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Toddler breakfast ideas can disappear from your mind when you need them the most. Yet, a lot of parents will agree that feeding a toddler is often a challenging task. They can be picky and unpredictable eaters who will enjoy a meal today and not want it anywhere near them the next day. Mornings are usually the most complicated for us. I can’t say how many times I’ve had to go back to the fridge and fix a new breakfast plate after the first and even the second plates I made were rejected. With that said, I have worked on some recipes over time that my toddler can hardly resist. I will share them below with the hope that your baby enjoys them too.
#1. Baby Oatmeal with Yogurt and Apple Sauce
This recipe was inspired by the HappyTot pouches which my son loves a lot. I still use store-bought pouches today, but only occasionally such as when traveling. Otherwise, I prefer this much fresher homemade alternative which also contains the essential nutrients. I incidentally came up with this recipe after my go-to grocery store frequently ran out stock of my son’s favorite pouches. I decided to improvise at home and as it turned out, he loved it a lot. For the recipe, I use Gerber Oatmeal Cereal, baby yogurt, and homemade apple sauce. The result is a yummy and much more filling breakfast meal for your little one. Much thicker and better tasting than mixing the oatmeal cereal with just milk. Please check the recipe out through this link.
#2. Teeny-Tiny Pancakes with Milk
Pancakes are a great breakfast item, but have you thought about a more interesting way to make pancakes for your little one? Think of teeny-tiny pancakes, the size that can fit into your toddler’s palm. Kids tend to be fascinated by small items, especially smaller versions of things that are otherwise normally large. Pancakes are no exception, and I discovered that my son absolutely loves the tiny pancakes. And I don’t mind making them either. I mean, do they take more time to make? Sort of. But does my toddler love that they are so small and that he can stuff ‘a whole pancake’ into his mouth? Very much. So, if you ask me, the tiny pancakes are worth the trouble. The recipe for those yummy little pancakes will soon be linked here. PRO TIP: You can make many and store the rest in the freezer for future use. Serve the pancakes with a warm glass of milk, fresh juice, or any other drink that your child loves.
#3. Cerelac with Water or Milk
Another great breakfast option for my toddler was Cerelac. He has now outgrown it and we don’t buy it anymore but there was a time when it was the only thing he wanted for breakfast. Cerelac is a brand of instant cereal that is made by Nestlé. To learn more about this cereal, including its nutritional value, please go here. Cerelac is a quick and easy option for breakfast. All you have to do is warm the liquid base (water or milk – I preferred milk for the added flavor and nutrition) and stir in the cereal and you are good to go. Note: The cereal itself often contains milk already. So, you do not have to use a milk base if you do not want to. Also, take note of the liquid vs cereal measurements to achieve the right consistency.
#4. Eggs, Sausage, and Fresh Tangerine Juice
This is a common breakfast combination worldwide, so I am just here to share my tips and suggestions with you with the hope that one of them may turn out beneficial to you. It has three toddler breakfast ideas altogether.
The Eggs
First, let’s talk about how you prepare your toddler’s eggs. Do you scramble them? Boil them? Whichever method your little one prefers, the most important thing for you to do as the cook is to ensure that the eggs retain their nutritional value so that your baby is actually nourished by them. You want to avoid excessive boiling or frying of eggs which will destroy the nutrients. In addition, texture matters a lot to kids (at least that’s my experience). Make sure your scrambled eggs are soft and full of moisture. That way, they will retain the flavor too. Overcooked eggs tend to be dry, rubbery, and quite bland. Try this recipe for soft and moist scrambled eggs that your toddler will no doubt enjoy. It includes additional instructions on how to make the most perfect scrambled eggs.
The Sausage
Secondly, which type of sausage do you like to feed your toddler? With such a wide variety of sausages available in stores, it can be difficult to choose. I like to go for leaner sausages as opposed to the fatty ones. Also, I go for those with higher protein content because with my toddler’s habit of sometimes taking just a few bites, I know that he still gets a good amount of nutrients in. With that said, turkey sausages turn out to be a better option compared to pork sausages, for instance. According to this article, two turkey sausages contain 19gms of protein while two pork sausages contain only 11gms. Turkey sausages, of course, are also leaner. Other great options for sausages are chicken and beef, and there are vegetarian sausage options as well for you to explore.
The Fresh Juice
Thirdly, do you go with store-bought juice, or do you squeeze fresh juice for your toddler? It is a combination of both for me because to be honest, I cannot prepare fresh juice every single time my son wants juice. Sometimes, he wants it, and he wants it NOW! So, I usually have some back-up juice in the fridge (even though his dentist already scared me into believing that store-bought juice is basically sugar, and that I should not feed him that). I do enjoy making fresh juice for my son, and I do so quite frequently. My preferred fruit is tangerines because of their sweetness and much less tartness compared to oranges. I grab a pack every time I go to the grocery store, and it lasts us a week or more because just 5 tangerines are enough to make a small glass of juice fit for a toddler. Of course, you can use any other fruit options available in your location. Also, get that simple manual juice squeezer if you do not have one already and don’t worry about the electric one. Making fresh juice for your little one is much easier than you think.
#5. Jelly Sandwich, Boiled Eggs, and Milk.
This final meal of the five toddler breakfast ideas is quite straightforward. First, prepare a jelly sandwich with your toddler’s favorite type of bread. Mine loves brioche and I love that bread too. It is sweet, often fresh, and packed with nutrients. Any other choice of bread would work just fine. Note that you can substitute or combine jelly with butter, margarine, or any other spread that your baby loves. PRO TIP: Cut the sandwich up in cute shapes using cookie cutters or any other tool (think: a heart, a star, a bear, etc). Such little things make kids super happy, and they will enjoy the sandwich more. Secondly, for boiled eggs, you should boil them just enough (10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs). Do not overboil them and destroy the nutrients. Do not underboil them either because runny or soft-boiled eggs are not recommended for kids due to the risks (e.g., salmonella) that could arise.
That’s it. Five toddler breakfast ideas that are both yummy and healthy for your toddler. Besides, none is too complicated to make. To see more of my toddler recipes, including awesome lunch and dinner ideas, please visit this page.
