Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas: What Harper Eats!

I'm back with another Harper-filled post highlighting some of the breakfasts she enjoyed this past week. Don't click away if you don't have kids or if your kids are grown and out of the house! Like I've mentioned before, Harper eats what we eat, so these posts can also provide recipe inspiration for anyone at any stage of life! I rarely cook Harper a special "toddler meal." I truly believe that all foods can be toddler foods! I hope this post (ugly food photos and all!) can give you some breakfast inspiration for your week ahead.

Before we jump into Harper's breakfasts, I want to first share some tips I have for getting your toddler to eat a healthy breakfast:

• Meal Prep: Sometimes Harper doesn't eat a healthy meal because I failed to make one! I love to prepare our breakfast the night before so that no matter how early she wakes up or how cranky she may be, I'll have a healthy breakfast ready to serve her.
• Add-ins: I love to mix in healthy add-ins to Harper's simple breakfasts. If I'm making something simple like oatmeal or soaked weetbix, I'll often stir in unsweetened nut butter, ground seeds and fruit!
• Texture: Harper loves to feed herself, so I try to serve foods that she can either pick up with her hands or that are thick enough for her to scoop up with a spoon.
• Utensils: If Harper is having a pickier morning and doesn't seem to want what I prepared her for breakfast, I'll often give her a utensil to use. When eating turns into a game or challenge, she forgets what the food is and instead is more focused on whether she can get the food to her mouth with a fork! Once she has a bite, she usually realizes that it's not that bad and eats it all up.
• Options: When I can, I like to give Harper two different options at breakfast. This usually just means serving her breakfast with some fruit. That way if the main breakfast item doesn't appeal to her, she can start by eating the fruit. Once she gets some food in her belly, she'll usually start enjoying her main meal as well.

Let me know any good toddler breakfast ideas you have in the comments below. Be sure to rate this post as well and share it with others who may find it helpful! Okay, enough chit chat! Let's jump into what Harper's been eating for breakfast this past week!

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Breakfast #1:

I had failed to prepare overnight oats or baked oatmeal the night before, so I made Harper some Weetbix. I think cereal can be enjoyed often as a part of healthy diet when it's low in sugar, uses minimal ingredients and is fortified. To make Weetbix for Harper I crumble up two Weetbix into a fine meal and soak it in fortified non-dairy milk. Once the Weetbix has thickened, I usually stir in some nut butter, cinnamon, seeds (hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds or chia seeds) and sometimes fruit as well. This day I served chopped orange pieces on the side which is great for extra iron absorption.

Breakfast #2:

We've all been loving my make-ahead carrot cake baked oatmeal. It's the perfect texture for Harper to pick up with her hands. You can also cut baked oatmeal into strips or fun shapes! I served Harper's with some banana on the side.

Breakfast #3:

Whenever we have a busier morning where we have to rush out the door, I'll often make Harper a smoothie for breakfast. This smoothie had frozen banana, frozen berries, kale, hemp seeds, almond butter and non-dairy milk.

Breakfast #4:

I yet again didn't have time to prepare breakfast in advance, so I made Harper a simple bowl of oatmeal by soaking quick oats in hot water and non-dairy milk. Then I stirred in some peanut butter, cinnamon, banana and chia seeds.

Breakfast #5:

All three of us have been obsessed with some jumbo chocolate breakfast muffins (or oatmeal cups?) that I've been recipe testing this past week. They're gluten free and made with a base of oat flour and ground almonds. Mashed banana and a touch of maple syrup provide the perfect amount of sweetness. I cut Harper's muffin into strips which she can pick up easily and usually serve some fruit on the side.

Breakfast #6:

This day I prepared another baked oatmeal the night before, but instead of my carrot cake baked oatmeal we enjoyed blueberry baked oatmeal. I served Harper's with some peanut butter on top and banana on the side.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave your thoughts and tips below!