Are you looking for some new options to spice up your kids’ breakfast routine? It’s so easy to fall into a cereal rut, which certainly isn’t bad…but it can get boring pretty quickly. Instead, try these 10 Toddler and Little Kid Breakfast Ideas to help you steer clear of the Pop Tarts and Krispy Kremes!
Here we go…My Top 10 Toddler and Little Kid Breakfast Ideas!
1. SMOOTHIES. These are a great way to ensure that your children get plenty of fruit, protein, and calcium at the start of their day. The combinations are really endless, but some of our favorites include my Chunky Monkey Protein Smoothie (it’s dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free); my Vanilla Berry Smoothie; and my Key Lime Pie Protein Smoothie. Let your children drink them through fun straws, or pour them into special cups. They’ll be thrilled with the opportunity to have a “milkshake” for breakfast!
2. HEALTHY 3-INGREDIENT CINNAMON BANANA PANCAKES. My friend Caryn shared this recipe with me years ago when we both had toddlers. Her son loves them, my boys love them, and I still make them for myself! They’re a great way to take advantage of overripe bananas, and they are grain-free, gluten-free, and high in protein! Pro tip: while the pancakes are great with maple syrup, they’re sweet enough on their own that they don’t even need it. Instead, try adding a smear of peanut butter to the top! Grab the recipe HERE.
3. BARS. A packaged granola bar can be incredibly convenient and also healthy when paired with some fruit or milk and yogurt. My kids’ favorites? The Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars, which are made with just 3 ingredients: peanuts, dates, and salt. The Larabars are soft enough for the little ones to chew, and they come in a zillion tasty flavors. Better yet? Make your own bars and keep them in your refrigerator! We love my No-Bake Mocha Almond Fudge Energy Bars (omit the coffee if you’re serving them to kids!!), and my Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Cereal Bars for slightly older children who can chew little pieces of chopped nuts and dried fruit.
4. MINI MUFFINS. Mini muffins are much easier for little fingers to pick up and eat, and they can be made to appeal to just about any palate. Blueberry is always a safe bet with the kiddos, but other favorites include my Morning Glory Muffins (bake them in a mini muffin tin for smaller portions); my Graham Cracker Blender Mini Muffins; and my Whole Grain Honey Peach Toddler Mini Muffins. An added bonus when it comes to muffins? They freeze beautifully, so you can bake a batch and then just thaw them in the microwave as you need them. Perfect for busy mornings!
5. YOGURT PARFAITS. Make a breakfast parfait that is pretty, and your child is bound to be interested! You can layer any yogurt and fruit in a cup, or add cereal or granola for some crunch. Try my Overnight Apple Crisp Breakfast Parfait. If your child is too small for chunks of apple, just use plain whole milk yogurt and layer it with applesauce! The fruit gives plain yogurt a great touch of sweetness without the need for added sugar.
6. MINIATURE WAFFLE SANDWICHES. One of my favorite breakfasts is a peanut butter sandwich made with two whole-grain toaster waffles. In the frozen section of your grocery store, grab some miniature waffles for your kids and serve them this tasty treat as well (we love the whole grain organic version by Earth’s Best). The mini waffles are not as thick as their full-size counterparts, and are the perfect size for your toddlers to pick up on their own. Drizzle with honey or pure maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.
7. TOAST SHAPES. Most kids don’t care for the crust on toasted bread, so I found that it’s quick, easy, and fun to use a cookie cutter to trim shapes out of toast. You can spread the whole grain toast with butter, with cinnamon, with nut butter, or with a fruit spread. Add fresh fruit, eggs, yogurt, cheese, or milk for a balanced meal.
8. FREEZER-FRIENDLY EGG AND CHEESE MINI MUFFINS. These mini muffins are the perfect answer to busy, weekday mornings. Bake a batch in advance (it only takes a total of 15 minutes from start to finish), and pop them in the freezer. When you need one in the morning, just pull it from the freezer and put it directly in the microwave for a few seconds. It’s the best way I know to make eggs without dirtying a pan. Plus, they’re a much neater way for your toddler to eat scrambled eggs with her hands! The 3-INGREDIENT recipe is HERE!
9. FRUIT ROLL-UPS. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese (or yogurt, cottage cheese, or nut butter) onto a whole grain tortilla. Top with fruit, roll it up, and allow your child to take bites on her own. You can also slice it into smaller rounds if that’s an easier way for your little one to feed himself. If your child is small and cannot chew whole slices of fruit, just mash berries or banana in a bowl, slice grapes very thin, or use a fruit puree like applesauce. Pick your child’s favorite combination!
