7 Homeschool Breakfast Ideas That Are Quick And Healthy

Ever had those mornings where you needed a quick homeschool breakfast (just before you head out to your next appointment/task/whatever)? Oh – and something that’s also healthy for you?

Contrary to what some may think, homeschoolers don’t always have the luxury of a leisurely morning routine!

To find the top breakfast ideas from our homeschool community, we compiled this list of fast, healthy and practical suggestions:

Optimizing ‘ye olde oatmeal’

As one homeschool mom wrote, prepackaged microwaveable oats can range from “gross to barely tolerable.” Can real oats be made just as quickly? The answer is a resounding yes!

Here are just a few ways that enterprising homeschoolers have revitalized humble oats:

• Mix oats and yogurt with some fruit the night before, then leave them in the fridge.
• Slice four to six Granny Smith apples and put them in a crockpot. Add approximately a cup of oats, two cups of water, and cinnamon to taste. Cook it on low overnight, then voila – instant, delicious oats in the morning!
• You can freeze any extra crockpot oatmeal, then reheat them for a bonus breakfast some other time.
• Use these baked oatmeal snack bars as another alternative.

Breakfast ‘sandwiches’ and burritos

We tend to think of them as a lunch food, but sandwiches in the morning can be an absolute lifesaver (and taste-saver, too!).

Go beyond egg, bacon and cheese to include leftover steak, dill, avocado, spinach, smoked trout or red peppers. The sky (not to mention your stomach) is the limit!

Just like at lunch, a piece or two of fresh fruit can complement your sandwich any time of day.

Another twist on breakfast sandwiches is to skip the bread and use a tortilla. Several homeschoolers stock their freezers with premade burritos, then pop them in the microwave or convection oven just before they head out the door.

Enjoying eggs in every way

One homeschool mom can cook and eat breakfast in less than 10 minutes by scrambling eggs and cheese in a preheated pan. “It’s literally done in 2 mins and it’s easy enough to eat,” she writes.

Beyond egg skillets, homeschoolers also recommend

• egg quiches made ahead of time – cut into single servings, to be eaten cold or reheated quickly
• egg muffins (basically mini-quiches)
• hard-boiled eggs
• egg casseroles

Shakes and smoothies

If you like drinking your breakfast, smoothies are a great option. Some area recommendations include:

1. Juice Plus Complete plant-based smoothie powder
2. BodyKey bars and shakes (gluten-free, filling “and very yummy,” according to one reviewer)
3. Slim Fast or any brand instant mix where you add milk

Muffins, muesli and yogurt

Sometimes the best homeschool breakfast comes in muffin cups! And don’t feel like you have to stick with traditional muffins if you have food allergies. Grain-free muffins such as this Paleo blueberry muffin can make extremely satisfactory substitutes!

Muesli is also quick and easy to make. For special dietary needs, homeschoolers recommend this homemade paleo granola crunch that can easily be a snack any time of day.

Of course, don’t forget a little high-protein yogurt for some healthy probiotics and great taste!

Soup

Sometimes soup can work as a go-to breakfast idea, especially in the wintertime when it can warm up little fingers as they clasp a steaming mug or thermos flask.

Do a quick online search for breakfast soups, including ones that can be prepared ahead in the slow cooker, and you’ll be amazed at the variety of recipes available. Bacon and eggs, potato, miso, rice, oats, blueberries, vegetarian peanut, cauliflower and apple, avocado – the sky (or soup-bowl) is the limit!

Fruit and fruit salad

Maybe your children aren’t big into huge breakfasts in the morning, or they just need a little something to get their creative (and digestive) juices flowing. In that case, we’ve found that fruit salads can make a wonderful meal with very little prep time!

Because of the seasonality of fruits, your breakfast salad may change over time. Try mandarins, apples, oranges and pears for the fall and winter. In the spring and summertime, your salad may incorporate strawberries, peaches, plums, grapes and nectarines.

Consider adding some cinnamon and lemon juice to bring out the fruits’ fresh, sweet flavor. This simple fruit salad recipe provides a great starting point for those of us who like some culinary guidelines and proportions.

This can make for a great homeschool lesson as well, as your children can pitch in with age-appropriate tasks. Preschoolers and elementary students can peel mandarin skins or pluck off grapes by hand, while older children can handle knives carefully for any cutting or dicing needed.

Of course, with frozen fruit being available year-round, you can always “cheat” with a few chopped mangoes, blueberries, and other delicacies straight from your freezer!

This blog post was originally published in February 2016. It has been updated for timeliness and detail.

Do you have other quick, healthy homeschool breakfast ideas for us? Let us know in the comments!