We all want our kids to start the day off right with a nutritious breakfast. We know breakfast is so important for kids as it helps to give them the energy they need to get them through the day and also supports their behaviour and learning. However for many parents it can be a struggle knowing what to provide and finding an option that their kids will actually eat.

To build a nutritionally balanced breakfast focus on low GI wholegrains, protein (e.g. dairy products, eggs, nuts/nut pastes, seeds, meat, chicken, fish, legumes) and ideally a fruit or vegetables.

Here are 10 of my favourite breakfast ideas:

1. Wholegrain cereal with milk, yoghurt and fresh fruit
2. Porridge made with milk and served with fresh fruit with option to add nut paste/slivered nuts or seeds
3. Boiled eggs with toast soldiers and a piece of fruit
4. Scrambled or poached eggs on wholegrain toast with avocado
5. Wholegrain toast with avocado, cheese and tomato
6. Wholegrain toast with peanut butter and banana or berries
7. Baked beans on wholegrain toast
8. Wholemeal pancakes with fresh fruit (see recipe below)
9. Fruit smoothie – e.g. milk, yoghurt, fruit, oats or weet-bix and optional nut paste or seeds
10. Yoghurt sprinkled with muesli/oats/crushed weet-bix and fruit

Recipe: Wholemeal Banana Pancakes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 medium bananas
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp olive oil

Method

1. In a large mixing bowl sift wholemeal self-raising flour and cinnamon.
2. In a separate bowl mash the bananas. Add the milk and egg. Whisk to combine. Add the mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
3. Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a medium-large non-stick fry pan on medium heat. Add ¼ cup of the mixture to the pan. Cook for approximately 3 minutes (or until bubbles appear on the surface) and then turn. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Serve with a few extra slices of banana or berries and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired. Any leftover pancakes can be frozen.