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What are Some Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Children?
Margo Upson
Margo Upson
A healthy breakfast is a great way to start the day. It can help to wake up, refresh, and get a child ready for the day. Studies have proven that a good breakfast, full of healthy choices, can help a child perform better at school. A healthy breakfast can also help to combat child obesity, as people who eat a full breakfast tend to consume fewer calories during the rest of the day.
There are many healthy breakfast ideas for kids. A healthy breakfast contains selections from multiple food groups. Whole grain toast, a fruit, and a bowl of vitamin-rich cereal is one option. Eggs, especially omelets with cheese and vegetables, are another.
One of the best healthy breakfast ideas is homemade oatmeal. This is not the flavored stuff in the packets. Real oatmeal contains nutrients, helps prevent cancer, and is full of fiber. Oatmeal can be flavored in any number of ways, with peanut butter, fruit, or anything else your children might enjoy. Apple and cinnamon and maple with brown sugar are two popular choices that are easy to make.
A fresh fruit salad, served with milk and toast, is a great healthy breakfast idea for children who want something a little sweeter. Cut-up apples, pears, pineapple, strawberries, bananas and grapes provide a great breakfast option. For a sweeter touch, mix in a little honey. Yogurt can be mixed in, or served on the side.
For more original healthy breakfast ideas, try a breakfast taco or quesadilla. Filled with eggs, cheese, sausage, and vegetables, these breakfast options are fun for kids. Served with fruit, peanut butter toast, and a glass of milk, it is part of a complete breakfast. Another fun idea is to serve a banana, smothered with peanut butter, in a whole wheat bun. Sprinkle on some raisins, and serve with milk.
There are many healthy options for breakfasts on the go. Fresh fruit is a great idea. So is a yogurt cup or tube. Cheese cubes are another option. Trail mix or whole grain muffins are some other healthy breakfast ideas for kids.
Healthy breakfast ideas for kids are easy to find. Make the food interesting, such as the breakfast taco or personalized oatmeal, and kids won’t even notice that they are eating healthy food. Eating a healthy breakfast is essential for growing bodies. Starting the morning right can be the first step to a great day.
Margo Upson
Margo has a varied academic background, which has involved everything from psychology and culinary arts to criminal justice and education. These wide-ranging interests make her an ideal WiseGEEK writer, as she always enjoys becoming an expert on new and unfamiliar topics.
Learn more...
Margo Upson
Margo has a varied academic background, which has involved everything from psychology and culinary arts to criminal justice and education. These wide-ranging interests make her an ideal WiseGEEK writer, as she always enjoys becoming an expert on new and unfamiliar topics.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Sliced apples can be part of a healthy breakfast.]()
By: tesgroSliced apples can be part of a healthy breakfast. -
![Raisins can make a sweet, healthy addition to a kid's breakfast.]()
By: DionisveraRaisins can make a sweet, healthy addition to a kid's breakfast. -
![Oatmeal is a healthy, easy to cook breakfast meal.]()
By: Africa StudioOatmeal is a healthy, easy to cook breakfast meal. -
![Fresh fruit is good in the morning.]()
By: oksun70Fresh fruit is good in the morning. -
![A pear may be sliced and enjoyed during breakfast.]()
By: Lana LangloisA pear may be sliced and enjoyed during breakfast. -
![Whole wheat options are typically more nutritious.]()
By: PrintempsWhole wheat options are typically more nutritious. -
![Whole grain waffles are a healthy breakfast option for kids.]()
By: VoyagerixWhole grain waffles are a healthy breakfast option for kids. -
![Honey, instead of pancake syrup, is a perfect topping for hot cereals, waffles, and French toast.]()
By: Sergii MoscaliukHoney, instead of pancake syrup, is a perfect topping for hot cereals, waffles, and French toast. -
![A homemade blueberry bread that is low in sugar is a healthy breakfast item.]()
By: dolphy_tvA homemade blueberry bread that is low in sugar is a healthy breakfast item. -
![The right kind of breakfast cereal that's low in sugar and high in vitamins can make for a healthy breakfast for a child.]()
By: Tatyana GladskihThe right kind of breakfast cereal that's low in sugar and high in vitamins can make for a healthy breakfast for a child. -
![Eggs can be made into a variety of healthy breakfast options.]()
By: goodween123Eggs can be made into a variety of healthy breakfast options. -
![A fresh fruit salad is a good choice for children who want a sweeter breakfast.]()
By: pilipphotoA fresh fruit salad is a good choice for children who want a sweeter breakfast. -
![Fruits, such as bananas, can be healthy options for kids' breakfasts.]()
By: WavebreakMediaMicroFruits, such as bananas, can be healthy options for kids' breakfasts. -
![A piece of savory quiche that is stuffed with fresh veggies provides a nutritious breakfast that can be eaten on the run.]()
By: AnticicloA piece of savory quiche that is stuffed with fresh veggies provides a nutritious breakfast that can be eaten on the run. -
![Bananas are healthy and provide natural energy.]()
By: Tim URBananas are healthy and provide natural energy.
Discussion Comments
@Mor - One alternative to juice your kids might like is a breakfast smoothie. I've found kids almost always love them and you can basically put in whatever healthy stuff you like and they will still drink it!
I put in a bit of wheatgerm and algae powder, although not enough to make it taste strange. Pop in a few bananas and some yogurt and maybe some berry fruit (blueberries in particular are packed with all kinds of good nutrients).
I try to give them some toast as well though, so that they get some more carbs into their systems. And try not to give in and sweeten it with sugar, because you're much better off using bananas or some other kind of fruit.
@umbra21 - That sounds like a good idea, except I don't think kids should really be given juice.
I know that it sounds like a quick, healthy breakfast idea, and after all, it is concentrated fruit, so it must be good, right?
And it does have some good stuff in it, particularly if you get the kind of juice that isn't full of sugar.
But, fruit juice is the worst thing you can put near your teeth, unfortunately. It can strip the enamel right off of them. It's just too acidic.
You are way better off giving your kids actual fruit, rather than juice. That way they'll get to have the fiber as well.
I think the best breakfast options, for anyone let alone children, is to try and have a mix of complex carbohydrates, protein and vitamin rich foods.
That sounds complicated but it really isn't. If you have, for example, oatmeal with some yogurt mixed in, and a piece of fruit on the side, that would do it.
Or boiled eggs on toast with milk or juice.
It's important to make sure they get some protein though, because otherwise they might burn through the breakfast too quickly and feel tired before they get to lunch, and kids who feel tired aren't going to be learning very much.
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