25 Easy Toddler Breakfast Ideas Even Picky Kids will Love

Start the day with easy toddler breakfast ideas! From make ahead and freeze solutions to meals you can serve on the go, these breakfast ideas for toddlers are great for kids of all ages. The variety here will satisfy even picky eaters!

I think breakfast is the most challenging meal for parents of toddlers. And coming up with breakfast ideas for toddlers sometimes feels impossible.

Because, remember when your little one was a baby and you didn’t have to think about that first meal of the day? When he or she just needed breastmilk or a bottle to get the day started? Those days were so easy.

Now we have to come up with ideas and plans and portions. We have to know nutritional information and think about balanced meals and starting the day.

There’s all sorts of pressure in the “most important meal of the day” when you’re doing your best to raise a happy and healthy child. In short, it’s a whole new world of things, and sometimes it feels overly complicated.

But I’ve got you covered! These breakfast ideas for toddlers will give you everything you need to put the right foods together to start your child’s day.

I promise, it’s easier than it seems. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have all the information necessary to feed your little one breakfast for their entire time as a toddler!

Love breakfast? Make this french toast casserole or this delicious sour cream coffee cake next weekend!

What should a toddler eat for breakfast?

Hold on, breakfast ideas for toddlers are coming, but first lets answer the most basic question: what should a toddler eat for breakfast?

We’ll follow that up by answering:

• How much should a toddler eat for breakfast?
• How much is a toddler serving size?

What should a toddler eat for breakfast? About balanced meals

Instead of jumping into different recipes and meal ideas, let’s talk about the what a healthy breakfast for toddlers includes:

• Fruits or vegetables
• Grains
• Protein
• Dairy (or plant-based alternatives)

Healthy fat is also important, so there’s a section about it below. Fat is naturally in one of the main categories (usually dairy or protein, but sometimes vegetables), but I want to make sure you know about it.

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits or vegetables is self-explanatory. Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables are great, but you don’t have to limit yourself to only produce for this one. You can also serve frozen or canned fruits and veggies, along with unsweetened, dried fruit.

Grains

Grains are the foods made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or other grains. They include bread, pasta, cereal, and tortillas, along with corn, cooked rice and oatmeal.

In general, foods made with 100% whole grains are better than those made from refined grains.

Protein

Protein includes all food made from meat, poultry and seafood. Eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy products are also included.

If you or your child don’t eat animal products, you should only include beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, soy products and other protein-rich plant-based foods.

Dairy

Dairy includes these calcium and vitamin D-rich foods: milk, plant-based milk or another milk alternative, yogurt, plant-based yogurt, greek yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese.

Foods made from milk that don’t contain much calcium and vitamin D are not included here. Butter, sour cream and cream cheese shouldn’t be considered dairy.

Healthy fats

Healthy fats are almost always part of the protein or dairy categories. Fats are important because they’re essential for growth and brain development. Plus, fat is fuel for the body – it’s great for keeping energy levels up. (source)

These are some foods from other categories that include healthy fat:

• Whole milk
• Avocado
• Peanut butter
• Nut butter
• Seed butter
• Cheese
• Meats
• Poultry
• Some fish
• Nuts
• Seeds

Ideally, the balanced breakfast will include foods from three of those categories.

That means if your toddler drinks milk and eats a some fruit along with toast with peanut butter, breakfast has been served!

Another quick healthy toddler breakfast idea that includes 3 of those food categories is a bowl of whole grain cereal with whole milk and banana slices on top.

How many calories should a toddler have for breakfast?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (via their HealthyChildren.org site), a child between the ages of 1 and 3 years old needs an average of 1300 calories per day.

And even that’s not a set in stone number. The Boston Children’s Hospital site and the US Department of Agriculture both state that a typical toddler needs about 1000 calories per day for normal growth.

That amount can vary based on the size of your child, activity level and other specific details, so read the source article before making any decisions about this.

Given all that information, a toddler breakfast calorie count can vary between about 150 to 500 calories.

