Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is even more important when we're preparing it for our kids as they head out the door for school this Fall! Our pancake stacks would be a fun First-Day-of-School breakfast idea, plus we've gathered a few more of our favorite Back to School breakfast recipes that you can use on the first day of school til' the last day of school!
I've partnered with Allstate to bring you fabulous Back to School breakfast tips and ideas!
Breakfasts at our house this summer have been extremely casual. We all waking up at very different hours and we usually don't have anywhere to be for a few more. The food ranges from cold cereal to peanut butter sandwiches and not a lot of attention has gone into making it exciting. All of that changes in a matter of weeks! When school is back in session, I am adamant about my kids eating something healthy and substantial so that they can feel their best and DO their best at school! A great way to get my kids excited and interested in breakfast is to change it up a little, get creative, get them involved, and make something fun! Here are some of our favorite tips, and all of these tips can be applied to packing healthy lunches, too!
Let them Choose
Your children will be more likely to eat their breakfast (and the lunch) that they helped put together. Be involved and look for teaching moments as they pick out nutritious foods and take some responsibility for the choices. Make a calendar where they can see what breakfasts will happen on which days, and include them on your shopping trips as they pick out the ingredients.
Start with Healthy Basics
Most baked items can be made with whole grains, and there is often a low-fat variety of every dairy item in the grocery store. Look for whole wheat flour, reduced-fat cheeses, and skim milk when you're gathering your grocery items. Find any opportunity to add fruits or vegetables to the meal, whether they are cooked in or just on the side.
Switch it Up
Children like familiar things, but they LOVE novelty. If your child insists on pancakes every morning, you can still make new pancake shapes in the griddle and pull out all sorts of new toppings. Rethink the classics by changing up the flavors, colors, or ways to eat it, as you'll see in some of our great examples below.
Make it Interactive
Get your child engaged in mealtime! Give them something to do that will put their fingers to work at getting that food right into their bellies. Look for meals that could include a yogurt, syrup, or peanut butter dip. Find ways to add mix-ins, like extra dried fruit, cinnamon, or cheese. Let your kids stack, roll, slurp or slice!
Keep it Safe
Make sure you and your child have washed your hands before there is any food preparation (for breakfast and their packed lunch!). Invest in food containers that will keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold and remember that most perishable foods can only be safely eaten if they've been left un-refrigerated for two hours or less. Consider eco-friendly back-to-school tips like freezing your juice box to serve as an ice pack instead of purchasing cooler packs.
One of our favorite First-Day-of-School breakfasts is pancake stacks!
You can start with a basic pancake mix or make your own batter with whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, skim milk, egg and oil. Use a measuring cup to scoop out the same amount of batter every time so that the pancakes will all be the same size. Stack them up with layers of yogurt, peanut butter, Nutella, or fruit in between! We used marshmallow fluff, which isn't the healthiest option, but it is such a great pancake topping!
To make the flag/banner sticks, I used black bamboo skewers and white cardstock paper, the two ends folded and glued together. Once dry, I clipped the triangle shape out of the end and painted on the letters with acrylic paint. Spear some fruit with your skewers and poke them in the middle of your pancake stacks to keep them upright.
This breakfast is quite the a celebratory kick-off on the first day of school! Here are some more excellent Back to School breakfast ideas to get you started on an excellent school year of fun, nutritious, and absolutely exciting breakfasts!
Mini Muffin Pancake Bites from hello, Wonderful
Greek Yogurt Banana Bread from Lovely Little Kitchen
Back to School Apple Donuts from Your Homebased Mom
Monkey Bread Muffins from Brooklyn Farm Girl
Strawberry Banana Smoothie from Gimme Some Oven
Wise Owl Fruity Toast from Daisies & Pie
Glazed Blueberry Scones from Wholesome Yum
Make Ahead Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches from The Suburban Soapbox
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake from Cooking Classy
Make-Ahead Grab-N-Go Omelet Cups from Live Simply
Cinnamon Rolls in a Waffle Iron from Little Bit Funky
Apple Cinnamon Cookie Energy Bites from Kristine's Kitchen
Egg and Sausage Breakfast Taquitos from Tastes Better from Scratch
Customizable Protein-Packed Oatmeal Cups from The Healthy Maven
Tater Tot Breakfast Pizza from The Gunny Sack
The post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most, but to help protect your firsts and the moments in between.
Share your firsts with #HeresToFirsts.
Wendy says
What totally delicious breakfast! Cannot wait to cook them up and eat them with the kids, they all just look so good!
Jessica Tartaglia says
Oh my gosh, everything looks great and delicious...I can't wait to do the mini pancake stacks. You have your nice pancake with fruit right there. I love this idea
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Great ideas for kids (and adults) - I'm totally personally eyeing up those Apple donuts!
