Making sure your kids get proper nutrition during breakfast is important. Unfortunately, cereals marketed to kids tend to be loaded with sugar. Too many sweets could lead to problems like obesity and diabetes later on.
Preparing healthful meals is much better for your kids. It also doesn’t need to be a challenge. The following are easy breakfast recipes that provide key nutrients and satisfy a kid’s appetite.
English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas
Pizza for breakfast? Your kids will be happy to try these based on that idea alone.
Making them is also easy. Just slice a few hard-boiled eggs and toast a few English muffins. Drizzle some olive oil on the English muffin halves when they’re done toasting, then top them with tomato slices, egg slices, and some grated mozzarella. You might also add a little oregano and salt for extra flavor. Broil them until the cheese melts, approximately five minutes.
This meal is a good breakfast choice because eggs and mozzarella both contain protein. Growing kids need protein to build muscle and repair body tissues.
Yogurt and Granola Parfait
Yogurt also contains healthy doses of protein, along with calcium, which helps protect your child’s bones. To make the breakfast look as appealing as possible, pour a quarter cup of granola into a glass (bonus points if it looks like the type ice cream would be served in), then top it with a half cup of plain yogurt and a tablespoon of maple syrup. Making breakfast look like dessert is a smart way to get your kids interested in a healthy meal.
Fun Bagel & Veggie Combos
It’s no secret that kids aren’t always crazy about trying vegetables. You may need to get creative if your little one isn’t a fan of veggies.
A smart tactic is to serve them a bagel with cream cheese, topped with cucumber and tomato slices arranged to look like a cartoon face. Again, when breakfast is fun, your little ones are more likely to get the proper nutrients. That’s why we love this simple vegetarian meal for kids!
Almost Green Eggs & Ham
You don’t need to make an omelette to prepare a nutritious breakfast meal boasting delicious ingredients.
First, sauté a cup of diced ham in butter over medium heat until browned. While it’s sautéing, whisk together 10 eggs, two tablespoons of milk (or water if your child prefers), a teaspoon of kosher salt, and a quarter teaspoon of pepper. Pour the mixture into the pan with the ham and cook for about four or five minutes, to your preferred level of doneness. Right before the eggs set, add in a cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and about a quarter cup of chopped chives. Get ready to serve a breakfast meal the whole family will be requesting again and again in the future.
Another twist on this recipe involves whisking together the ingredients for the eggs, cooking them in the pan to your preferred doneness, and adding a cup of shredded Monterey jack cheese instead of cheddar before they set. Fold in three-quarters of a cup of salsa and a cup of crushed tortilla chips. The result is a stripped down version of huevos rancheros that will certainly appeal to a kid with a taste for Mexican cuisine.
Chocolate Croissants
Getting kids to accept healthy breakfast meals is easier when you also allow the occasional treat. To make these, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Separate the dough from an eight-count tube of refrigerated crescent rolls into eight triangles, add about 10 or so chocolate chips to the bottom third of each triangle, then roll the dough over it. Place the rolls on a baking sheet and bake for about 12 to 14 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and the chocolate is slightly melted.
Egg in a Hole
Again, when you add a little bit of fun variety to breakfast meals, getting your kids to try them is much less of a challenge.
Start this recipe by spreading salted butter over the tops of two slices of whole-wheat bread. Each slide should get about a quarter tablespoon of butter. With a round cookie cutter (although a round glass will also do in a pinch), create a three-inch hole in each bread slice. Set the cutout pieces aside.
Next, heat one and a half tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bread and the cutout pieces the skillet, butter side up. Crack an egg into each center hole, seasoning with salt and pepper. Once the underside of the bread is golden (approximately three to four minutes), flip and cook the egg to your child’s preferred doneness. If your kids like a runny yolk, cook for about one to two minutes. They can dip the cutout pieces into the yolk, so you don’t waste anything. You might also consider serving this with a side of berries and yogurt for some added nutrition.
Keep these recipes in mind if you’re looking for a way to provide your kids with the nutrition they need in the form of breakfast meals they’ll love. They’re all easy to prepare, helping you save time as well.
