"If you asked my toddler, she would definitely agree breakfast—a bonus when they’re mostly healthy breakfasts—is the most important meal of the day. While she’s a picky eater when it comes to lunch and dinner, my 20-month-old will happily scarf down a three-course meal for breakfast—or several rounds of Cheerios if given the chance. Because she is such a breakfast lover, I always try to have something healthy and hearty on hand so we can both start our day off right.
Sometimes this is easier said than done and mornings can often feel rushed (see above mentioned bottomless Cheerios breakfast). To help feel prepared, I often brainstorm and prep a week’s worth of breakfasts over the weekend so they will be ready to go come Monday morning.
I can’t say I’m always on top of this task, but when I am, the rest of the day feels more manageable. If you’d like to prep breakfast for yourself and your little ones, here are some simple and healthy ideas to try.
1. Sweet Potato Turkey Hash
Having healthy breakfasts all the time can be hard, but let’s hash out your morning with a sweet potato turkey hash bowl that consists of sausage or chorizo, kale, and roasted sweet potatoes topped with some eggs. This dish definitely falls into the healthy and hearty category I’m going for. There’s a variety of colors, and don’t forget, ground turkey is a great option if you’re wanting a substitute for the sausage or chorizo. It’s also noted that it’s best when you make the eggs right before you serve it.
2. Protein Pudding
I’m always struggling to get enough protein throughout the day, especially when it’s packed with kids activities and on-the-go meals. I was intrigued when I read that this cup of pudding has 45 grams of protein in it. The plain Greek yogurt transforms into something not so plain that it may have you wanting breakfast for dinner too.
3. Egg Frittata
If at the end of the weekend you find yourself with an excess of vegetables you had forgotten about, a hearty frittata is the perfect thing to make. While you can theme your frittatas (like a Greek or Mexican-inspired flavor profile), you can also toss in whatever you have in your kitchen and it will (usually) still turn out great.
4. Roasted Air Fryer Carrots
I usually correlate fruit with breakfast, but breakfast can be spruced up with some veggies to start off your day. Serve your carrots as a side with your sausage or eggs. The airfryer gives it a little crunch with its sweetness, and can I mention they’re linked to a range of health benefits?
5. Healthy Morning Glory Breakfast Muffins
It’s all in the name. Who wouldn’t want to start off their day with a “morning glory” affirmation? This 20 minute breakfast idea is hearty and filled with ingredients that make it nutritious. These muffins are naturally sweet with the use of maple syrup and honey.
6. Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Oatmeal is a pretty quick breakfast, but even the act of turning on the stove in the morning is just too much to deal with (especially with little ones running around). Instead of a hot oatmeal breakfast, go for a chilled overnight oats mix instead. Use mason jars to portion out the oats. If you want to prep for later in the week, on Sunday you can fill the mason jars with the dry ingredients of your choice (oats, dried berries, seeds, etc.) and then add your milk of choice the night before you plan to serve/eat it.
7. Apple Chia Seed Pudding
Similar to the above, chia pudding bowls are easy to prep and give you a wide range of flavors to choose from. Plus, they are very toddler-friendly. Like overnight oats, you can do most of the prep work several days in advance; then the night before you plan to serve the pudding, add the milk and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Wake up to a delicious and filling pudding.
8. Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
This one is a personal favorite of mine, and though I tend to make a batch big enough to last a full week, it never lasts that long (we all want seconds!). An oatmeal bake is the perfect way to use up fruit that is starting to get a little past its prime, or simply dig into your frozen fruit stash instead. I use the basic recipe below but switch up the fruit options depending on what I have available.
9. Pork & Sage Breakfast Patties
These sage breakfast patties are a step up from the plain ones you may be accustomed to. Packed with flavor and only eight ingredients, you’ve got a great source of tasty protein. This would pair great with eggs or maybe, make it into a breakfast sandwich.
10. Blueberry Almond Tart
After taking a bite into this tart, you may be shocked that this recipe uses cream cheese, greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and honey instead of your typical sugared icing. It only takes 15 minutes to prep, and maybe only 2 minutes to devour.
11. Sweet Potato Hashbrown Waffles
We love whipping up waffles and pancakes on the weekend, but that deliciousness should definitely extend beyond Sunday morning. If you’re already making waffles or pancakes, simply double (or even triple) your quantity and freeze the leftovers in freezer bags, ready to defrost at any point in the week. Try this recipe for a unique (and healthy) spin!
12. Blueberry Overnight Oats
What I love about overnight oats is that you can swap the blueberries with a different fruit for some variety throughout the week. Your future self will be thankful you prepped a non-microwavable meal to get you out the door for the day. Plus, breakfast in a cute, little mason jar has me wanting to make these with how portable they are.
