100 Breakfast Ideas for Kids (guide, recipes & tips!)

The ultimate list of over 100 healthy and easy breakfast ideas that your toddlers, kids, and the entire family will love! In this guide, you will find easy homemade recipes, easy ideas, healthy store-bought breakfast foods, what breakfasts to avoid, plus tips on making and serving breakfasts to your child and so much more! This guide is great for kids 2 – 12 years old.

Graphic for post- 100 breakfasts for kids - complete breakfast guide for 2-12 years.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Easy Breakfast Ideas Toddlers & Kids

Feeding toddlers and kids can be tricky and morning times can be especially rough.

Whether you are rushing off to preschool, school, work, a playdate, or a fun adventure – getting out of the house with everyone dressed, teeth brushed, backpacks filled, lunches and snacks made and everyone fed a healthy breakfast can be an Olympic sport.🥇

There usually isn’t enough coffee in the world to help you survive those crazy busy mornings! ☕️☕️☕️

But I want you (and me) to crush those mornings and go for the gold!

In this guide, you will find over 100 amazingly easy, healthy and delicious breakfast ideas and recipes for kids, serving sizes, FAQs, our expert tips, the best foods to serve in the morning and the ones to avoid, info on how to make a balanced meal, and so much more!

With dozens of breakfast recipes for kids to choose from, like my crazy good 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes, Broccoli Egg Muffins and Easy Spinach Pancakes, there are zero reasons to be in a breakfast food slump. If you need toddler smoothie, dinner or lunch ideas, I have those too, plus plenty of healthy popsicle recipes to choose from as well.

Broccoli Egg Muffin Video

Watch here to see how easy it is to make our fan-favorite Broccoli Egg Muffins!

Clear glass filled with a pink strawberry milk with a strawberry on the lip and a striped straw.

Kids to play it against a white background that has three sections one with oranges, one with blueberries, one with blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs.

Tips on Making and Serving Breakfasts

Prep Ahead – To save your sanity during the busy weekday mornings – prep one or two breakfast recipes that can be stored in the fridge or freezer on the weekend. That way you can just heat and serve without much thought – Spinach Waffles, Blueberry Sheet Pancakes, Broccoli Cheddar Egg Muffins, and Zucchini Pancakes are some of our favorite freezer-friendly recipes.
Picky-Eaters – You don’t need to feel the pressure to add in veggies or foods that your child doesn’t care for in the morning. Go with a breakfast they like and if you have the time add in fruit, yogurt, meat or other food they don’t care for as much on the side to expose your toddler to other food options as well.
One Breakfast for the Entire Family – Make one breakfast for baby, toddler, kids, and you! I developed these breakfast recipes for toddlers and kids, but I eat them as well! One meal for the whole family! So don’t think that you have to make an extra meal just for yourself. I do usually add sriracha, butter or syrup to my portion depending on what the recipe is.

Helpful Feeding Tools

These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make and serve these recipes for your toddler and older kids. For more of my favorite kitchen tools, make sure to check out my online shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a kid eat for breakfast?

Ideally, breakfast should be made of at least 3 food groups for a balanced meal. Protein will help keep them full for longer, as will fiber. Too much added sugar will cause energy crashes so choose whole grains instead of white grains loaded with added sugar.

What should a picky eater eat for breakfast?

Whatever they like (within reason)! Give your kid some options for breakfast and let them choose, and try to get them to help with making it, whether the night before or in the morning if you have time. When kids are involved in making the meal, they are more likely to eat it. And don’t forget about leftovers. They may not be your typical breakfast food but they can totally be eaten for breakfast.

Why is breakfast important for a child?

Breakfast helps provide children with the energy their busy little bodies need after a night of fasting for the day ahead. It fuels their brain and can help improve performance in school since it helps with memory and attention. Kids who eat breakfast tend to have higher test scores than those who do not.

almond toast with bananas and hemp sprinkles for baby and toddler.

Plate with scrambled eggs and other healthy foods for baby and toddler.

Kid Serving Sizes

Serving sizes will vary from child to child but generally, kids need a quarter of the portion an adult does. Parents tend to overestimate servings for their children. I recommend starting small to not overwhelm your kid and give seconds if your kid wants more. Here are some examples of typical serving size for kids ages 2-12:

1/4 cup dry cereal
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 banana
1/4 -1/2 slice of bread
1/2 egg
1 oz. meat
1/2 piece of fresh fruit
1/3 cup of yogurt
1-2 tablespoons of cooked veggies

Balanced Breakfasts

Try to include at least three food groups when making breakfast to make it nutritious and filling. As a reminder, the food groups are fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Below are some sample breakfast ideas with at least 3 food groups:

Yogurt, blueberries and granola
Peanut butter and banana on whole wheat toast
Veggie and cheese omelet
Cheese stick and pear slices
Cheerios and milk with a side of fruit
Boiled egg and steamed carrot sticks
Avocado and scrambled eggs on whole grain bread
Milk, spinach and fruit smoothie

Mini Meals

When your little one isn’t hungry for a full breakfast meal, try a mini-breakfast, which will help start their day off with some nutrition until they are ready for something more substantial.

apple “donuts” – horizontally cut apples with the core removed, with cream cheese “frosting” and a pinch of sprinkles or freeze-dried fruit.
finger salad – an assortment of chopped fruits and veggies
graham cracker sandwiches – made with cream cheese and jam
pb&j crackers – crackers topped with peanut butter and a dollop of jelly
avocado toast – whole-grain toast topped with avocado and everything bagel seasoning
yogurt parfait – plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey, chopped berries and a sprinkle of granola
banana rice cake – rice cake topped with almond butter, slices of banana and hemp seed sprinkles.

Breakfasts to Avoid

Ideally, you want to serve nutritious breakfasts that will help nourish your child’s body. While treats are occasionally fine, it’s best to serve whole foods instead of ultra-processed foods so your child stays fuller longer and they have the right nutrition to start their day off on the right foot.

Breakfast pastries like donuts, sugary muffins, cinnamon roles, Pop-Tarts, etc.
Sugary cereals
Highly processed meats like bacon and sausage
Juice drinks (not 100% fruit juice) like Minute Maid, Juicy Juice, fruit punch, Sunny-D, etc.
Too much juice
Coffee, Yoohoo, energy drinks

Breakfast Nutritional Tips for Your Toddler

Don’t skip it– Kids who eat breakfast have been shown to do better in school as it helps with memory and attention.
3 food groups– Try to include at least 3 food groups at breakfast to make a well-balanced meal.
Choose whole grains– Whole grains are full of fiber, which helps you keep full for longer. When choosing cereal or breads, look for the whole grain icon or make sure “whole grain” is listed as one of the first ingredients.
Easy on added sugar- Many packaged breakfast items are full of added sugar, which can cause an energy crash later. Avoid cereals and breakfast pastries that have too much added sugar.
Protein– Make sure to include protein at breakfast to help keep full throughout the morning. Good protein options are eggs, yogurt, milk, and nut butters.
Fruit– Breakfast is a great time to help get in your daily fruit servings. You can choose one that is easy to eat on-the-go, like bananas or apples, or have cut-up fruit available.

Favorite Kid Breakfasts

Here are some of our reader-favorite homemade breakfast recipes for toddlers and kids.

Banana pancakes for baby - pictures of a purple plate with small banana pancakes on them.

A silver muffin tin filled with broccoli egg cups with one cup on the white surface.

Broccoli Egg Muffins

Handheld and portable, these egg cups are great for baby and toddlers on-the-go. These savory cheddar cheese and broccoli breakfast cups can be served warm at the breakfast table or packed cold for a morning playdate or school lunch.

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Small kids hands holding 3 mini pumpkin muffins.

Healthy Mini Pumpkin Muffins

These mini pumpkin muffins are the perfect treat for the fall! Quick and easy to make, they are a hit with toddlers and kids, and the adults too! Made with no refined sugar they are a healthy and delicious snack!

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2 smoothie cups filled with a hidden veggie smoothie for kids and toddlers.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie

If you have a picky one at home who refuses to eat their vegetables, this chocolate peanut butter smoothie is a great way to sneak them in! This kid approved smoothie is great for a quick and easy breakfast or snack and is nutrient dense.

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A stack of spinach pancakes against a white background with strawberries on top and on the side.

Bowl filled with blueberry oatmeal with slices of banana and frozen blueberries on top.

Spinach waffles sitting on a cooling rack.

Blue kids plate with blueberry muffins pilled high and blueberries scattered around.

Blueberry Avocado Mini Muffins

These Blueberry Avocado Mini Muffins are loaded with fruit, healthy fats, and whole grains. Their mini size makes them perfect for small baby and toddler hands, and they are great for baby-led weaning. Yum!

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Grid of egg muffin photos for baby, toddler and kids.

Pink bunny plate for baby or toddler filled with pink pancakes, raspberries and avocado sitting on a pink napkin with a white fork for baby to use.

Pink Beet Pancakes

These Pink Beet Pancakes are quick and easy to make and perfectly soft and fluffy. Plus, they have a hidden veggie and are great for picky eaters. Great for babies, toddlers, and kids!

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Egg Breakfast Recipes

Eggs are not only super easy to make in a short amount of time, but they are also full of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, choline and other essential nutrients for growing bodies.