10. OATMEAL BREAKFAST BAR. Plain oatmeal is BORING. But, if you allow your kids to dress up their own bowl, it will instantly be fun! Microwave a bowl of plain oatmeal with milk and a pinch of salt. Set out some fixin’s on the counter and allow your kids to put together their own concoction. Toppings might include (just a few) rainbow sprinkles, a dollop of nut butter, a dollop of Greek yogurt, honey (if your child is older than 1), chopped or pureed fruit, raisins, or anything else that you can pull out of your pantry. Oatmeal is suddenly delicious!
Are you looking to simplify mealtime for your family? Check out my eCookbook Fast, Fresh & Fit!, which is full of 30 recipes and tips for quick-prep breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that your whole family will love! You can learn more HERE! And PS — it includes even more Toddler and Little Kid Breakfast Ideas!
Jennifer McCullough says
November 8, 2013 at 10:07 pmOoooh, I love these, especially the egg and cheese mini muffins. I can’t get my toddler to eat eggs, but maybe this will work. Thank you for the great ideas.
Samantha says
March 3, 2019 at 8:15 amMy 19 month old LOVES the 3 ingredient pancakes. They are banana and egg with a little cinnamon to season. Great way to get eggs into their little bellies.
Blair says
March 3, 2019 at 3:34 pmThanks, Samantha! Aren’t they great? I’m with your little one — I think they’re a tasty way to eat eggs, too. 🙂
Lucy says
February 13, 2014 at 2:00 amHey er, if you have such great food ideas that are so better than these than why the heck are you even looking at this blog. I appreciate having ideas that are outside the box from this great mom who took the time to tell us what works for her family. My kids get tired of eggs and won’t eat avacado. Some people are grateful to see website’s like this for great ideas and new perspective.
Blair says
February 13, 2014 at 1:13 pmThanks, Lucy! 🙂
moe says
February 14, 2014 at 2:24 pmits good to get new ideas, that’s why i was here…… BUT i was searching for healthy ideas for my toddler. Sugar for breakfast is generally not an option.
A lot of sugar in anyone’s diet makes it hard for their immune system to work. Also feeds infection, i want my baby to stay as healthy as i can keep her.
Honey Erber says
April 6, 2018 at 5:43 amAll the wonderful mothers out there who say sugar is bad for your kid it’s honeslty not my youngest eats sugar and she is healthy and fit for her age. To much of everything is bad for you and I personally think that if you take away sugar from your child’s diet it makes them greedy for sugar and gives them an abnormal reaction to it make them super hiper and energetic so sugar is good for them maybe a bit of chocolate once a day or desert after dinner.
Blair says
April 6, 2018 at 8:24 amI totally agree, Honey! It’s all about balance and teaching our children how to enjoy all foods in moderation so that they can function in the “real world.” I find that by “allowing” sweets, my boys have much less interest in them! They will often turn down dessert when it’s offered because they know that it’s not a restricted option that they have to devour when it becomes available. 🙂
Woody says
March 21, 2014 at 12:54 pmAlright, do your high horse a favor and hop off. If the article displeases you that much, post some other article somewhere that justifies and go be the best mom you can be….over *there*.
Mommy of 1 says
August 1, 2014 at 5:52 amIf rainbow sprinkles will get my son to eat oatmeal then I’m all over that. The recipe calls for rainbow ‘sprinkles’, not rainbow sprinkles topped with oatmeal. I think some of the other ideas are very interesting and can be quite healthy. I especially like the idea of bananas with pancake batter. The fruit& yogourt recipe and the fruit roll up idea are also great options that I can’t wait to try.
I saw a simple recipe in a magazine that I would like to share. Similar to the fruit roll up idea, it’s Nutella spread on a whole wheat tortilla with banana and strawberry slices. I think any kind of nut butter will work depending on your own personal preference.
Blair says
August 1, 2014 at 8:35 pmThanks for stopping by! I love the Nutella idea, too. My boys love Nutella and think it’s such a treat when I let them have it. 🙂
Taylor says
August 1, 2014 at 1:13 pmI’m sorry that all you “wonderful” mothers out there think that sugar and microwaves are so awful for your kids. I’m sure you ate cereal for breakfast and had a meal or even a bottle microwaved by your parents and you’re still alive and obviously healthy an cocky enough to reproduce. Give this woman a break. If you think sugar is going to kill your kid you better homeschool and never let them leave your house, ever. They’re bound to find chocolate chips and microwaves out there!
