Kids' Breakfast Recipes - Cooking Light

Healthy Kids' Breakfast Recipes

A healthy breakfast contains a mix of complex carbohydrates and protein to fuel your little one until he eats again. Try pairing whole grains such as oatmeal, whole-wheat toast, or whole-grain cereal with a protein source such as milk, yogurt, peanut butter, eggs, or cheese. Add in a side of fruit for a boost of vitamins and minerals, and your child is ready for the day.

View Recipe: Sweet Potato and Pecan Flapjacks

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Serve our Banana Breakfast Smoothie with a handful of whole-grain dry cereal or a granola bar for a filling breakfast.

Young Chefs Can:
• Peel banana
• Pour ingredients into blender with assistance

Older Chefs Can:
• Help slice banana with dinner knife
• Push buttons to process ingredients

View Recipe: Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Photo: Jan Smith

Blackberry-Mango Breakfast Shake

Silken tofu gives this drink a smooth, creamy consistency. If your kids don’t like the seeds in blackberries, substitute frozen blueberries.

Young Chefs Can:
• Place blackberries in measuring cup
• Pour ingredients into blender with assistance

Older Chefs Can:
• Drain mango slices
• Measure ingredients
• Push buttons to process ingredients

View Recipe: Blackberry-Mango Breakfast Shake

Photo: Jan Smith

Power Granola

Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for both the brain development and heart health of your child. Serve in a bowl with milk, as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal, as a snack by itself.

Young Chefs Can:
• Measure nuts and raisins
• Combine dry ingredients

Older Chefs Can:
• Line pan with foil
• Combine ingredients in saucepan
• Stir in raisins

View Recipe: Power Granola

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel

We call these “power” muffins because they’re loaded with B vitamins from whole-wheat flour, calcium from milk and yogurt, antioxidants from blueberries, and heart-friendly monounsaturated fat from almonds and canola oil.

Young Chefs Can:
• Measure blueberries and add to batter
• Sprinkle streusel over batter

Older Chefs Can:
• Combine dry ingredients
• Help spoon batter into muffin cups

View Recipe: Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich with Mango Chutney

This sandwich packs protein from egg, calcium from cheese, and fiber and B vitamins from the whole-wheat muffin. For a touch of sweetness, spread your favorite jelly or jam over the bottom half of each sandwich.

Young Chefs Can:
• Place muffin halves on baking sheet
• Sprinkle cheese on muffins

Older Chefs Can:
• Coat pan with cooking spray
• Assemble sandwiches

View Recipe: Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich with Mango Chutney

Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

These tender, old-fashioned biscuits are much lower in fat and sodium than fast-food biscuits and are just as tasty.

Young Chefs Can:
• Help cut dough with biscuit cutter
• Place biscuits on baking sheet

Older Chefs Can:
• Help cut butter into small pieces with dinner knife
• Knead dough and measure dimensions with a ruler

View Recipe: Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

Sweet Potato and Pecan Flapjacks

Sweet potato gives these pancakes a healthy dose of beta carotene, an antioxidant that also keeps eyes healthy. For convenience, roast a sweet potato the night before, or use canned mashed sweet potato. Drizzle with maple syrup and butter, and serve with a side of fresh fruit.

Young Chefs Can:
• Measure pecans
• Help add dry measured ingredients to mixing bowl

Older Chefs Can:
• Combine milk and wet ingredients
• Whisk milk mixture
• Measure sweet potato

View Recipe: Sweet Potato and Pecan Flapjacks

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Banana-Cinnamon Waffles

Crown these lightly spiced waffles with cinnamon sugar, sliced bananas, and/or a drizzle of maple syrup.

Young Chefs Can:
• Peel banana
• Help add dry measured ingredients to mixing bowl

Older Chefs Can:
• Mash banana
• Crack eggs

View Recipe: Banana-Cinnamon Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Whole-Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

Brown sugar and cinnamon make a gooey sweet filling while powdered sugar dissolves into a creamy glaze that’s drizzled over the top of these breakfast treats.

Young Chefs Can:
• Sprinkle raisins over dough
• Help roll up dough

Older Chefs Can:
• Help knead dough
• Combine brown sugar and spices, and sprinkle over dough
• Help drizzle glaze

View Recipe: Whole-Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Quick Breakfast Burritos

This quick and healthy burrito is a great way to get kids to eat breakfast, even if they are dashing toward the bus stop.

Young Chefs Can:
• Sprinkle cheese on eggs
• Roll up burritos

Older Chefs Can:
• Crack eggs
• Combine and whisk first five ingredients

View Recipe: Quick Breakfast Burritos

Easy French Toast Casserole

French bread with a soft crust works best here because it is easier to cut. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices, and serve to your child with a glass of fat-free or 1% low-fat milk.

Young Chefs Can:
• Help measure brown sugar
• Place bread slices in egg mixture

Older Chefs Can:
• Crack and whisk eggs
• Pour leftover egg mixture over bread slices

View Recipe: Easy French Toast Casserole

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Assemble and refrigerate the casserole the night before, and just pop it in the oven the next morning before the kids head off to school.

Young Chefs Can:
• Tear bread into cubes
• Measure bread cubes in measuring cups

Older Chefs Can:
• Measure cheese
• Combine sausage, bread, and cheese

View Recipe: Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Jalapeño, Sausage, Jack and Egg Breakfast Braid

To make this recipe more kid-friendly, omit the chopped jalapeño peppers and replace chicken sausage with jalapeños with chicken sausage with apples. Feel free to substitute a milder cheese in place of the Monterey Jack.

Young Chefs Can:
• Unroll dough
• Sprinkle cheese

Older Chefs Can:
• Pat dough into rectangle and measure dimensions
• Brush dough with egg white

View Recipe: Jalapeño, Sausage, Jack and Egg Breakfast Braid