13. Freezer Breakfast Burritos
Burritos for breakfast always seem like such a decadent choice, but when made with loads of vegetables, these can be quite healthy. Plus, they are filling and warming for cold mornings throughout the year.
14. Brownie Energy Bites
I know there are plenty of us who have said more than once, “I’m just not a breakfast person.” This doesn’t change that fact that breakfast is uniquely important, and there are countless benefits to having something in your stomach before we down three iced coffees. It’s because of this that I love energy balls that are easy to make and grab on the go, hearty enough, and don’t taste anything like your typical breakfast food.
15. Blueberry Breakfast Sausages
If you ask me, there is nothing better than a savory and sweet combination. These blueberry breakfast sausages marry the two flavors in the most unique, delicious way. This recipe includes simple ingredients and is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 (the whole package!). Whip them up on Sunday and reheat them throughout the week.
16. French Toast Casserole
Good news! French toast doesn’t have to be reserved for just the weekends. This casserole recipe ensures you can have your favorite breakfast meal any day of the week. We can’t think of a better way to start a weekday!
17. Ham and Egg Breakfast Quesadilla
Who said quesadillas have to be reserved for your favorite Mexican restaurant? Ensure everyday is as great as taco Tuesday with these ham and egg breakfast quesadillas. Put them together and cook them on the weekend and freeze them to have throughout the week. These are great for the whole family because they can be completely customized by adding everyone’s favorite ingredients.
18. Pumpkin Blueberry Breakfast Bars
Who says you can’t have pumpkin all year round? Making the same breakfast everyday can get monotonous, but this creative recipe may spruce up your morning to get you out of the breakfast funk. Don’t be surprised if your kids eat half a batch in one sitting. It may be your cue to double the amount.
19. Cowboy Breakfast Skillet
Every now and then we need a hearty breakfast. If you’ve got a busy day ahead, start it with a breakfast full of protein, veggies, and tons of flavor. These breakfast skillets are great to whip up and save for those bigs days. Put those meal prep containers you bought on Black Friday to good use!
20. Lemon Almond Poppy Seed Bread
This lemon almond poppy seed bread is fluffy and light. It may be sweet, but don’t let that fool you because it has some great ingredients like coconut oil; and maple syrup, and you can use non-dairy milk. Try these if you’re wanting a pretty aesthetic for breakfast.
21. Breakfast Egg Muffins
For those of us going the low-carb, high-protein route these days, eggs have become our best friends. That also means that we’ll quickly grow tired of scrambled eggs every morning. These egg muffins are a great way to mix things up without compromising on protein. Plus, they can be customized with all of your favorite additions.
22. Breakfast Pizza
There’s something about pizza that’s almost always better when reheated. We happen to believe the same is true about breakfast pizza. This is the perfect recipe to make on a Sunday and keep on hand to eat throughout the week.
23. Ham and Cheese Puffs
For those of who are always envious of our little one’s Hot Pockets, fear not. We can make the at-home version with these delicious ham and cheese puffs! These are great to keep on hand in the freezer for when you want an easy, delicious meal.
24. No-Bake Breakfast Cookies
Who said cookies aren’t for breakfast? (OK, maybe we did once or twice). But these aren’t just any cookies. They’re healthy, hearty, and so easy to make. Have a ‘baking’ day with your little ones on Sunday and make these so you can have them throughout the week.
25. Spinach Muffins
Muffins are always a great option to grab on the go, and the best part is that they don’t always have to be full of sugar. These healthy spinach muffins are sweetened with bananas and honey. Even the pickiest of eaters will get their veggies in with this recipe!
26. Ham and Cheese Sliders
A sandwich is appealing when you have multiple mouths to feed in the morning. No need for a spoon or fork because your ingredients are packed into layers of bite-sized goodness. The use of Hawaiian rolls also provides a quick way to avoid assembling the sandwiches individually.
27. Lighter Peanut Butter Cup Granola
A healthy and hearty breakfast is always a great way to start the day. We can’t think of a better way to get that than with homemade granola. Use this recipe to make some delicious peanut butter granola and put it over yogurt or a smoothie bowl, or eat it on its own in the morning throughout the week.
28. Breakfast Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stuffed bell peppers might just be one of my favorite go-to dinners for a weeknight. This recipe takes the tasty dinner dish and makes it into the perfect breakfast you can make ahead of time and reheat when you want to eat.
29. Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies
Start your day off right with a healthy and delicious breakfast. If your household goes nuts when you make tasty zucchini bread, make their entire week by whipping up some of these zucchini bread breakfast cookies.
30. Breakfast Pizza Sticks
Picky eaters will love this option! This delicious recipe includes pizza dough filled with eggs, bacon, and cheese—all the best parts of breakfast pizza in a fun, new way. Have your little ones help customize this recipe so everyone can enjoy it throughout the week.
