Twenty Mix-n-Match Breakfast Ideas

About author / Christine Gable

Culinary enthusiast; kids cuisine and slow cooking; magazine recipe developer; professional writer. Her simple recipes are great for family dinners.

As you know, I’m all for kids getting their own meal—for building those vital independent, know-your-way-around-a-kitchen skills. And in the morning, I need all the help I can get. Hot, fresh coffee certainly helps the cause too.

Last week I shared that breakfast tends to be my low-point of meal inspiration during the day. No, I don’t really want the kids chowing down on Cap’n Crunch or Frosted Flakes everyday (although yes, you’ll find them in our pantry). I like those sugary cereals to be a once-in-a-while snack—or get this—dessert. They really don’t stick-to-your-ribs and they certainly up anyone’s daily quota of sugar.

So what’s a beleaguered mom or dad to do? We want easy, but we want healthy kids. Do we want too much? I say NO. A quick, healthy morning meal is definitely do-able. It just takes a tad more than buying a box of breakfast cereal at the store. More what, you ask. Money? Time? No, not really those things. Just a little more preparedness.

It can really be narrowed down to three steps:

1. Print and clip the handy list below & post it on the refrigerator door

2. Stock up on healthy choices at the grocery store and market

3. Encourage kids to choose from each category & mix-n-match favorite choices

That’s it, folks. You know I’ve gotta use this list with a mind that feels like Jell-O in the morning. Yes, post this list with red magnets on the refrig door and make sure that the basics are there and back-off. Your kids are destined to surprise you, for sure. Clip this list and you’ll have a head start on feeling organized—and you'll give your kids an early brain boost—this school year.

So here goes – please write and let me know what combinations you like at your house and I’ll be sure to include them in another list. Yes, that’s an SOS for help. Translation: even more helpful hints for the first meal of the day! Thank you, dear readers, in advance.

20 Easy Breakfasts:

1. Cottage cheese with fruit and nuts

2. Cottage cheese with apple butter on whole grain toast

3. Vanilla yogurt with fresh berries

4. Vanilla yogurt with mandarin oranges or pineapple

5. Fruit yogurt with ½ cup of granola

6. Fruit yogurt with toast

7. Whole grain toast (warm) spread with peanut butter, topped with thin apple slices

8. Banana with peanut butter and raisins

9. English muffin, toasted with a pat of butter – topped with a cooked egg and tomato slice

10. English muffin, toasted and topped with ½ slice of salami and cooked egg

11. Whole grain toast topped with scrambled egg with ketchup or Tabasco sauce on the side

12. English muffin, toasted with a pat of butter and topped with crispy bacon and 2 slices of tomato

13. Scrambled eggs with toast

14. 2 Brown-n-serve sausages with toast and one scrambled egg

15. Easy scrambled flavor boost: sprinkle eggs with oregano, basil and garlic salt when cooking

16. Easy scrambled protein boost: toss in grated cheese, ham cut in cubes or diced salami during last minute of cooking

17. Turn breakfast into dessert: in a tall glass, layer yogurt and granola—even some sliced or diced fresh fruit—into a layered sundae.

18. Make a fruit smoothie

19. Pair up one of those easy cereal bars with a vanilla smoothie or with a tall glass of milk

20. Whole grain granola with milk