Easy Breakfasts for Back to School

a view looking into a single peanut butter banana smoothie sitting on a kitchen counter with bananas in the background. — Photo:
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Kids and adults who eat breakfast every morning experience less stress and have a higher quality of health life, compared to breakfast-skippers, according to research. So what your mom always told you — breakfast is the most important meal of the day — stands the test of time.

But with all the good intentions you may have, putting forth a wholesome, warm, filling breakfast every morning may seem akin to climbing a mountain, and possibly without your shoes. Amid the hurry and hustle of pre-school routines, a quality breakfast can easily fall by the wayside, but it doesn't have to.

These breakfast foods are so good your kids will be happy to eat them — and you'll be glad to see them to begin their day with a hearty start.

01 of 07

Hard-Boiled Eggs

No, they're not scrambled or fried, but hard-boiled eggs are just as filling and healthful as their flatter brethren. Even better? You can make perfect hard-boiled eggs at the start of each week, and grab an egg or two every morning for breakfast.

If your kid likes a little more flavor or warmth, plop each egg into a hot cup of water for a few minutes. (Don't microwave them—they'll explode.) Then halve each egg, sprinkle with cheese, and microwave a few seconds to melt the topping.Other delicious topping options: ketchup, sriracha, smoked salt, hot sauce, soy sauce.

Try these recipes:

02 of 07

Smoothies

Like hard-boiled eggs, you can do a bit of prep work to make morning smoothies even easier. To do that, you just need to pick your smoothie recipes for the week and make smoothie freezer packs: in a zip-top bag, freeze any fruit ahead of time. Then, when time comes to blend up breakfast, plop the frozen ingredients into a blender, pour over milk or juice, and whir to creamy, silky consistency.

Try these recipes:

03 of 07

Pancakes or Waffles

Oatmeal Pancakes II with strawberries — lutzflcat

There's no way you have time to eat pancakes or waffles with syrup and all accoutrement, right? Wrong. Here again you can make breakfast ahead of time and do a bit of morning work to get them ready for your crew to consume.

When you're ready to eat, take out what your family needs and warm on half power for several minutes. You can then sit down and eat, forks, plates, and all. Or you can grab them, smear a bit of peanut butter or jam on them, and jet out the door.

Try these recipes:

04 of 07

Granola Bar

The ultimate grab-and-go snack can also make for a fast and filling breakfast—and one that's packed with whole grains, fruit, and protein. You can make your own so you can control the ingredients (and the sugar). Then, keep them wrapped individually so your kids can grab one while getting dressed or before standing at the bus stop.

Try these recipes:

05 of 07

Muffins

Here again, you can get ahead of the healthy breakfast struggle by making a whole batch of muffins on the weekend, or one night after dinner. Then, dole them out every morning with a piece of fruit for a fast and delicious breakfast. Read how to make bakery-style muffins from scratch so you can make the best, most moist, and tender muffins.

Try these recipes:

06 of 07

Overnight Oats

Before you tuck your kids into bed, bring them into the kitchen to make tomorrow's breakfast. Set out oats, yogurt or milk, dried fruit, nut butter, frozen fruit, and any other fixing your family loves in their overnight oats. Then, each person gets to mix up their own jar, pop it in the fridge, and then rise and shine to a fully personalized breakfast. Because they're already in jars, you can even grab a spoon and head out the door.

Try these recipes:

07 of 07

More Kid-Approved Breakfast Ideas

Kiwi Wraps or Rolls on a white plate — lutzflcat

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