PS. Thanks for including my Monkey Bread Muffins! 🙂
Sara says
Theses pancakes look yummy
Linda Manns says
These are some great suggestions for the whole family. Some of these are such cute ideas. I love letting the little ones get involved. Thank you so much for sharing this
Kimberly Flickinger says
These are great tips/suggestions for back to school breakfasts. I have already pinned them:)
Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen says
Those pancake stacks are so cute! My kids would love to wake up to them on the first day of school. 🙂 These are great ideas, and thanks for including my energy bites!
Meredith says
The towers of berries with the flags are so cute! I may have to try that when my nieces visit (although not for back-to-school, just for fun).
monique s says
These look so delicious and are something the kids and adults would love
Hannah C says
I like the monkey bread muffins! These all look so delicious!
Sandra Caballero says
All of those food looks so good. ?
Amber Ludwig says
So many awesome ideas!! Yummo!! And oh that tater tot breakfast pizza is at the top of my list to make!! Those pancake stacks are adorable!
Jo-Ann Brightman says
These are such fun ideas for breakfast. Kids will love them and yet they have healthful ingredients in them.
Linda Trinklein says
I love these ideas! My daughter tends to get nervous with new things, I think this is a great way to break up some tension! thank you!!!
rochelle haynes says
This is looking good got to try them
Jennifer babich says
Oh my goodness these breakfasts look great. If I only I had a pinterest mom to make them for me!!
gloria patterson says
I have to admit I don't miss doing this........... but I have several friends and family that I have passed this on to. BUT I am going to steal a few ideas for me to fix
Jerry Marquardt says
This looks like a wonderful way to start a school year. How delicious can it get?
bonnie esken says
Nice ideas I love the wise owl toast
Katrina Rasnake says
All of those look amazing!
Jessica Church says
That look delicious
Maranda Carlson says
Breakfast is hectic or non existent here. I think that the school district should step up and provided free breakfast to ALL students regardless of their parents income like they used to.
We eat alot of muffins and eggs in our tupperware breakfast maker.
Those waffles look great.
Christie M says
All amazing, yummy looking ideas, definitely going to pin!
Monica Carbajosa says
yummy ideas!!!
Brianna says
Sounds yummy!! And all such great ideas!
jenny says
That looks delicious. We don't have a lot of time in the morning so we rely on plum organic bars.
Amber Treadway says
This is amazing, so many awesome ideas! Thanks for the ideas!!
Dana Murphy says
My grandkids aren't ready for school just yet. But you gave me some good ideas for other special days. Thank you.
Alysha A says
Yummy and fun breakfast ideas! Can't wait to try them!
jessica says
The pancakes look awsome
Pauline Gorczycki says
My whole house WOULD LOVE these recipes looks YUMMY.
Lisa Coomer Queen says
These are some great ideas. Yummy! Love the pancakes. Thanks!
DENISE LOW says
I would eat this anytime. It all looks great.
Jenna Hudson says
I'm thinking the cinnamon rolls in a waffle iron will be great for the first day of school breakfast. Plus, some fruit on the side of course!
julia cosgrove says
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. They will come in handy.
Carol ONeil says
Thank you so much so many great things to try!
Brittany H. says
Oh my word!!! These all look so yummy !! Wish my kids weren't such picky eaters 🙁
Karen Adams says
How cute..What a great idea..Thanks for sharing,I love this
G K says
The apple doughnut and owl pancakes are so cute!
rosa rogers says
Love these ideas..I think my granddaughters would have fun decorating the pancakes with fruits..Thank you for sharing.
Katrina Angele says
I am loving those egg and sausage taquitos!! How cute and easy for little ones to eat.
Cecilia Pipitone-Oliveto says
I love so many of the grab and go type breakfast ideas, especially the breakfast burritos and the Muffin omelets.
Stephanie F says
Awesome breakfast ideas... have to try them.. Thank you!!
Jess says
the egg sandwich looks Delish!
Leslie P says
What kid (or fun-loving adult) wouldn't want a breakfast like this?
Geri Sandoval says
Great ideas, like the apple donuts and egg and sausage taqueria.
Dotty J Boucher says
Everything here looks so wonderful and I love being able to mix things up and have fun in the kitchen with the children , I do want to try those apple cinnamon cookie bites.
Shelly Hopkins says
This ideas look amazing! I'm always looking for new recipes!
Shelly Hopkins says
This ideas look amazing! I'm always looking for new recipes!The tater tot breakfast pizza looks like something my girls would love!!
Sarah C says
Awesome ideas!
Amanda Koschmann says
Great ideas!
Crystal Banks says
i like the mini pancakes, so cute and my kids would dig that in the morning. they are always having me make the small pancakes so they can dip them in syrup lol.
Nancy Hilderbrand says
I was pleasantly surprised with all the different breakfast foods you have reiinvented.
melissa cushing says
I love those pancakes at the top with the fruit! How fabulous! I just love all of the breakfast ideas here and thank you so much for sharing them with us!
tina mccallum says
We have been using We Cook Kits from BabyBpyBakery and it is such great way to get kids involved with cooking. Now I can't cook without my almost four year old pulling up a chair to help. I love it. These pancakes look delicious and I bet my daughter Fiona would love to help make them!
