Nutritious, filling and easy, oatmeal is the perfect breakfast for a busy toddler (and big kids too!). These oatmeal recipes for toddlers use large flake oats or steel cut oat for added nutrition.
As a pediatric dietitian and mom of 3, I’m asked all the time: “what do you feed your toddler and big kids for breakfast?”
Oatmeal is always at the top of my list. Nutritious, filling and easy, oatmeal is the perfect breakfast for a busy toddler. Oats are high in soluble fibre- a type of fibre that keeps you fuller longer, naturally decreases your cholesterol levels and stabilizes your blood sugar levels. Oatmeal offers energy to start your day, and staying power, keeping you fuller longer. They are a great source of thiamine, iron and certain anti-oxidants.
A few helpful notes about these breakfast oatmeal recipes:
Tip #1: Choose large flake or steel cut oats
When you are choosing oats in the grocery store, there are several varieties to choose from. I usually choose large flake oats (old-fashioned rolled oats) or steel-cut oats (which take longer to cook) instead of instant or quick oats. Large flake or steel cut oats are less refined and processed, are lower on the Glycemic Index (are digested slower) and have a grainier texture (which I like) as compared to quick and instant, which cook quicker and produce a smoother, thicker texture. Be careful with instant oats packages which often contain added sugars/sweeteners and other additives.
Tip#2: Cook oats in the microwave using a tall bowl
I’ve made these recipes with busy Moms in mind, so most of them can be cooked in the microwave. You can also cook oats on the stovetop (works well for bigger batches and if you’re using steel-cut oats). When you cook in the microwave, make sure to use a tall microwave-safe bowl or dish so that your oatmeal doesn’t come pouring over the sides as it cooks.
Tip #3: Use milk or coconut milk to make oats creamy and delicious!
I’ve given the option of using milk, a milk alternative or water in most of the recipes. I choose milk or coconut milk most of the time, because it makes for a creamier oatmeal. Water, soy milk, almond milk or any other milk work too. I’ve kept these recipes fairly simple, but feel free to add extra ingredients like chia seeds, hemp hearts or flax for an extra boost of fibre. Tasty oatmeal toppings are key!
Here are five of my favourite oatmeal recipes for toddlers (I used large flake oats for all recipes):
This pumpkin spice baked oatmeal is loaded with delicious Fall flavours, as well as nutrition. It’s rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals and will keep your family satisfied all morning.
You can make this yummy carrot cake oatmeal ahead of time, or the morning of (because it’s THAT versatile and easy!). It’s dietitian-approved and tastes like carrot cake – what’s better than that?! Oh, your kids will love it too. Boom!
This make-ahead version of oatmeal is the perfect combination of nutritious and delicious. Naturally sweetened with ripe banana, and higher in protein than regular oatmeal, this will be your family’s new go-to weekday breakfast!
This nutritious, yummy and easy peanut butter and banana oatmeal recipe is perfect for the whole family (even your wee ones!)
Chocolate for breakfast? Why not! This chocolatey overnight oats recipe is just as nutritious as it is delicious. Your kids will feel like they’re having a treat! Top with berries of your choice, and you’ve got yourself a balanced breakfast!
Oatmeal 5 Ways: Chocolate Berry Overnight Oats & More
Who doesn’t love waking up to breakfast already made?! Especially one that tastes like chocolate! Simply add milk of choice if needed, heat in the microwave and serve!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1/3 cup Vanilla (or plain) Greek yogurt
- 1 large ripe banana, mashed
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (or to taste)
- 3 teaspoon cocoa powder
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 1 cup berries (fresh or frozen) of choice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (except for the berries), and mix well.
- Pour equally into 4 small mason jars, topping each with ¼ cup berries).
- Seal the jars and let the oats soak overnight in the refrigerator.
- Open the mason jars in the morning, blend in the berries, add any addition milk (if desired) and enjoy! You can also heat in the microwave prior to serving too.
More toddlers breakfast ideas:
- Flourless chocolate lentil protein muffins
- Homemade peanut butter granola
- 3 easy make-ahead breakfast recipes for busy weekdays
For easy, family-friendly recipes, check out my recipe page!
Did you know that we offer personalized nutrition counselling for kids and families? If this is something you’d like to learn more about, please visit The Centre for Family Nutrition.
![[AD] Who else loves a quick, one-pot meal for the busy back-to-school season? 🙋♀️
As a dietitian and mom, I’m all about recipes that are quick, affordable, nourishing, and of course, delicious. That’s why I’ve teamed up with my friends at L’Ancêtre Cheese to bring you my Homemade One-Pot Hamburger Helper—perfect for weeknight dinners and makes awesome leftovers for lunchboxes too!