Instead of focusing on the number of calories in the meal, it’s best to think about if the breakfast is balanced and if your toddler is eating until they’re satisfied.

How much should a toddler eat for breakfast?

I’ve known some toddlers who eat big breakfasts, and some who wouldn’t eat more than half a banana and a small glass of milk.

So the number of calories and the volume of food in a toddler’s breakfast isn’t going to be the same for every child out there.

Instead, let’s again be sure we’re focusing on making sure your toddler gets the right foods in the morning, and that he or she is eating enough to feel full.

Toddler serving sizes

• 1 ounce of meat
• 2-3 tablespoons of cooked beans
• 1-3 tablespoons vegetables (cut into bite-size pieces)
• 1-3 tablespoons fruit (cut into bite-size pieces)
• 1/4 slice of bread
• 1/2 cup of whole milk

Here’s are a few general way to think about toddler servings:

1. Toddler serving sizes are about 1/4 of an adult serving.
2. Serve 1 tablespoon of cooked, chopped vegetables for each year of age.
3. Include 1/2 cup of milk at each meal and at one snack.

The source for all this information from the HealthyChildren.org website, which is provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Tips for making kid-friendly breakfast recipes

Picky toddlers or not, there’s something especially challenging about mornings.

There’s just a lot a parent has to do for herself and a lot the parent has to do for their child. Sometimes a quick breakfast is necessary to keep everyone on schedule

So here are a few tips for making toddler breakfast time go smoothly:

Make your own ground rules

I’ve found that, as a mom, a good morning for my kids (and for me!) makes for a better day altogether. So, a long time ago, I decided that I was going to make breakfast with my toddler as easy as possible.

What did that mean? I made some goals for breakfasts:

1. breakfast should be a happy time.
2. Breakfast shouldn’t (usually) involve crying.

How did I accomplish these goals? I made a few rules:

1. It’s ok to have a routine and eat the same or similar foods most mornings.
2. Don’t change the routine on mornings when we have appointments or plans.
3. Don’t introduce more than one new food at one time.
4. Always introduce something new while also serving something familiar.
5. Project enthusiasm, but never expect the first introduction to a new food to go well.

Freeze some breakfast meals ahead of time

Your future self will thank you If you batch cook a few foods, portion them out and put them in the freezer. These make-ahead breakfasts can then be quick thawed in the microwave or overnight thawed in the refrigerator when you need them on busy mornings.

We’ll get to better recipes below, but here are a few make-ahead-and-freeze toddler breakfast ideas:

• Mini pancakes
• French toast
• Smoothies
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Mini muffins
• Egg scrambles in muffin tins
• Breakfast pizza
• Baked oatmeal

Plan some to-go meals

Routines are great. I love routines. But sometimes things change. Or don’t go to plan. Or plans go entirely out the window.

And that’s all ok. Preparing for the unexpected is like, one of the life lessons of being a mom or dad.

Feeling even slightly prepared with a backup plan of to-go breakfasts when you need to leave the house and no one has eaten will allow you to breathe. You also just might feel like you’re winning at this parenting thing.

For me, to go meals always include a sippy cup of milk. Then one or two easy foods or simple ingredients that could be tossed in a snack cup or ziplock baggie.

These foods always work well on the go:

• Dry cereal
• Healthy mini muffins
• Dried fruit
• Crackers
• Cheese cubes
• Bite-size cold cuts

Use kid-friendly dishes

Maybe this goes without saying, but one way to make a meal extra kid-friendly is to use dishes that are made for small people.

Divided sections, suction cups, grips and non-breakable materials are all great qualities for toddler dishes to have!

Here are a few ideas for great dishes you’ll use for years:

WeeSprout Suction Plates for Babies & ToddlersCheck PriceROCCED Silicone Suction Crab PlateCheck PriceBumkins Silicone Grip DishCheck Price

 

Toddler breakfast ideas

Now that we’ve covered some general tips for making breakfast time with toddlers easier, let’s get to the toddler breakfast ideas!

