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 been asking me this question several nights a week since he was around 5. I must say, it keeps me on my toes and inspires me to serve up a breakfast that he will wake up excited for.

But the reality is, that it doesn’t always happen. Life gets busy. Mom sometimes oversleeps. And now that my kids are older (10 &12), it’s easy to let them help themselves to cereal and milk, and silently hope that they also add fruit.

But while we slip into this unexciting but effective weekday breakfast mode every now and then, it’s usually not for very long. I find that both the kids and I get off to a brighter start with a breakfast that excites us.

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Fresh Breakfast Ideas

So I make an effort to mix it up a bit and come up with fresh breakfast ideas. One simple way to elevate the often boring “cereal bar” is to also 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. Go ahead and 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

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Make old-fashioned or steel-cut oatmeal and then let everyone mix in their favorite toppings. My kids love adding the classic toppings: milk, brown sugar, and raisins. I tend to go a little crazier and add a bunch of 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

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No doubt this is a favorite of my kids. I could probably post a different pancake recipe every week since we are always trying 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 for cute little pancakes that cook up quickly and beautifully. Make them on the weekend and then freeze extras in zip-lock freezer bags.

3. Yogurt, Granola, and Fruit Parfait

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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 (like the rhubarb compote pictured here); these toppings will turn plain Greek yogurt into a sweet delight!

4. Mini Morning Glory Muffins

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There is something about the morning glory muffin that just 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 and you could make it vegan by using ground flax seeds in place of the egg. 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 that you can enjoy some now and freeze the rest.

5. Cardamom Banana Pancakes

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This 6-ingredient pancake blend is one of the easiest to make, the key is having 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? Totally optional but a lot of fun!)

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

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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 for a longer shelf life keep it in the freezer. For a satisfying breakfast, toast up a slice of whole-grain bread and then spread it with almond butter or another nut butter and top with bananas or berries. (There are so many breakfast ideas that start with simple whole-grain bread or toast).

7. Smoked Salmon & Avocado Toast

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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 if you like or have both if super hungry! Sprinkle the avocado or egg with Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel Seasoning” for a combo so delicious that even your teenager will want to taste it!

8. Dippy Eggs and Soldiers

If you love eggs and toast, this is a fun way to eat them, especially for kids. Simply 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: Mix it up or make it gluten-free by making sweet potato soldiers.

9. Smoothies

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

Use this smoothie guide to come up with your own 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

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This nourishing take on French toast uses whole wheat bread and makes fruit the center point. Adding an extra egg to the batter and/or sprinkling some nuts on top will up the protein a bit more. 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)

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

Egg 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. Add a slice of tomato to this sandwich if you have it and cheese if you are really hungry.

13. Blueberry Peach Breakfast Crisp

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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 with plain Skyr yogurt). The recipe makes a lot, which is great for leftovers, but this picture shows a half batch that I recently made. Perhaps more doable on some weeks, and it fits perfectly in a cast iron pan!

14. Wild Blueberry Overnight Oats

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Ok, so while my kids aren’t yet into cold overnight oats, I love them! They are so convenient and super tasty. Plus, they pretty much guarantee that you will start your day with a healthy breakfast!

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

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