Jennifer zaragoza says
These look so yummy. My boys would love it!
Cherie olszewski says
Looks delicious!
Kimberly Flickinger says
These are great back to school breakfast ideas! Thank you for sharing.
Autumn Strickland says
Awesome ideas for back to school!
Dotty J Boucher says
These are all looking so good and making me hungry, I have got to try those muffins and that egg and sausage roll looks very tasty!
Amber Treadway says
My kids start school Monday, we are excited to give this a try!!
vickie couturier says
those are all so cool,,they look delicious
Cherie olszewski says
I'm happy that I didn't view the feed while I was hungry!!! Everything looked so delicious!
Paula Adams says
OMG, i'm really hungry right now and all these photos/recipes look so great! (And some appeal to my sweet tooth!) I'm definitely going to save at least a couple of these to use for a weekend breakfast!
Kerri Morrow says
Love the sausage egg tequilas, of course I love anything with chocolate chips in it, not sure about the zucchini though.
Waffles are a favorite here?
DENISE LOW says
Thank you for sharing. My grandkids always has a good breakfast before going to school.
rochelle haynes says
Great ideas loving this
Lisa Garland says
I absolutely love all these wonderful back to school breakfast ideas. My daughter will like the mini muffin pancake bites!
Amelia Bayless says
The pancake stacks are very unique!
Jennifer Meyers says
Love the burritos and smoothies. Now I just have to get up early enough to do them!
Janice says
LOOOVEEEE these ideas!!! Definitely saving this post!
Katie Masters-Silvers says
These look like so much fun and so yummy too! Definitely want to make my daughter's first day of school breakfast special. <3
francheska churchill says
great ideas! i might try these on my son even though hes only 4 and not in school yet! he has decided to be picky all of a sudden so maybe the cute animal faces on pancakes will make him more willing to eat something other than bagels lol.
Mary Beth Elderton says
I love the fruit skewers/banners. Almost anyting in a muffin tin makes a great easy meal or snack.
Melinda Berlin says
Cute ideas & they all look really good =)
Kerri Morrow says
Chocolate peanut butter banana shake? yummy!
Kara Marks says
What great ideas and recipes--thanks! I've bookmarked this page.
Alicia C says
Wow! Where was this post when my parents were making ME breakfasts for school? So many great options for healthy and tasty meals. Thanks for sharing!
Lauryn R says
Oh wow! All of these breakfast ideas sound absolutely delicious!! I will definitely be pinning this for later, breakfast is everyones favorite in my house! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Sharon says
Great ideas!
Jerry Marquardt says
I would most definitely love to try the First Day of School Pancake Stacks. I think it is an outstanding plate, of which I am trying later in the week.
Elisabeth says
These look so tasty! I'll definitely be trying them out!
Michelle Elizondo says
Everything looks great.
Amanda Wilson says
I will defiantly have to try these they look good
Jasmine Patra says
These look so yummy and doable, kids will surely look forward to meal time!
Judy GJudy Gerhart says
These suggestion for breakfast are all fantastic. Must try them
Alejandra Carreno says
Super cute ideas~really love those owls... going to try a ton of these. I always want to do fun decorating with the kids food but I'm always at a mind block on what to do. This will help=thanks!
Sara A. says
There were a lot of good ideas on here that I have never thought of! I like that a lot of the recipes are things I can make ahead of tie. Both my daughter and I are not morning people so having things that are quick and easy are best for us!
Amy says
looks delicious
Leslie Merritt says
The strawberty banana smoothie recipe looks delicious. I'm gonna make some this weekend.
Maria says
I love getting ideas for my family!
Joyce says
Looks all yummy!
Nancy Burgess says
These are awesome breakfasts for school.A great variety thanks for sharing these.
Elizabeth Hernandez says
Everything looks so yummy!!! Can't wait to try them out.
Ivette Chiong says
Great ideas!
Elizabeth Hernandez says
Everything looks so yummy!!!
April Hooks says
The apple donut is such a cute idea.
mandmsmommy says
O. M. G. These look delicious! I cannot wait to try some out. Thanks for sharing!
Deborah D says
My kids and I would love all of these breakfast ideas.
Meghan K says
Omg yum! My 6 year old would love these!
Mia says
Nice variety of healthy choices to get everyone up and going in the mornings.
Terrie Swanson says
i HAVE AN IN HOME DAYCARE AND WILL BE USING THESE RECIPES TO CHANGE UP MY MENUS.
Jo-Ann Brightman says
There are so many good delicious recipes for breakfast here. I find it hard to decide where to start, perhaps the ones made in a muffin tin.
ellen beck says
These look terrific. One of the things I really like to have on hand is a breakfast burrito. Most can be made ahead, and frozen then reheated. I like them because they are portable!
Julie Hansen says
What great ideas!
Deborah D says
These all look so yummy.
Deborah D says
All of these look so delicious. We will be trying some of these.