What I love most? You can toss everything—beef, pasta, veggies—into one pot, saving time and dishes! Plus, @ancetrecheese , made locally here in Canada from pasture-fed cows, adds that perfect cheesy touch. It’s organic, sustainably produced, and absolutely delicious. 🧀
What you need:
* 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
* 4 cups uncooked whole grain, regular or gluten-free pasta noodles (like rotini or macaroni)
* ½ yellow onion, diced
* 2 cups veggies of choice, diced (eg. mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower etc.)
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tsp pepper
* 1.5 cups milk of choice
* 1.5 cups chicken broth
* 1-680 mL jar tomato pasta sauce
* 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
* Tsp red pepper flakes
* 3 cups L’Ancêtre’s Marbled Mild Cheddar
Put it all together:
1. Cook beef in a large pot over medium-high heat until browned, then drain. Add onion, garlic, red pepper, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook until veggies are tender-crisp.
2. Mix in milk, broth, tomato sauce, and uncooked macaroni. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 15-18 minutes, stirring often. Adjust liquid as needed.
3. Remove from heat, stir in frozen peas and 1 cup of cheese until melted. Transfer to a casserole dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake at 375°F for 5-10 minutes until golden. Cool before serving.
Make sure to pick up L’Ancêtre cheese (either a family-sized block or pre-shredded) at a local retailer near you! Visit https://www.fromagerieancetre.com/en/cheeses/ to find out more!
#Ad #Partner #BackToSchool #LunchboxIdeas #OrganicCheese #FamilyMeals #LAncetreCheese](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/459558167_1543212989903442_998663133378052381_nfull.webp)
![👇[AD] Dietitian-approved “snack lunches” that my kids love, in partnership with my friends at @naturesbakery 💜
Make sure to comment “snack lunch” and I’ll send you a free school-lunch cheat sheet 🙌🏻
Let’s be honest, the items kids get most excited about in their school lunches are the... snacks! So, why not build a meal-worthy “snack lunch” that your kids can be excited about opening and enjoying?
We do this often, and for good reason. It’s quick and easy for me (yay!), and my kids love helping pack them. Plus, these lunches can be just as nourishing as a “traditional” lunch. Bonus: the most often get eaten!
Here’s my “rule of 4” for building these lunches, ensuring they’re packed with the nutrients my kids need for the day:
1️⃣ Whole grains/starches
2️⃣ Protein-rich foods
3️⃣ Fruit
4️⃣ Veggies
As a dietitian Mom, I’m a huge fan of including @naturesbakery Fig Bars in my kids’ lunches. Not only do they always get eaten (aka my kids love them), but I love that they contain a simple ingredients list with whole grains and real fruit. They’re also plant-based, dairy-free and nut-free (making them perfect for school lunches!).
A typical “snack lunch” might look like this:
Charcuterie-Style
* Meats, cheese and crackers; for plant-based families, you could swap the meat and cheese with smoked tofu slices, tempeh strips or plant-based deli slices, plant-based cheeses, and hummus, roasted chickpeas or edamame.
* Cut up fruit
* Chia pudding
* A Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar (plant-based, dairy-free, and nut-free!)
Mediterranean-focused:
* mini naan bread/pita
* Hummus
* mini caprese salad skewers
* Nature’s Bakery Blueberry Fig Bar
* Fruit
* Dried chickpeas
Fun Finger Foods:
* energy bites
* edamame beans
* Seed and banana roll-ups
* string cheese (or dairy-free alternative)
* Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar
* Mini carrots
If you think your kids will love snack lunches, comment “snack lunch” below for a free school lunch cheat sheet ❤️
#Ad #Partner #NaturesBakery #SnackLunch #SchoolLunchIdeas #DietitianApproved #PlantBasedSnacks](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/458372728_522285503507501_4269903014098073865_nfull.webp)
Comments
Courtney says
Do you provide the nutritional information for these recipes anywhere?
Thanks.
Sarah Remmer says
Hi Courtney. I don’t usually provide nutritional information per serving, because everyones serving size will be different, and I’m not a big calorie counter :).
Bethy says
OMG must try that baked blueberry thing. It looks DELICIOUS.
Amanda says
Wow I love oatmeal…The Baked Blueberry Banana Oatmeal With Vanilla Greek Yogurt sounds really tasty, I’m gonna have to try that. Although I always knew how healthy oatmeal was I never knew the difference between the different kinds before reading this article. Now that I know I can chop another form of processed food off of my list.