“15 School Breakfast Ideas for Kids” was written by Fiona Manolfi and reviewed/edited by Rivah Goldstein MScFN, RD and Jackie Silver MHSc, RD.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links with which I may earn a small commission but at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help bloggers like me to provide you with free content. All opinions expressed here are genuine.
Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be personalized medical or nutrition advice. For a plan tailored to your needs, please consult with a Registered Dietitian or qualified healthcare professional.
Last updated: September 20, 2023
Mornings can be hectic when we’re getting ready for school, and if making a healthy breakfast for your child during the morning rush feels like an impossible task, you’re not alone!
With the start of the new school year, set your child up for success with school breakfasts that are both kid-friendly and healthy. Keep reading for some quick, easy, and nourishing school breakfast ideas that can be easily prepared ahead of time to avoid the morning rush!
School Breakfast Ideas: Let’s talk about breakfast
Did you know that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day? – eating a meal first thing in the morning gives us energy and focus to fuel the rest of our day.
Let’s use the analogy of a car gas tank. Just like a gas tank needs to be fueled with gas to work properly, our bodies wake up with an empty “tank” after sleeping, and must be fueled to work and function properly throughout the day.
Breakfast is crucial for your little ones as it can help improve their memory and focus as well as academic performance and school attendance. Research shows that kids who skip breakfast tend to have a harder time concentrating in school.
Furthermore, breakfast is a great way for children to consume the extra nutrients that they require for growth and development. For example, children require higher amounts of calcium and vitamin D to aid in bone growth, as well as iron to support increased blood production. We can incorporate these extra nutrients into our kids’ breakfasts to ensure they are getting optimal nutrition to support their growth and development.
There are so many great benefits to incorporating a balanced breakfast into our kids’ diets, but this is easier said than done when mornings are busy and hectic. If you are looking for some school breakfast ideas that are quick, nutritious, yummy, and beat the morning rush, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for 15 school breakfast ideas for kids.
15 School Breakfast Ideas for Kids
These egg bites are the perfect school breakfast idea! You can make them ahead of time and store them in the freezer until you are ready to eat them.
Eggs are a great source of protein. These egg bites can be served with a slice of whole grain toast for extra fiber and carbohydrates to keep your child even more satisfied and energized.
These egg bites are awesome for picky eaters too! Your children can help prepare this school breakfast idea by picking their favorite toppings to put on their egg bites.
Pancakes are a super easy food to meal prep for busy mornings. Here’s a cool trick: Prepare your favourite pancake recipe and let the pancakes cool down on a cooling rack. Layer the pancakes between wax paper in a freezer safe container to be frozen for later.
When school mornings get busy, grab a pancake or two from the freezer and place them in the toaster. They’ll heat up quickly and be ready in no time!
Increase protein, healthy fat, and fiber content of this school breakfast idea by adding your little one’s favorite fruit and nut or seed butter.
Try out some of these nut/seed butters below:
- Nature’s Nut Smooth Natural Almond Butter
- Kraft Only Peanuts All Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter
- Nuts to You Sunflower Seed Butter
Overnight oats are a perfect way to give your kids a nutritious start to their day. Oats are high in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. This recipe includes three variations of overnight oats, catering to any taste preference.
The best part? Overnight oats and be made ahead of time, making mornings a breeze. Include your kids in breakfast prep by letting them customize what toppings they would like to have in their oats. This school breakfast idea is incredibly versatile!
Here’s a tasty school breakfast idea: Smoothies! They are both a delicious and nutritious breakfast for children. Smoothies are very customizable as you can mix in all sorts of ingredients!
Check out this yogurt peanut butter cup smoothie recipe.
It’s kid-friendly and the peanut butter can be swapped with any nut butter or seed butter. It’s like having dessert for breakfast and what kid (or adult) doesn’t like that?!
Smoothies can be made in advance and frozen in silicone ice cube trays to be enjoyed any time, including busy school mornings.
Consider adding some greek yogurt and/or chia seeds to your child’s smoothie and for an extra protein and fiber boost to keep them fueled until lunchtime. Check out this blog post for some smoothie ideas for picky eaters!
5. Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
Who doesn’t love a good savory breakfast? The only problem is that foods such as eggs or sausage may take too much time to cook before work or school.
These freezer breakfast sandwiches are the perfect solution. Feel free to customize your child’s breakfast sandwich with their favorite add-ins. Prep and freeze this school breakfast idea for a future busy school morning or eat immediately.
Some granola bars that can be found in grocery stores are high in sugar and lower in other nutrients like protein and fiber, which makes them a not very filling or satisfying school breakfast idea.
These homemade granola bars come to the rescue. They’re full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats which will keep your child feeling full and satisfied. Plus, they can be made ahead of time and customized to suit your child’s preferences!
Not only are yogurt parfaits a fun and simple school breakfast idea that you can prepare in advance, they’re also full of protein and probiotics which are great for your children’s tummies.
Customize this school breakfast idea and involve your children by letting them add their favorite nuts, seeds, and/or fruit.
Hard boiled eggs are perfect for breakfast meal prep as they can be stored in the fridge for up to a week and are fairly quick to prepare. Eggs are a great source of protein and can be added to a variety of breakfasts.
