Yes, we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard it over and over. But for little one’s breakfast really is important. It sets up how everything will flow the rest of the day; however, oftentimes our mornings are rushed.
Parents getting ready for work, kids getting ready for school or daycare, everyone has to be out of the house by a certain time, and breakfast can be a real trouble spot. We’ve put together some quick and healthy baby breakfast ideas, from puree to small eats, that are easy to throw together or meal prep ahead of time.
Purees (Generally 6 – 9 Months)
If you’ve gotten the go ahead from the pediatrician, six months is the start of solid foods. There are three types of purees for healthy baby breakfast ideas:
- Stage 1 – pure pureed in which the food is liquid smooth
- Stage 2 – food is slightly thicker in consistency
- Stage 3 – food has chunks
Depending on how well your baby sits up determines which stage you should use. All of these stages can be achieved in a food processor. The benefits of making your own baby food is numerous but also time saving. You can make a large patch and freeze it, or you can simply puree whatever you are having. Here are a few puree baby breakfast ideas:
- Fruit of Your Choice
- Ingredients: 2 whatever fruit you want, ½ cup formula or breastmilk
- Instructions:
- Add desired fruit (these can be frozen fruits) and cook 7-10 minutes until soft
- Place in food processor, add formula/breastmilk, and puree until desired consistency
Cinnamon Pear Oatmeal
- Ingredients: 2 pears, ¼ cup of old-fashioned oats, pinch of cinnamon, 1 cup water
Cinnamon Pear Oatmeal Instructions:
- Peel, core, and chop pears
- Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan and heat on medium for 10 minutes until pears are tender, stir occasionally
- Place in food processor and puree until desired consistency
- Substitute apple or banana for different oatmeal flavors
Peach, Mango & Carrot
- Ingredients:
- 2 peaches
- 2 mangos
- 4 carrots
- ½ cup formula or breastmilk
Instructions:
- Peel and chop the carrots
- Place carrots and formula or milk into medium saucepan
- Cover and heat on medium for 10 minutes
- Add peach and mangos (these can be frozen fruits) and cook an additional 3-5 minutes until soft
- Place in food processor and puree until desired consistency
You can substitute any fruits and vegetables just remember to cook them down before pureeing. Some ideas to consider:
- Apple, blackberry, and kale
- Strawberry, apple, and banana
- Banana and avocado
- Apple, blueberries, spinach
- Strawberry, peach, rice cereal
Click here for homemade baby food recipes for baby breakfast ideas!
Finger Foods (Generally 7 – 12 months)
As your baby grows you may notice signs are they are ready for finger foods. They will become more and more interested in your food. Almost anything healthy with a soft texture makes a great finger food.
Small pieces of cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and round cereals or cereals puffs are great options. Remember your food choices should be easily able to be gummed as your baby probably doesn’t have all their teeth yet. Here are a few finger food baby breakfast ideas:
Whole Grain, Protein, and Fruit Plate
Puffs or O-shaped cereals are a great base and easily dissolve in your baby’s mouth. As your baby gets bigger and is able to chew you can move toward bites of breads such as waffles and muffins.
Protein: can be some form of cheese, avocado, or eggs. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends early introduction of allergenic foods to prevent food allergies.
Soft fruits including bananas, pears, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, and berries.
Some ideas to consider:
- Puffs, eggs, and banana
- Cheerios, eggs, and pears
- Pancake bites, eggs, and peaches
- Muffin bites, avocado, and berries
Applesauce Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup applesauce
- 2 beaten eggs
- ½ cup milk (whole or breastmilk)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients
- Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat
- Spray griddle with nonstick spray
- Pour batter into small circle
- Let cook until edges are set and bubbles start to appear.
- Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes.
Blueberry and Banana Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of mashed banana
- 1 cup of grated zucchini (packed and squeezed dry)
- ½ cup whole milk or breastmilk
- ½ cup butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- grease mini muffin tin
- combine banana, zucchini, milk, butter and eggs add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon; add blueberries;
- Pour in muffin tin
- Bake for 22 – 28 minutes
- Cool on wire rack.
Eggs and Cheese Breakfast Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- ½ tsp olive oil
- 2 eggs
- Small (8-inch) tortillas
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat
- Add oil
- Scramble the eggs and transfer to plate
- Place tortilla in pan
- Sprinkle cheese
- Placed cooked eggs over cheese
- Top with remaining cheese
- Cook until bottom of tortilla is brown and cheese starts to melt
- Cover with other tortilla and flip, cook until other side is brown.
Once your baby can eat smaller bites, consider adding beans, spinach, avocado, or ham to the quesadillas.
Spoonfuls (Generally 12+ Months)
Most babies don’t fully grasp feeding themselves with a spoon until after their first birthday. However, some babies will start to grasp for spoons around 10 months, so if you think they are ready to give it a try start with thicker foods like yogurt, overnight oats, nut butter, or cottage cheese.
Fruit Overnight Oats
- Ingredients
- ½ cup of rolled oats
- 4 oz of your choice of fruit puree
- 1-3 tbsp of whole or breastmilk
- pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients
- Place in an airtight container and place in the fridge overnight.
Whole Grain, Protein, and Fruit Plate
- Whole grain: cereal, overnight oats, pancakes, waffles, or muffins
- Protein: cottage cheese, yogurt, or nut butter
- Soft fruits including bananas, pears, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, and berries.
- Some ideas to consider:
- Puffs, cottage cheese, and strawberries
- Cheerios, peanut butter, and banana
- Banana overnight oats and yogurt
- Muffin bites, almond butter, and berries
Small Eats (12 – 18+ Months)
Once your baby has mastered chewing, the sky is the limit on breakfast.
Sweet Potato Toast
- Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp cooked
- Mashed sweet potato (pureed if desired)
- 1 slice of whole grain bread
- Brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Lightly toast bread (you can also cook it on a griddle if you prefer toast that way)
- Warm sweet potato
- Spread on toast
- Sprinkle brown sugar over top.
PB&J Waffle Sandwiches
- Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp fruit puree of choice (strawberry apple is popular option)
- 2 waffles (frozen or homemade)
- Banana
Instructions
- Heat waffles
- Spread peanut butter on one
- Place Banana on Top
- Spread jelly on other, mash together.
- Bonus points: use cookie cutter to make fun shapes.
Mixed Berries and Granola Bark
- Ingredients:
- 3 cups of mixed berries (cut up)
- 2 cups of plain yogurt
- 3 tbsp of honey
- ½ cup of granola
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a food processor add 2 cups of berry mix, yogurt, and honey
- Blend until smooth
- Pour mixture over baking sheet and spread evenly
- Sprinkle remaining berries and granola
- Place in freezer for 4 hours
- Remove and break into pieces.
Baby Breakfast Ideas on Building a Balanced Meal
Once your baby has reached self-serving eating, coming up with breakfast ideas can seem like a challenge. However, babies at this age can eat whatever you eat. Don’t feel you need to make extra food just for your baby. Planning ahead can save you time and stress. Like adults, babies need balanced meals. Follow this guide to a balanced meal:
- Carbohydrates – your baby will need a whole grain, fruit, or starchy vegetable
- Protein – meat, eggs, or dairy to help your baby grown and feel full longer
- Healthy fats – avocado, nut butter, eggs, and whole milk to help proper brain development
- Produce – fruits and vegetables of all shapes and colors for vitamins
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