Toddler breakfast idea: whole grain muffins (with fruit or vegetables)

Muffins are great because they’re a super easy way to pack a lot of nutrition into a few bites. The most popular muffins (blueberry, apple, banana nut) already have fruit (and sometimes protein) baked in!

Here are a few muffin recipes that are packed with fruits or vegetables.

1. Morning Glory muffins with carrots, apples, coconut, walnuts, sunflower seeds and wheat germ. Reviews say you can cut the sugar in half without losing the sweetness.
   
   
2. Healthy chocolate zucchini muffins – it looks like you can leave the chocolate chips out of this recipe if you want.
   
   
3. Spinach banana muffins – I like this recipe because it offers lots of ingredient substitutes to show you what will work from your own pantry.
   
   
4. Spinach muffins – This recipe includes strawberries, bananas, greek yogurt and peanut butter. It’s a whole meal!

Toddler breakfast idea: smoothies

Smoothies are not just a refreshing drinkable meal. They’re also a fantastic way to pack in essential nutrients. Blend together a variety of fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and milk or a milk alternative.

If your toddler has no problem eating fruit but they balk at vegetables, smoothies are a great way to sneak a few more veggies into their day.

Pour the smoothie into a spill-proof cup or reusable pouch for an on-the-go breakfast.

Here are some more winning smoothie breakfast ideas:

1. Try our green smoothie for toddler recipe
2. Pumpkin smoothie recipe
3. Strawberry and spinach smoothie
4. Mango and pineapple smoothie
5. Avocado and banana smoothie

Favorite toddler breakfast idea: snack plate / charcuterie

No one said that breakfast has to be traditional. Put together a divided plate with sections of bite size food. Think of it like a toddler charcuterie board!

This is also great meal idea that can also be used for lunch and dinner.

Here are a few ideas for what can go on the plate:

• Cheese
• Cold cuts or deli meat
• Shredded chicken
• Cottage cheese
• Sliced grapes
• chopped fruits
• Chopped vegetables
• Crackers with or without peanut butter
• Dry cereal
• Chopped hard boiled egg
• Scrambled eggs

Toddlers love this. Let’s be real, most people of any age get excited about a snack plate! Honestly, my own lunch looks something like this most days.

Easy breakfast idea for toddlers: cereal with milk

There are a few ways to serve toddlers traditional cold cereal for breakfast.

1. If your little one wants to feed themselves or if they really love cereal with milk, pour the milk over the cereal and let it sit for a few minutes so the milk soaks in.
   
   
2. Your toddler can also have dry cereal with a cup of milk on the side.
   
   
3. Put chopped fruit on top or serve it alongside the cereal for added variety.

Your best bet is to find low sugar cereal that also has some fiber for added fullness. Kashi Go cereals are a great option because they have a hint of sweetness, and we also really like Wheat Chex.

Breakfast idea: baked oatmeal

Baked oatmeal is a wonderful invention. I’m guessing it was first made by someone who realized kids would happily eat cake for breakfast.

I’m joking. Haven’t we all realized kids would happily eat cake for breakfast?

This brown sugar baked oatmeal recipe has milk, eggs and oatmeal, with some brown sugar to sweeten it.

There are a few ways to change up a baked oatmeal recipe into something different:

• Add chopped nuts and chopped apples or mashed bananas before baking it.
• Top the baked dish with sliced fruit or berries.

The combination makes for a filling breakfast, and the flavor could be described as an “oatmeal cookie-cake”.

Breakfast Idea: Pancakes

Pancakes are one of those foods that can go the distance. I usually associate them with a leisurely breakfast or brunch at home, but really, pancakes a toddler mom’s secret weapon.

For a fun twist on a breakfast favorite, make these baked pancake mix donuts! They’re easy to make ahead and great for breakfast to-go.

First, don’t overthink this. You can use a complete pancake mix as your base. That’s the “just add water” variety that already has milk and egg added to the mix. So there’s already protein in there. Then, you can add in your own fruits, vegetables and proteins to the batter before cooking.

Mix in measurements for pancakes

Unless otherwise stated, you’ll want to add about 1/3 cup of mix-ins for every cup of pancake mix, OR 1/2 cup of mix-ins for every 1 1/2 cups of pancake mix you use.

Mix in Ideas for pancakes

Here are 12 different suggestions for adding ingredients to pancakes for your toddler:

• Banana slices
• Mashed banana
• Cottage cheese (1/4 cup of cottage cheese added to 1 cup of pancake mix)
• Peanut butter (3 tablespoons peanut butter per cup of pancake mix)
• Zucchini
• Applesauce
• Blueberries
• Peaches (drain and chop canned peaches)
• Pineapple (drained and chopped)
• Pumpkin puree
• Shredded carrots
• Chopped nuts

Pancake variation: mini pancakes

They’re like pancakes, but smaller. Silver dollar pancakes are a thing, and they’re usually about 2-3 inches across.

But you can go smaller. Make your pancakes the size of a nickel or a quarter and you’ll have ready-made finger food for your toddler. You can even serve these to-go style if you’re looking for a breakfast on the road.

Toddler breakfast idea: make and freeze oatmeal cups

Did you know you can make oatmeal and freeze it? Even better, it can be prepared, measured into individual portions, then frozen for easy serving.

You can even use instant oatmeal for this. Just do what works for you.

You’re going to be freezing the oatmeal in a muffin tin, and the directions below are for a 6 cup tin. Double the recipe if you use a 12 cup muffin pan.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Prepare oatmeal as directed on the package. You’ll need 2 cups of cooked oatmeal.
2. Add in about 1/2 cup of your toddler’s favorite oatmeal mix-ins and toppings.
3. Line your muffin tin with cupcake liners
4. Scoop 1/3 cup of oatmeal into each muffin cavity.
5. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen cups into a ziplock freezer bag for storage.

Your frozen oatmeal will keep for about 3 months in the freezer.

Use your microwave to thaw 1 oatmeal cup in a microwave-safe bowl for 15-30 seconds on high. Stir and continue in 15 second intervals until it’s no longer frozen.

Make ahead oatmeal mix-in ideas

I love that fruit seems to get even juicier and more flavorful if it’s frozen and thawed, and that flavor spreads while the oats absorb it nicely to when you use this method.

• strawberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• mango
• chopped nuts
• peanut butter
• Jam
• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Applesauce

Toddler breakfast idea – Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are a variation on the frozen oatmeal idea from the last section. Except you don’t need to cook anything when you make overnight oats.

Another benefit to overnight oats is that they usually end up nice and thick, so they’re perfect for toddlers that like to hold their own spoon.

A final benefit to overnight oats is that you can thicken them or fortify them naturally. Try adding chia seeds or a bit of greek yogurt to get the consistency right, then add fruit for flavor.

Overnight oats for toddlers recipe

Put the following ingredients into a small jar:

• 2 tablespoons rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• 1/4 cup milk (plant based milk works)
• 1 tablespoon fruit, smashed or finely chopped

Tightly cover the jar and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve and watch your toddler enjoy it.

Toddler breakfast idea: French toast

French toast is such an underrated, easy breakfast for toddlers. Plain french toast is great, and you can even make this sweet potato french toast if you want to pack some veggies in.

Here’s why:

• It’s as few as 2 ingredients
• It’s a 3 step recipe
• it can be cut into sticks or bites
• It’s done in 5 minutes or less
• It can be made ahead of time and frozen
• Everyone loves it!

How to make french toast:

1. Spray a small frying pan with nonstick spray and heat it on medium.
2. While your pan is heating, lightly beat 1 egg in a shallow bowl. Add a pinch of cinnamon, if you want.
3. Dip 1 or two slices of whole grain bread into the egg mixture, and flip to coat. Fry in the frying pan until both sides are golden.

Do you have a favorite toddler breakfast idea that I didn’t cover? Did you try one of these recipes with your own family? I’d love to hear about it! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.