I would suggest serving the hard boiled eggs with fruit such as sliced oranges, bananas, or berries as well as whole grain toast for a well balanced school breakfast idea.
9. Freezer Friendly Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast burritos are the ultimate on the go, balanced school breakfast idea for your child. These wraps are low mess and super flexible as the variations that can be made are endless!
Your child can choose various fillings such as breakfast sausage, vegetables, beans, hummus, or cheese. Try using whole wheat wraps for extra fiber!
This school breakfast idea can be made ahead of time, stored in the freezer and heated up in the microwave when your child is ready to eat it.
This chia pudding is a breeze to make and it only requires 3 ingredients! Take 5 minutes to prepare this school breakfast idea the night before school and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, all you need to do is serve!
Check out this chia pudding recipe for three more protein-filled variations of this school breakfast idea.
Chia pudding is a healthy school breakfast idea since it contains fiber, protein, and omega 3s to keep your child’s tummy and brain happy!
When school mornings are rushed, sometimes the only option is to eat breakfast on the move. These muffins are the perfect school breakfast idea for children as they can be consumed easily in the car or at the bus stop.
This recipe has you covered with both a sweet and savory version of this breakfast muffin to satisfy whatever your child desires! Prepare these muffins ahead of time and freeze for busy mornings.
This school breakfast idea is sure to get your child excited about eating fruit in the morning! Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also fun to make and eat. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare making it an excellent choice for a school morning breakfast.
Note: If your child is allergic to peanut butter you may use Wowbutter or an alternate nut or seed butter.
13. Granola & Yogurt Breakfast Popsicles
Tired of traditional breakfast foods? Look no further! These granola and yogurt breakfast popsicles are a creative twist on a yogurt parfait that your kids will adore.
The fruit and granola combinations are endless. This delicious and nutritious school breakfast idea is a fun way to get your picky eaters to consume important nutrients to fuel your child’s day.
Check out these cute popsicle molds.
Like many, I love cereal in the morning. Unfortunately, sometimes cereal can be time consuming to eat. These cereal ice pops are the perfect spin on the classic bowl of cereal.
This school breakfast idea can be consumed on the go and can be made in advance. The recipe also includes greek yogurt which is a great source of protein for your child.
15. High Fiber Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This banana bread is an optimal school breakfast idea that can be prepped in advance. This recipe is simple and delicious – your children will not be disappointed. The high fiber content will not only keep your kids full and satisfied for longer, it’s also good for their gut health.
Once the banana bread is baked and cooled, I would recommend cutting it into slices and freezing it. On busy school mornings you can defrost some banana bread slices for a quick and delicious grab and go school breakfast.
Grab and Go Store Bought Packaged School Breakfast Ideas for Kids
We get it – mornings can be a real struggle, especially when it comes to breakfast. Whether you’re feeling exhausted or just not in the mood to prepare breakfast, we’ve got you covered. These grab and go packaged breakfast ideas can be your savior for those days when you need something extra quick and easy, without compromising on nutrition or taste.
- Cheese sticks
- Babybell cheese
- Black Diamond Combos
- Yogurt cups
- Quaker Lightly Sweetened packaged instant oatmeal
- Kind Minis
- Fairlife protein shakes
- Store-bought hard-boiled eggs
- Egg bakes crustless quiches
- Nature’s Path Buckwheat Waffles
Try Out These Recipes!
Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day! There are a variety of different foods and meals you can prepare whether your child prefers a savory or sweet meal to start their day. School mornings can be busy and overwhelming. Enjoy a smooth start to your day by trying out one of the 15 school breakfast ideas
If you make any of these meal prep recipes tag @accessiblewellness on Instagram or comment below; we would love to see what you have created!
If you liked this article check out some of our other blog posts by clicking the links below!
- 10 High Protein Vegetarian Salads
- The Ultimate Guide to Vitamins for Picky Eaters
- 15 Sautéed Chickpea Recipes to Try Today
- 21 Easy Bedtime Snacks for Kids
- Sunrise Sunset Tropical Smoothie
- Smoothies for Picky Eaters
About Fiona
Hi! My name is Fiona and I am studying nutrition and dietetics at Western University. I love cooking, creating new recipes and learning about the way food can impact our mental and physical health. I am going into my final year of undergrad this fall and I can’t wait to see what opportunities await after I graduate. I’m looking forward to sharing new recipes and providing some education about how to fuel your body effectively!
About Jackie
Jackie is a Toronto-based Registered Dietitian whose mission is to empower and support the neurodivergent and physically disabled communities through nutrition. Jackie runs a virtual private practice and blog which has simple recipes and health information tailored to these communities. She loves cooking, exercising, traveling, journaling, and spending time with family and friends.
About Rivah
Hello! I’m Rivah, a registered dietitian passionate about helping teens and adults with neurodivergence and mental health conditions. Additionally, I support individuals with chronic disease management, plant-based diets, and mindful eating. My counseling approach is weight inclusive, client-centered, and evidence-based where we create realistic nutrition goals, prioritizing physical, mental, and emotional health. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and outdoor activities.