Quick Breakfast Ideas for Kids

• Oatmeal and fruit compared with a sugar cereal. Lew Robertson/Creatas/Getty Images

  Eating a healthy breakfast is an important way to start the day but when kids are running late for school or the bus there is the double burden of trying to get food into them and quickly. A good breakfast helps children concentrate better at school or have more energy for a soccer game. And parents should model good nutrition by joining their children for breakfast.

Oatmeal

• Get a start on breakfast the night before, soaking steel cut oats or rolled oats in milk, and refrigerating them. In the morning, start cooking the oatmeal while your children change out of their pajamas. In the time they take to put on clothes, the oatmeal will be ready. Top with fresh fruit or applesauce, or sprinkle on some cinnamon. You can also make instant oatmeal but choose one that is made of just oats.

Fruit cocktail

• Stay away from yogurts filled with sugar and serve your kids plain yogurt topped with sliced bananas or berries. The sweetness of the fruit flavors the yogurt naturally. Store some cleaned and sliced strawberries, or whole blueberries, in the refrigerator, so kids can quickly choose their topping. If they like a little crunch in the morning, sprinkle on some granola. Kids over 2 years old should eat low fat or non fat yogurt.

Toast

• A couple of slices of whole grain toast can be grabbed on the way out the door if your child is running late. Toast with natural peanut butter provides fiber and protein on the go. A grilled cheese on fiber-rich bread is also a quick alternative and much healthier than a toaster pastry or muffin. But nut butters will stay with him longer. For variety, try almond, cashew or sunflower butter.

Breakfast Tortilla

• Whole wheat wraps are useful for more than just burritos. Take a wrap (the 8-inch size is best) and spread with natural peanut butter. Put a whole, peeled banana on top and roll it up. The kids can eat this out of their hands on the go or sliced and at the table, with a glass of milk. For a touch of sweetness, add a thin layer of the hazelnut spread, Nutella, or an all-fruit jam.