Blair says
August 1, 2014 at 8:40 pmThanks, Taylor! If folks are regular blog readers, they will understand that I do my best to keep our diet well-balanced and nutritious. I don’t worry about the occasional treat for my boys — they are active, healthy, and happy…and to me, that’s what living life is all about. That said, I understand the importance of incorporating plenty of healthy whole grains, fats, fruits, and veggies into their diets as well, and that is always a priority. Again, it’s all about balance in my mind. While my 4 year old loves chocolate, he will tell you that his favorite, most-requested dinner is grilled salmon! And my three year old loves fruits and veggies so much that I actually have to limit how many servings he eats per day or he gets an upset stomach! Each mom does the best that we can and the best that we know how. If I’m happy and healthy and my family is happy and healthy, I consider it a success. Thanks again for your support and for visiting my blog. 🙂
Moma2 says
August 17, 2014 at 9:31 pmHmm..I’d have to say that my opinion is..I like some of these ideas I use some of these ideas already..my other opinions are if u don’t like the blog click the back button and look at something else I think bashing someone for giving you their ideas to get very picky eaters to eat something healthy even if it’s mixed with something fun is completely immature and unnecessary. .I and since everyone felt so free and open to give their parenting advice here’s mine..If u completely deprive your kids you’re going to end up with a child that hides stuff from you and rebels..I’ve seen it happen..some parents are a bit ridiculous about how far they are taking this..it’s an idea if you don’t like it get your own
Steph Phillips says
September 19, 2014 at 2:25 pmI think this website is wonderful and I will be using probably all of the recipes posted here. I was out of ideas on what to do for breakfast and lunch, so this website gave me great ideas. I agree that people who do not like the website, keep your rude comments to yourselves and go elsewhere. If you haven’t noticed, she always makes a note to add whole grains, fruit, etc with these recipes. People are so rude this day and age! Please keep up the great work, Blair! 🙂
Blair says
September 19, 2014 at 8:39 pmThanks so much for your kind words, Steph, and for reading the blog. You are incredibly thoughtful!
Blair says
September 29, 2014 at 3:58 pmThanks, Chichi! 🙂
Tami says
November 10, 2014 at 7:25 amLove your work Blair. I think making food fun for kids is half the battle – so much so that I have started my own blog dedicated to that very topic! I’ve done a few similar things with my 3yo to the suggestions you have here, including the fruit parfait which was a HUGE hit! If you can’t have a little treat every now and then, life’s pretty dull. By the way, the little boy in the main pic is such a little cutie! x
Blair says
November 10, 2014 at 8:02 pmThank you so much for your kind words, Tami!!!
happy mommy says
March 1, 2015 at 11:37 amfor my one year old daughter, she loves omelets! i scramble one egg in a bowl with just a small dash of salt & pepper. i then chop up some veggies that become very well hidden. when i put it out on the pan, i add some cheese and bacon along with the veggies. cook it for just about 5 mins & its done! my daughter loves this!
Blair says
March 1, 2015 at 1:37 pmYum!! That sounds perfect and so healthy!
abby says
July 3, 2015 at 9:43 amWhile some of these ideas are maybe not the healthiest I was looking for ideas for easy toddler breakfast and this was exactly what I was expecting and it was helpful. Instead of being judge-y, use your brain for good and bend the ideas in a healthy way that better suite your family. and guess what, your perfect child isn’t always going to eat exactly what you put in front of him or her so if sprinkles get healthy food in their belly, I think its a good idea. I have soy, dairy and wheat allergic children, if sprinkles (free of allergies) get them to eat a dry somewhat tasteless muffin that is great.
Blair says
July 3, 2015 at 9:00 pmThanks, Abby! 🙂 I hope that you find some ideas that make you and your little ones happy!
Madison says
July 15, 2015 at 12:26 pmThese ideas are so cute I can’t wait to try them thanks a lot for the ideas
Blair says
July 15, 2015 at 12:33 pmThanks, Madison!! 🙂
Krista C says
August 11, 2015 at 6:56 pmI agree that most odd these are not healthy. I wouldn’t give them to my kids for my own sake. They’re so much happier and more well behaved when fed a healthy breakfast.
However, all of these can be made healthy. Perhaps instead of ridiculing we can offer some suggestions. For example, The oatmeal bar is an excellent idea. You really don’t need candy to make it tasty. Try setting out raisins, peanut butter, chopped banana, nuts and seeds, and fresh or frozen berries, etc. Offer a little honey or maple syrup. Kids love berries. They’re nature’s candy. I always have some frozen berries on hand for cooling off hot oatmeal for little mouths. It works perfectly! We especially love blueberries.
