Eating a healthy breakfast helps fuel children throughout their day. These classic kid favorites are easy to make and contain whole grains that are great for their growing bodies.
Did you know that all grains start out as whole grains? A whole grain is simply a grain that contains all three parts of the kernel. The healthiest grain you can eat, whole grains are packed with important nutrients like carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower the risk of heart disease while keeping the bowels regular and the stomach feeling full. They also help children’s bodies absorb iron, helping them grow big and strong.
For this recipe, you can choose rolled oats, steel-cut oats, quick oats, or instant oats.
Ingredients
3½ cups water
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 medium-sized apples, cored and chopped
2 cups 1% low-fat milk, nonfat milk, or nondairy milk such as soy, almond, oat, or rice milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends whole milk for children under 2 and reduced-fat milk for children 2 and older.
½ cup raisins (optional)
Preparation
In a saucepan, combine the water, salt, and cinnamon, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Stir in the oats and apples, turn down the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Spoon the oatmeal into individual bowls and add 1/4 cup of milk to each bowl. Sprinkle with raisins if your child is 18 months or older and cinnamon if desired.
Quick to make, French toast is a good way to use leftover or stale bread, and making it is a fun family activity.
Ingredients
¾ cup 1% low-fat milk, nonfat milk, or nondairy milk such as soy, almond, oat, or rice milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends whole milk for children under 2 and reduced-fat milk for children 2 and older.
2 eggs
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons canola, vegetable, or other healthy cooking oil
6 slices whole wheat bread cut into rectangles
Low-sugar jam for serving (optional). The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends limiting the amount of sugar children eat. Sugar-free options are a great way to reduce the amount of sugar in a meal.
Preparation
In a bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and cinnamon, and whisk or stir together until blended.
In a frying pan, warm 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat.
One at a time, dip the bread pieces in the egg mixture and leave for about 20 seconds until they are coated with the egg mixture. As you remove each piece, let the excess egg mixture drip back into the bowl.
Place the bread pieces in the hot oil and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. As the pieces are ready, transfer them to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan as needed to prevent sticking. Repeat until all of the bread is cooked.
Serve the toast with the jam for spreading on top, if desired.
For more fast, healthy, child-friendly recipe ideas, you can download our free cookbook or read it online.
