There are plenty of great breakfast ideas that fit perfectly into a preschooler’s diet, but which ones are the best? That depends on what you’re looking for, but here are some things to consider when making your decision.
When considering what makes a good breakfast idea, think about what is realistic for parents who have young children. Keeping an active toddler or preschooler full can be challenging, so it may help to have easy recipes in mind.
A lot of these meals are quick and simple because they don’t require much cooking time or many ingredients – often just one or two things. You’ll also want foods that will keep until lunchtime, so kids won’t become hungry before then.
Ideally, most recipes should contain some kind of protein for sustained energy throughout the morning. Also, you’ll want to choose recipes that contain foods that will not go bad too quickly, like fruits and vegetables instead of meat.
Also, keep in mind your child’s food preferences and sensitivities. You might be looking for a good breakfast idea if your preschooler is struggling with picky eating or allergies.
Lastly, if your child is in daycare, they might enjoy breakfast too. If you’re sending your child to daycare with a homemade meal, consult the daycare staff and ask what they can and cannot provide.
Now for the good part: here are some fun, easy-to-make breakfast recipes for preschoolers that you can try:
1. Pancakes and Waffles
There are tons of different recipes for pancakes. They don’t need to contain too many ingredients, especially sugar. They are simple to make, and you can store them in the fridge or freezer for five days until ready to eat.
This is a popular breakfast option because it only takes about an hour from start to finish, so kids can get started with their day early.
Some ideas for quick pancake recipes include:
- Whole-grain pancakes
- Banana pancakes
- Fruit smoothie pancakes (made with pureed fruit and yogurt instead of milk)
You can switch things a bit with waffles. These tend to require more ingredients than pancakes, but they’re also just as quick and easy – if not easier – because you don’t have to spread the batter onto a griddle, you can just pour it into the waffle maker. You and your kid can also get creative with the toppings.
2. Breakfast Burritos
Start your morning with some protein and veggies when you make breakfast burritos. This is another option that will keep in the fridge or freezer until lunchtime, so kids can eat them throughout the morning if they get hungry.
Burrito options are almost limitless, but here are some tips for making good ones:
- Use an egg white scramble inside of your burrito instead of fried eggs for less fat and cholesterol.
- Chop veggies like spinach, zucchini, or red bell pepper to bulk up your burrito without increasing the calorie count too much. Spreading cream cheese on top of the burrito (if your child eats dairy) will make it taste delicious.
- Try using turkey bacon instead of regular bacon to cut down on saturated fat and sodium content.
3. Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
This is a great breakfast or snack option because you can fill up on healthy fruit while also getting some protein from the yogurt.
Start with a base of your choice: coconut, almond, whole-grain – anything goes! Then include a few scoops of low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt mixed with chia seeds.
For a fun topping that adds more fiber to the parfait, use granola, dried fruits like raisins, dates, berries, peaches, figs – whatever sounds yummy. For added flavor try maple syrup or honey instead of sugar (but go easy on this one). Pour it all into a jar and pop it in the fridge, so it will be ready to eat when your kid wakes up.
4. Smoothies and Milkshakes
If you’re looking for another quick breakfast idea, smoothies and milkshakes are great for busy mornings. You can mix just about anything into a glass of milk or yogurt: fresh fruits like berries, bananas, peaches; frozen fruits like mangoes or pineapple; veggies like spinach, zucchini, carrots; protein powder; peanut butter (if your child eats nuts), and much more!
For added sweetness and flavor, try adding desserts like cake popsicles, chocolate chip cookies, and brownie bites. Just make sure not to send too much sugar with your preschooler – this is a treat, after all – and keep it low-fat or dairy-free.
These are only a few options for you to try. Be creative! Try spicing up breakfast by making French toast with whole-wheat bread, mini pizzas out of English muffins, and tortillas. There are no rules when it comes to creating healthy recipes.
