they have an allergy).
9. Cranberry Walnut Grain-Free Granola
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, vegan
Instead of spending double digits on a fancy store-bought granola, try your hand at this homemade version that’s both gluten- and dairy-free. Make it ahead and store it in an airtight container so it stays fresh for the long haul.
10. Broiled Citrus Ricotta Toast
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, vegetarian
Cheese is an easy sell for finnicky kids. Top the toasted brioche with a modest smear of cinnamon-sugar butter, a thick layer of ricotta and honey-broiled citrus of their choice. (If grapefruit is too bitter, try sweet cara cara oranges, peaches or nectarines instead.)
11. Skillet Granola
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
This one-pan healthy breakfast idea for kids can be snacked on solo, served over yogurt or doused in milk. They’ll go gaga for the granola’s cinnamon-y, slightly sweet flavor and irresistible crunch.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, no cook, <30 minutes
If a sugary bowl of instant oatmeal is one of your kid’s go-tos, consider this a better-for-them remix. Rolled oats are blended with banana, Greek yogurt, almond milk, vanilla and cinnamon, plus a touch of turbinado sugar. Finish it with cocoa nibs for crunch.
13. Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Even the pickiest eaters won’t be able to detect the hidden vegetables. Not only does the shredded zucchini add fiber to this healthy breakfast idea for kids, but it also imparts plenty of necessary moisture to the muffins.
14. Breakfast Quesadilla with Soft Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Salsa
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Besides the delicious perks (read: bacon and cheese), this quesadilla is also surprisingly freezer friendly. If your kid doesn’t want the salsa, try pico de gallo or sour cream instead, and skip the chiles if they’re sensitive to spice.
15. Petite Vegetable Frittatas
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Bake anything in a muffin tin and your kid will want a bite. This healthy breakfast idea for kids includes bell peppers, zucchini, onion and chives, but feel free to tweak as needed for your kid’s taste. (Just don’t skip the Parm.)
