5 Easy Breakfast Ideas Toddlers and Kids Can Make

Need breakfast in a flash but also looking to get your kids involved? Here are 5 easy breakfast ideas your toddler or kid can make in the morning. Most require 5 minutes or less to prepare/cook and can (overtime) be done 100% by your child! The earlier you start getting them involved the quicker they can do it all on there own.

Top 5 Easy Breakfast Ideas (Your Toddler and Kids Can Make!)

1. Yogurt Parfaits
   • What you need: Plain or vanilla yogurt, fruit(fresh, dried, frozen, canned or combination), granola or cereal, nuts/seeds or nut/seed butter
   • Directions: Lay out ingredients on table, have kids use spoon to scoop yogurt into their bowl, chop fruit (if needed) and top their yogurt, sprinkle on cereal and other toppings
2. Instant Oats
   • What you need: packet of plain instant oats, milk of choice, fruit, other flavorings/toppings (i.e cinnamon, peanut butter, nuts, seeds)
   • Directions: Have kids open packet (assist as needed) and pour into a microwave safe bowl, measure out milk and then pour over oats, mix together, place in microwave (assist as needed), set to appropriate amount of time per package directions, once cooked top with fruit (chop if needed) and other flavorings/toppings
3. Smoothies
   • What you need: milk of choice, yogurt, fruit of choice (frozen/fresh/canned), milk vegetable (spinach/kale/cauliflower), other additions: peanut butter, cinnamon, nuts/seeds, other flavorings
   • For more tips on creating smoothies for kids and healthy recipe ideas check out this blog post on 30 healthy smoothie recipes for kids.
   • Directions: have kids help pick out ingredients (younger kids give choice of 1-2 items per category), have kids help pour/add ingredients into blender, blend until smooth, then with assistance pour into cup
4. Cereal
   • What you need: Cereal of choice, milk, fruit, other toppings as desired (nuts/seeds etc)
   • Directions: pull out ingredients, have younger kids use a measuring cup to scoop cereal into bowl, for milk can pour portion into smaller cup and have kids pour milk over cereal, top with fruit of choice (or serve on the side)
5. Toast (or pre-made waffles/pancakes)
   • What you need: bread, pre-made waffle or pancake, toppings: peanut butter, jelly, cream cheese, avocado or other spread
   • Directions: Have kids select ingredients they will be using to top their bread of choice, add bread/waffle/pancake to toaster/toaster oven, set to toast. Have them spread on toppings. Serve along side milk, yogurt, cheese or hard boiled egg and fruit.

Tips for involving younger toddlers in making breakfast

Younger toddlers need a bit more hands on assistance in the beginning. Here are some tips for how to help them while still getting them involved in preparing breakfast.

1. 1. Give them a choice of 1-2 items from a category (i.e fruit, dairy, grain etc). Too many options can be overwhelming for young kids!
   2. Help them with chopping fruit. Here are some tips on introducing knife skills to kids.
   3. Put liquids in small cups for them to pour.
   4. Use plastic measuring cups for them to scoop cereal or fruit.
   5. Place small amount of spread on plate or preload knife with spread for toddlers to spread onto toast, waffle or pancakes.
   6. Use old spice containers to put seeds into for sprinkling on top of yogurt, cereal, toast, smoothies etc.

Tips for getting breakfast ingredients ready for your kids the night before

Once kids are older they may be able to get breakfast ready for themselves all on their own. Here are some ideas on how to set up breakfast the night before so kids can start getting their breakfast ready before you come downstairs!

1. Place dried goods and other non-perishable food items on the counter/table where your kids can reach.
2. Place perishable items on the front of a shelf that they can easily reach and grab food from.
3. Pull out any other items they may need to help prepare their breakfast (i.e blender, measure cups etc.)
4. Store bowls/utensils/cups etc in a draw or cupboard that they can easily reach.
5. Remember! Kids won’t be able to prepare a breakfast by themselves at first or without practice with you.  Make sure what you have available is something they are used to preparing on their own.

For even more tips on healthy breakfast ideas for toddlers and kids and breakfast ideas check out this post on healthy breakfast ideas for toddlers (and kids too!)