At Ollie Club we love our breakfast. We like it here… we like it there… much like Dr Seuss’s brilliant creations, we like it ANYWHERE. Of course, green eggs and ham are an optional extra!
Touted as the most important meal of the day[1], the word breakfast means ‘breaking your fast’. And after a night’s sleep, it’s important for kids’ concentration and will see them through until the next meal or snack. We know the morning can get away from us, so I’ve thought of some easy healthy ideas that can get you on your way.
5 Fast Yummy Breakfasts Boosts:
- Dippy eggs: 10 mins
Yummy gooey soft-boiled eggs with buttered toast cut in long ‘soldiers’ or slices for dipping. This 10-minute breakfast equals a beautiful balance of carbs and protein for your kids’ day ahead – plus they are fun to eat! Don’t worry too much about messy eaters – children’s learning is in their play[2]. Our fool proof recipe is to fill a medium pot ¾ full of water and boil. Next put in eggs slowly in the water (prevents cracking). Then set your timer,
– 5 minutes for runny
– 7½ minutes for semi-firm
– 10 minutes for hard-boiled.
While it’s boiling, get the toast, butter and eggcups ready. As the timer goes, use a slotted spoon to take the eggs out.
You can let your little ones chop off the egg tops with a teaspoon (a helping hand may be needed until they get the hang of this – and remember the shells are hot.) Dip in toast slices, or for a green addition, some griddled asparagus is great for dipping too.
- Fast Frittata Feast! Night before, 20 mins
A pre-prepared frittata can be reheated and served in slices (and even eaten in the car en route if racing out the doo). You can include a rainbow of vegetables to ensure you’ve hit some nutritional needs early in the day. Here’s our go-to frittata recipe, but keep in mind that ingredients (the cheese and vegetables) can easily be swapped out depending on preference!
-Preheat oven to broil setting.
-With a fork, blend together: 6 eggs, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan or cheddar cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add 1 teaspoon of butter to a 12-inch cast iron or an oven proof, non-stick saute pan and melt over medium high heat. Once heated, add 1/2 cup of chopped asparagus and 1/2 cup red bell peppers and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour egg mixture into pan, making sure it evenly coats the ingredients. Let that sit on the burner for about 2 minutes, until you see the edges setting.
-Place pan into oven and broil for 3-4 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from pan and cut into 6 servings. Serve immediately or store in fridge and reheat later.
There’s a lot of hot pans involved in this one, so get the kids to help out with the preparation instead, by grating the cheese and blending together the eggs, cheese, salt and pepper.
- Sweet, or Savory, or both! 5 mins
A PBJ sandwich is a classic, but what about a PBB? Thinly slice a banana into the peanut butter sandwich for a breakfast that will keep kids fuller for longer. I confess, I love to talk about nut butters – peanut butter, almond butter, smooth or crunchy. I even found dry roasted peanut butter this week – but natural is the key for kids, to avoid the sugar and hydrogenated oils. (P.S. Feel free to send me your family’s favorite peanut butter recipes, I’m nuts about them 😉 )
- Breakfast Takeaway! 10 mins
Some kids aren’t that hungry in the morning. Send them on their way with a zipped-up smoothie made from oats, fruit and milk to ensure they don’t start the day on an empty tummy. You can also add a spoonful protein with healthy yogurt, chia seeds or a dollop of nut butter (allergies permitting!).
- Hire an Oat Chef! 10 mins
A quick bowl of oats (5 tbsp. oats, 5 tbsp milk microwaved for 1 min or on the stove top for 5 mins). Then let the kids be in charge!
Get your young ‘chef’ to decorate with raisins, sliced banana, cubed apple or a berry compote, and these natural sweeteners won’t lead to an energy dip mid-morning. Again – healthy yogurt is a great protein boost to keep full for longer.
Top Breakfast Tip: Add fruit on the breakfast table to encourage starting the day with berries or a banana. And remember, if you eat fruit for breakfast, you are setting a great example too.[3]
Printable Coloring Sheet: Ollie & Me: Paint an Egg!
Click here to download printable PDF
Please share your breakfast ideas to Ollie Club on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with #ollieclub and win our monthly Ollie Chef prize of a signed Ollie Storybook.
Making every meal an adventure.
Messy fun! Sheena x
[1] [Breakfast: Is It the Most Important Meal?]↩
[1] [Messy Kids Who Play With Their Food May Be Faster Learners, Study Says]↩
[1] [Messy Kids Who Play With Their Food May Be Faster Learners, Study Says]↩