What’s Cookin’…Healthy Breakfast Recipes for School Mornings

On busy school mornings, start the day off on the right foot with these healthy breakfast recipes, many of them with make-ahead options.

When I wrote about My Health and Weight Loss Journey: Before & After Photos last year, I talked about what happens if I don’t eat breakfast in the morning. You know, the dreaded mid-day binge, low blood sugar (leading to a very cranky person…trust me) and a brain and body that just don’t seem to function correctly.

That last reason kicks me into full-on mummy gear in the morning, making sure that I leave time to make something healthy and satisfying for my kids to eat before heading off to school. I can’t ask them to pay attention in school and put their full effort into their work on an empty stomach, or even when filled with sugary packaged options.

Am I trying to preach?

Nope, I promise that I’m not. As a mum, I completely understand the craziness of school mornings. Missing math books, last-minute forgotten homework assignments, frantic searches for a specific shirt…the list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

But if we’re really going to be honest with ourselves, we can’t truthfully say that a couple of pop-tarts or a bowl of Fruit Loops are going to give our kids a really great start to the day. I know, I know…they’re easy to fix for breakfast. I get it. But there are other options, too.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a piece of whole wheat bread (you don’t even have to toast it if you’re in a hurry!) with peanut butter and half a banana on the side can do the trick. Or how about some yogurt with fresh fruit and a little granola (see the yogurt parfait below)?

And while we’re throwing together a quick breakfast for the kids, let’s do the same favor for ourselves. We deserve to start the day off on a good note, too!

Step down from soapbox.

Below are some of our favorite breakfast recipes, may of them with make-ahead options, that can help you on those busy mornings.

Muffins & Breads:

Peanut Butter & Banana Whole Wheat Quick Bread
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Latte Muffins

While muffins, quick breads and scones are typically loaded with sugar and fat…mini cakes, trying to disguise themselves as healthy breakfast options…these recipes use substitutes such as Greek yogurt, applesauce and honey or agave nectar to pump up the “healthy” quotient. Also, each of these recipes uses fiber-rich whole wheat flour or oat flour rather than the all-purpose variety.

Serve any of these alongside some fresh fruit for a quick, satisfying breakfast.

Healthy(er) Scones with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger
Healthy Cornmeal Muffins with Berries & Lemon

Grab & Go:

No-Bake Carrot Cake Granola Bites {Low Sugar & Gluten-Free}
Low Fat Granola Bars with Bananas, Cranberries & Pecans
Triple Berry Gingersnap & Granola Yogurt Parfait

These carrot cake granola bites and granola bars are some of my kids’ favorite after school snacks, but they also work perfectly for an on-the-go breakfast.

For the yogurt parfait, mix all of the ingredients together in a tupperware container and let your kids munch on it on the way to school. By the time you get there, they will have consumed a good supply of fiber, protein and vitamins. Not too bad for being in a hurry!

Wrap It Up:

Scrambled Egg Wrap with Spinach, Tomato & Feta Cheese
Make-Ahead Egg Wrap with Ham, Avocado & Salsa

If you’re looking for a good dose of healthy protein in the morning, these egg wraps will do the trick. The make-ahead wrap on the right uses slices of hard-boiled egg, so requires virtually no time to put together on your way out the door.

Bake, Scramble & Fry:

Make-Ahead Baked Eggs with Turkey Sausage, Mushrooms & Tomatoes
Quick Mushroom, Zucchini & Thyme Saute with Fried Egg

If you have a few extra minutes in the morning, whip up one of these egg dishes. The beauty is that all of the ingredients can be prepped the night before. Beat the eggs, dice the veggies or pre-cook the sausage and store them in the fridge overnight.

Don’t just think “breakfast” for these recipes. If your kids are anything like mine, “breakfast for dinner” is a favorite. Any of these recipes fit the bill for a quick weeknight meal.

Scrambled Eggs with Turkey Sausage, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil
Baked Egg Breakfast Casserole with Mushrooms, Spinach & Salsa

Now go and get your day started off on the right foot!