Krista C says
August 11, 2015 at 6:58 pm“Most *of” sorry
Blair says
August 11, 2015 at 7:53 pmGreat suggestions, Krista! My boys love frozen berries on their cereal, too (hot or cold)! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Amila @ Food Corner says
March 8, 2016 at 6:57 pmThanks for these ideas.My toddler is a picky eater and it is difficult to introduce new food for him.He doesn’t eat cheese,I want to try this egg and cheese muffins,as he likes cupcakes,he may like cheesy egg muffins…
Blair says
March 9, 2016 at 1:27 pmI hope that he likes them, Amila! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Michelle Diane says
February 7, 2017 at 11:56 amLove these ideas! Thank you! 🙂
Blair says
February 7, 2017 at 5:58 pmYou’re very welcome! Thanks for stopping by, Michelle Diane!
Alpha X Boost muscle says
February 8, 2017 at 10:05 amThat is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise information? Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!
Jennifer Wise says
February 16, 2017 at 9:35 pmThank you for this list of recipes, Blair. My children like FRUIT ROLL-UPS . Again thanks..
Keep sharing!!!
Blair says
February 17, 2017 at 2:32 pmThanks, Jennifer! Glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sandy says
April 24, 2017 at 11:53 amSo tired of giving my toddler the same ole boring mini pancakes, fruit and yogurt in the morning. Thanks so much for the great ideas. I love the variety and the simple recipes!
Blair says
April 24, 2017 at 12:35 pmAwesome! Enjoy, Sandy! I hope that your little one finds some new favorites! My youngest loves mini pancakes for breakfast almost every day too… 🙂
Sofia says
May 9, 2017 at 7:27 amThese are seriously brilliant! Love everything about them! Pinned
thank you
Blair says
May 9, 2017 at 7:18 pmWonderful! I’m so glad that you found them helpful!
Lexi @That Fit Fam says
July 15, 2017 at 12:50 amLOVE THE FRUIT ROLL UPS! GREAT IDEAS!
Blair says
July 15, 2017 at 5:13 amThanks for stopping by, Lexi! 🙂
MJ says
November 9, 2017 at 9:36 pmJust tried the egg and cheese mini muffin tonight. YUM!!!!!! Thank you so much for a simple and healthy recipe!
Blair says
November 10, 2017 at 5:16 amAwesome! So glad that you enjoyed them, MJ! 🙂
Rohini Karnad says
June 6, 2018 at 1:30 amIs your toddler a picky and a fussy eater? Do you have trouble making something that he will like and not avoid? These 7 breakfast ideas might just be the answer to your problem.
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/7-breakfast-ideas-for-toddlers/
parenting says
July 6, 2018 at 11:42 pmHow wonderful!
Thank you so much for these simple recipes!
Ashley says
September 13, 2018 at 8:23 pmThese look amazing…now if only someone could teach me how to get my 5 yr old to like any fruit at all 🤦♀️ I would seriously be happy if I could find just 1…good thing her brother makes up for and will eat all the fruits lol
Blair says
September 13, 2018 at 8:34 pmThanks, Ashley! I have one of my 3 boys who doesn’t love fruit either. It’s so darn frustrating, but at least he eats veggies, so I figure he gets enough of the what he needs. 🙂
Juan says
September 22, 2018 at 9:48 amI found this awesome having different meals to give a lil kiddo. My baby’s mother only wants to give her cereal and milk, which I found boring and unhealthy. She is only two years and the stubborn mother do not want to change her let’s see if she change her mind with this link. Some women do not deserve to have kids.
Liz S says
October 2, 2018 at 9:57 pmOBsessed with these ideas!!! Our sweet boy is going to love them. Thank you!!!
Blair says
October 3, 2018 at 2:39 pmGreat! I’m so glad that they’re helpful, Liz!
Andrina Mathew says
November 27, 2018 at 2:02 pmAwesome! So happy that you enjoyed.
Arti Gupta says
January 25, 2019 at 12:17 pmI like very much this blog, It will help me cook more for my kid so keep sharing. Thanks
Stephanie Kerr says
February 17, 2019 at 9:38 pmProtein powders are generally very high in lead and shouldn’t be fed to a toddler.
Suzanne says
April 25, 2019 at 3:51 pmThis is a good list! It can be hard to have enough variety so they don’t get stuck on one thing !
Vanessa says
April 25, 2019 at 3:52 pmThanks for sharing! Do the eggs keep long in the freezer?