9 Delish Breakfasts for Your Busy Mornings

Editor’s note: This article was sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Washington

Start your school and work day on the right foot with quick and easy recipes featuring tasty dairy ingredients. Why dairy? Not only do dairy products taste great, they add a boost of high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, B vitamins and much more to your meal. In other words, they are nutrient dense, explains Brianne Cowan, mom to 8-month-old Shay, who just started on solids, and registered dietitian nutritionist with the Dairy Farmers of Washington. “You get a lot of nutrients for the amount of calories consumed,” she continues. “In an 8-ounce glass of cow’s milk you can get 13 essential nutrients including protein, calcium and vitamin D.” Adding dairy to your breakfast also helps keep everyone from becoming hungry before your next meal, so no one gets distracted (ok …”hangry”) before snack or lunch.

For little ones, milk and yogurt are versatile breakfast staples chock-full of nutrients our bodies need that we must get through the foods we eat. Cowan notes, “Milk and yogurt both provide calcium, which is vital to growing strong bones, as well as zinc and selenium, which help maintain a healthy immune system. The high-quality protein found in milk and yogurt help give our bodies lasting energy, which growing minds need to learn.” Dairy is also important for grown-ups: It helps maintain bone health, keeps vision strong and is one of the best sources of calcium and vitamin D to meet daily requirements.

One of Cowan’s favorite breakfast recipes is overnight oats. “What I love about overnight oats is how customizable they are — the texture, the flavor, the nutrients. I make them ahead of time and store them in the fridge for a couple of days so they are ready to go.” She includes rolled oats, milk, yogurt and a scoop of nut butter in her recipe, and often adds ground flaxseed and chia seeds for a fiber and Omega-3 boost, before topping it with tasty seasonal fruit and granola.

Here are nine more easy, kid-friendly recipes featuring cheese, kefir and everything in between so you can start your day right.

Easy kefir overnight oats

With only three ingredients, these tasty, easy overnight oats include a touch of kefir. Monica Nedeff, a registered dietitian, loves using kefir because of its high protein and probiotic content. A bit thinner and tangier than traditional yogurt, it’s low in lactose, which may make it easier to digest than other dairy products. Using frozen fruit adds a bit of natural sweetness (and cuts down on prep) and it will be perfectly defrosted by the time you are ready for breakfast. Add fun toppings such as chia seeds, granola, a pinch of cinnamon or chocolate chips for a special treat. You can use plain kefir or flavored (I especially like strawberry and vanilla).

Breakfast frozen yogurt bark

Chock-full of probiotics, this breakfast treat from Live Eat Learn falls somewhere between a bowl of cereal with milk and a decadent dessert. The kids will love to help prepare this frozen make-ahead breakfast, which is super easy (and, admittedly, a bit messy). Let them sprinkle on their favorite cereal (granola is a hit) and chopped fresh fruit (whatever is in season or needs to be used up). Pop it into the freezer, then grab a piece or two (or three!) on your way out the door. If you want to boost your probiotics even further, swap out the yogurt with kefir.

Cottage cheese breakfast toast

Whether you like breakfast sweet or savory, no-cook breakfast toast is packed with protein and fiber. A recipe that is endlessly versatile, Clean and Delicious offers some lip-smacking ideas to get you started. Starting with cottage cheese and whole wheat or sprouted bread, let your palate (and fridge) be your guide. Keep it simple with nut butter and berries, or layer on smoked salmon and capers. Or perhaps have a smorgasbord and try several options.

Ricotta pancakes

A morning classic, whip up a batch of ricotta pancakes from I Heart Naptime. Ricotta makes these pancakes extra moist and fluffy, with a texture that falls somewhere between crêpe and traditional flapjack. Because ricotta has a good fat content, these pancakes are super tender. Mix in your favorite add-ins such as blueberries, chocolate chips or a bit of lemon zest. Just make sure not to overmix the batter. Double or triple the batch on the weekend, then freeze the leftovers and reheat them by popping the pancakes in the toaster when you’re ready for an easy breakfast.

Anthony Bourdain’s scrambled eggs

For the creamiest scrambled eggs you’ll ever eat, use this secret ingredient: sour cream! My Everyday Table walks you through the quick and easy process step-by-step to get perfect scrambled eggs, every time. Make sure to use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture (and the most protein and healthy fat to keep you full all morning). Top your eggs with a sprinkling of cooked bacon or chives (or not, if you’re kids are wary of anything green) and serve with a slice of whole-wheat toast and fresh fruit for a complete meal ready in under 15 minutes.

Savory cottage cheese breakfast muffins

Packed with protein and veggies, these quick and easy morning muffins are a great way to start your day (and sneak in a serving of vegetables). Nourished by Nic loves a sweet muffin just as much as a savory muffin in the morning (and sometimes it’s good to mix it up). Skip the prep and use frozen veggies to make these muffins super easy to prepare, then batch prep and freeze the leftovers for quick on-the-go mornings. Add even more protein with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese and a dash of milk. You can easily make them vegetarian-friendly by omitting the turkey sausage.

Healthy yogurt parfaits

Yummy Toddler Food has some fun, kid-friendly takes on yogurt parfaits, or what they’ve deliciously renamed “yogurt sundaes” in their house. Kids will love to help assemble these pretty and tasty cups, packed with protein, probiotics and calcium. Instead of the usual granola, try something fun for the crunchy layer like broken-up animal crackers or graham crackers. You can use regular or Greek yogurt, plain or flavored. Though best eaten right away, you can prep these ahead of time, using a healthy layer of seeds or coconut between the yogurt and the crunchy topping.

Cheesy egg casserole

Crazy for Crust’s super simple breakfast casserole uses both shredded cheese and cottage cheese. Best made the night before, this recipe comes together in just minutes and is crust-free. Though this recipe uses shredded mozzarella, you can use any variety of cheese (cheddar cheese is a classic while pepper jack adds a kick). Add even more nutrition by mixing in pre-cooked veggies or cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage. Make the dish gluten-free by swapping out the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free blend.

Milk and cereal breakfast bars

Why mess with perfection? Well, ok, maybe it’s fun to zhuzh it up a little bit. The Spruce Eats makes milk and cereal bars without all the added sugars and preservatives found in store-bought varieties, in these fun and tasty on-the-go treats. With only four ingredients, the recipe can be made again and again with different types of boxed cereal, nuts, or seeds. For a bit of color, add a handful of dried or freeze-dried fruit. This no-cook recipe can be prepared and frozen ahead of time, then packed into a lunch box for a quick and nutritious commute to school (or work).