Breakfast ideas? Yes, please! Here are 14 ideas to brighten your morning, from whole grain pancakes to smoked salmon on toast.

What’s for breakfast, Mom?

“What’s for breakfast tomorrow?”

My 10-year-old son has asked me this question several nights a week since he was around 5. It keeps me on my toes and inspires me to serve a breakfast that he will wake up excited for.

But the reality is that it doesn’t always happen. Life gets busy, and Mom sometimes oversleeps. And now that my kids are older, it’s easy to let them help themselves to cereal and milk and silently hope that they also add fruit.

But while we occasionally slip into this unexciting but effective weekday breakfast mode, it’s usually not for very long. I find that an exciting breakfast helps both the kids and me get off to a brighter start.

Fresh Breakfast Ideas

So, I try to mix it up and come up with fresh breakfast ideas. A straightforward way to elevate the often boring “cereal bar” is to offer homemade granola and Greek yogurt with toppings such as fresh berries, toasted seeds, and coconut flakes.

Another simple trick is the presentation:

• Put out pretty breakfast bowls and/or plates
• Add a cozy, eco-friendly touch with cloth napkins
• Add placemats for a pulled-together look
• Rinse and cut up a few different types of fruit (if you cut it, they will eat it!)
• Place those cereal toppings in cute little ramekins

Here are 14 ideas to get you inspired. Choose a few to add to your menu planner so you don’t forget.

14 Breakfast Ideas to Brighten Your Morning

1. Oatmeal Breakfast Bar

Make old-fashioned or steel-cut oatmeal, then let everyone mix in their favorite toppings. My kids love adding the classic toppings: milk, brown sugar, and raisins. I tend to be more adventurous and add many different toppings! I place all the toppings in little ramekins on the table.

Here are some topping ideas:

• fresh or frozen berries
• sliced bananas, apples, or peaches
• raisins, cranberries, prunes
• applesauce
• almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
• nut butter
• hemp hearts, flax meal, chia seeds
• unsweetened coconut flakes
• cacao nibs
• Maple syrup or honey
• cinnamon or cardamom
• coconut or cashew cream
• milk or non-dairy milk

2. Whole Grain Silver Dollar Pancakes

This is undoubtedly a favorite of my kids. I could post a different pancake recipe every week since we are always trying out different combinations (spelt, whole wheat, oat, etc.). But recently, I’ve been simplifying by creating this pancake mix to keep on hand. I highly recommend a pancake pan if you don’t have one already; it makes cute little pancakes that cook quickly and beautifully. Make them on the weekend, then freeze extras in zip-lock freezer bags.

3. Yogurt, Granola, and Fruit Parfait

Berries, yogurt, and granola are a classic combination, but the key to its beauty is layering it all in a pretty glass or Mason jar. If you don’t have fresh fruit, try adding low-sugar homemade chia jam or a homemade compote; these toppings will turn plain Greek or Skyr yogurt into a sweet delight!

4. Mini Morning Glory Muffins

There is something about the morning glory muffin that feels so nourishing. Perhaps it’s the fact that it has carrots, apples, coconut, raisins, and whole-grain flour in it? It’s also dairy-free; you could make it vegan using ground flax seeds instead of eggs. Likewise, you could make it gluten-free by substituting gluten-free flour. Mini or big-sized, this tasty muffin is worth the effort it takes to make. (It’s not hard to make but involves a lot of ingredients and grating. Fortunately, our recipe makes a bunch, so you can enjoy some and freeze the rest.)

5. Cardamom Banana Pancakes

This 6-ingredient pancake blend is one of the easiest to make, and the key is to have ripe bananas on hand. Mix the pancake batter right in your blender. Add cinnamon in lieu of cardamom if desired. Gluten-free & dairy-free. (Making a pancake stack? Optional but a lot of fun!)

6. Whole Grain Toast with Nut Butter and Sliced Bananas or Berries

I love to keep whole-grain bread on hand in the freezer. Bakery fresh whole grain bread will usually last for a few days, but keep it in the freezer for a longer shelf life. For a satisfying breakfast, toast a slice of whole-grain bread, spread it with almond butter or nut butter, and top it with bananas or berries. (So many breakfast ideas start with simple whole-grain bread or toast).

