Nutritional Breakfast Ideas For Children

Children who eat a nutritious breakfast every morning behave better at school and have more energy, according to the American Dietetic Association. Your kids may love colorful, sugary cereals. But sticking to healthy, balanced meals instead will help maintain your children's blood sugar levels and give them the fuel and vitamins they need to feel their best.

Balanced Breakfasts

A healthy, balanced breakfast should contain whole grains, low-fat protein, low-fat dairy and fruits and vegetables, according to MayoClinic.com. Plan a breakfast with at least one item from each of these categories to give children the complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber and small amount of fat they need to stay healthy and get through the morning with energy. Toast a whole grain bagel, add a slice or two of salmon for protein and low-fat cream cheese for dairy, and serve it with a glass of 100 percent juice, or a side of fruit. Make low-fat cheese omelets with bran muffins and orange juice, or hard boiled eggs and whole grain waffles topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.

Quick Meals

If you're running late and don't have time to prepare a sit-down morning meal, you can still send your children off to school with a nutritional breakfast. When you're in a rush, choose from a selection of grab-and-go meals developed by the American Dietetic Association. To make banana dogs, spread low-fat peanut butter on a hot dog bun, put a peeled banana inside the bun and sprinkle raisins on top. Make smoothies by mixing low-fat milk, bananas and strawberries in a blender, and serve with a bran muffin. For something a little different, try a whole grain pita pocket stuffed with ricotta cheese and apple slices, topped with a dash of cinnamon. All these options meet the American Dietetic Association's criteria for a five-star nutritional breakfast.

Non-Traditional Breakfasts

If your child doesn't care for traditional breakfast offerings like omelets and waffles, Kids Health offers some non-traditional yet nutritional breakfast alternatives. Give breakfast a Mediterranean flavor by filling a whole wheat pita with hummus, and serve it with a glass of milk. For a quesadilla-style breakfast, sprinkle shredded cheese on a whole wheat tortilla, fold it in half and microwave it for about 20 seconds, then top it with salsa. You can even make lean turkey sandwiches with whole wheat bread or English muffins. Add lettuce, tomato and a little low-fat mayo, and serve with vegetable juice.