7. Smoked Salmon & Avocado Toast

Avocado & smoked salmon toast are a perfect match. Packed with healthy fat, protein, and fiber, this colorful breakfast is one of my favorites. (It also makes a great lunch!) Switch out the salmon for an egg, or have both! Sprinkle the avocado or egg with Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel Seasoning” for a delicious combo that even your teenager will want to taste!

8. Dippy Eggs and Soldiers

If you love eggs and toast, this is a fun way to eat them, especially for kids. Boil an egg so that the white becomes firm, but the egg yolk remains a bit soft; about 6-7 minutes if you add the egg to boiling water and then reduce it to a simmer. While the egg is cooking, make the toast and then cut it into strips, or “soldiers.” Dip the soldiers into the egg and enjoy!

Tip: Vary it by making sweet potato soldiers.

9. Smoothies

Almost everyone likes a smoothie, whether you make it with frozen strawberries, honey, plain yogurt or kale, cucumbers, and orange juice. Get the kids involved and let them create their concoction with the ingredients you supply. Serve with whole-grain toast or a hard-boiled egg for a healthy breakfast.

Use this smoothie guide to come up with your creation, or try one of these:

• Green Smoothie
• Kid-Approved Green Smoothie
• Iced Ginger Turmeric Smoothie
• Strawberry Squash Smoothie
• Wild Blueberry and Pear Smoothie

Or try a smoothie bowl!

10. French Toast

This nourishing take on French toast uses whole wheat bread and makes fruit the center point. Adding an extra egg to the batter and sprinkling nuts on top will increase the protein. As for the syrup, I recommend drizzling a small amount for your little one or letting them use a dipping bowl to help prevent the inevitable maple syrup-drenched plate!

11. Nordic Style Oat Waffles (Gluten-Free)

Mixing up waffles and making waffles takes a little more time than some other breakfasts here, but it is so worth it! They are delicious and will totally put a smile on everyone’s face. My suggestion? Make extra over the weekend and freeze. They heat up nicely and quickly in the microwave.

Tip: These waffles also make a great lunchbox alternative to a sandwich. You can make a sweet waffle sandwich with berries and cream or a savory sandwich with smoked salmon and cucumbers.

12. Egg Pesto Sandwich

Eggs and pesto are a fun, tasty combination, and you will be surprised at how quickly this cooks up. Keep pesto on hand in the refrigerator or freeze in ice cube trays for longer storage and quick thawing. If you have a slice of tomato, add it to this sandwich. Top with a slice of cheese if desired.

13. Blueberry Peach Breakfast Crisp

A crisp for breakfast? Yes! This is such a fun breakfast. You can make it the night before and heat in the morning. Or do like we do: have some for dessert and some for breakfast! (The only difference is that for dessert, you may want it with whipped cream, and for breakfast, you may want it with plain Greek or Skyr yogurt). The recipe makes a lot, which is great for leftovers, but this picture shows a half-batch I recently made. Perhaps it is more doable on some weeks and fits perfectly in a cast iron pan!

14. Wild Blueberry Overnight Oats

My kids aren’t yet into cold overnight oats, but I love them! They are so convenient and super tasty. Plus, they guarantee you will start your day with a nourishing breakfast! Vanilla overnight oats are also a classic. I love to make overnight oats in an almost empty peanut butter or jam jar. I often use a scoop of muesli instead of plain oats. Another fun tip about overnight oats is that they don’t need a full overnight to be ready to eat; I sometimes stir them together in the morning when I’m having breakfast and then have it as a ready-to-go morning snack.

Additional Inspiration

Because I love breakfast so much, I created this e-book for you to get inspired and have recipes at your fingertips. You can print it or view it on your device.

In addition, here are a couple of my favorite cookbooks for breakfast inspiration:

• Rise and Shine – Better Breakfasts for Busy Mornings by Katie Morford
• Run Fast, Eat Slow – by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky