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28 Ideas for a High Protein Breakfast

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Getting protein at breakfast is important to keep kids fueled and attentive during the day. Sometimes figuring out what protein to serve with breakfast can be hard! We have 28 ideas for a high protein breakfast for you!

When protein is included with breakfast, it helps to rev up the metabolism, keep blood sugar levels steady and give the kids the energy they need. Unfortunately, the typical breakfast kids gravitate towards don’t include very much protein. 

28 High Protein Breakfast Ideas for Kids

A lot of the typical breakfast foods kids gravitate towards are high in sugar and simple carbs, which can give kids a quick burst of energy, but then lead to a drop in blood sugar. This can make kids feel lethargic, irritable and not able to concentrate. Adding carbs that have higher fiber combined with protein is a great choice to give kids the right balance for breakfast that will keep them feeling great.

How much protein do kids need in a day?

Protein is the building block of our muscles.  The latest recommendations are 1/2 gram of protein per pound of body weight. So, if your child is 50 lbs, 25 grams of protein per day is sufficient for all his needs!  A 100 pound child would need 50 grams of protein.

So, here are our top 28 ideas for a high protein breakfast for your kids.  They will love these!

1) Hard Boiled Eggs on Toast

Each egg has 6 grams of protein, bread has about 2 grams (but some has more) and then avocado’s have 4, giving this piece of toast, 12 grams of protein! This is a quick and easy high protein breakfast!

Hard Boiled Eggs on Toast

2) Breakfast Burritos

Combining eggs and ground turkey in this breakfast burrito, we’ve packed 20 grams of protein in each one!

3) Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie

We love this smoothie. The milk has 8 grams of protein, peanut butter has 8 grams, chia seeds have 2, and 4 in the tofu, giving this shake, 22 grams of protein!

4) Frittata

This high protein breakfast frittata includes asparagus, eggs, and ham, giving us 18 grams! High Protein Breakfast Frittata

5) Breakfast Egg Cups

Even spinach has protein! Combine that with the cheese, and milk, and per cup, these little egg cups have 6 grams of protein.

6) Kodiak Cakes

We love homemade pancakes!  (see our list of the best, nutrient dense, homemade pancake recipes here!) If you haven’t heard of Kodiak cakes yet, you’re missing out! We get these at Costco, but you can also get it on Amazon.  Kodiak cakes is a pancake mix that  has 14 grams of protein per half cup. Use these to make our pancake pizza!  Kodiak cakes make a much more high protein breakfast than regular pancakes.

7) Cottage Cheese with Fruit

Did you know, cottage cheese has 25 grams of protein in 1 cup! That’s as much as a chicken breast!

Cottage Cheese and Peaches

8) Greek Yogurt with Fruit

Depending on your brand, Greek yogurt is a fabulous source of protein.  1 cup contains 17-24 grams of protein. You can buy it, (just look for no added sugars)  but you can also make homemade greek yogurt here! 

Greek Yogurt with Berries

9) Quinoa with Fruit

Quinoa! Tastes like a grain, but it’s a seed- therefore a good source of protein! This high protein breakfast has 10 grams of protein per serving. Quinoa Breakfast with Blueberries and Raisins

10) Oatmeal with Peanut Butter

Both oatmeal and peanut butter have protein, but you can also include milk when making your hot cereal for even more protein!  (11 grams for this one below)

11) Quinoa Quiche

Quinoa + eggs + cottage cheese + cheese, means these little quiche cups can pack 7 grams of protein per cup, with 99 calories each! quinoa crusted egg muffins

12) Toast with Peanut Butter

We love this bear toast, and your kids will too!  For 1 tablespoon, enough to fit on this toast, Peanut butter has 4 grams of protein. But the bread has 2, so 6 grams for this!

13) French Toast Casserole

We love french toast, because even kids who don’t like eggs, like it! The baked banana french toast below has 12 grams of protein per serving (when dividing this recipe by 12)

14) Chia Pudding

While chia seeds can be high in calories, 1 ounce has 5 grams of protein! Soak them in liquid for a pudding, or add them to smoothies!

15) Greek Yogurt with Granola, Seeds, and Nuts

Granola is a great place to pack in some protein. Try adding nuts (6 grams protein per ounce), seeds (9 grams of protein per ounce), and then combine with greek yogurt (20 grams per cup), and this parfait suddenly becomes a great high protein breakfast.

Granola and Yogurt Parfait

16) Cottage Cheese Pancakes

You must give these a try! 17 grams of protein for 2 small pancakes- YUM!

17) Protein Packed Smoothie Bowl

Made with soy milk and chia seeds, this smoothie bowl has 10 grams of protein per serving. And let’s face it, who couldn’t eat two servings!

18) Peanut Butter Muffins

Thanks to the peanut butter, one of these muffins has 15 grams of protein!

19) Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast casseroles

High Protein Breakfast Casserole

20) Energy Bites

Chia seeds and peanut butter boost the protein of this breakfast idea! But you could also add nuts and seeds for even more!

Chia Seed Bites

21) Egg Sandwiches

Simple and delicious!  15 grams of protein in one, homemade, “egg mc muffin”Egg Sandwich

22) One Eyed Monsters

Every family has their own names for this kid favorite, ours has always been, the one eyed monster! (8 grams of protein!)

23) Power Packed Green Smoothie

Any green smoothie can pack in the protein if you include milk as your liquid, (8 grams of protein) and flax seeds (2 grams per tablespoon)!

Power Packed Green Smoothie

24) Protein Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin has protein, but these pumpkin pancakes are also made with Greek yogurt, for 5 grams of protein per 100 calories!

25) Protein Breakfast Bars

The secret protein ingredient in these breakfast bars- BEANS!  Plus, they also have flax seeds, quinoa flour, and hemp seeds. One small bar gives you 4 grams of protein, but I know you’ll eat at least 3!

Protein Breakfast Bars

26)  Nut Crusted French Toast

For kids who don’t like eggs, but you want them to eat them, French toast is perfect. These french toast sticks are even better as we’ve packed the nuts on!  (9 grams per slice of french toast)

27) Omelets!

The perfect omelet for us has 2 eggs ( 12 grams of protein), cheese  7 grams per slice, and veggies (1 gram of protein) for 20 grams of protein per omelette!)Kid Friendly Omelet

28)  Baked Omelettes

If you need to save some time, and make a whole pan of omelettes at once, try baking them!  This baked omelette has 7 grams of protein, if you get 12 servings from the pan.

Baked Omelet Roll-Up

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Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

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6 Comments

Is there a reason you’re pushing high protein breakfasts? The average american gets 1.5 times the amount of protein they need. Eggs are definitely not a “health” food.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for reaching out. We’re all about balance, including a healthy combination of whole food proteins, grains, fruits, and veggies. American breakfasts tend to be carb- and sugar-heavy, so we’re suggesting some alternatives that bump up the protein for a more balanced and satiating breakfast for kids. Eggs make the list because they’re a whole food with a complex nutrient profile that goes well beyond protein.

I can’t seem to reply to Elizabeth. However, I wanted to share that I am thankful for this list (especially the on the go freezer friendly ones) bc it is recommended to give kids high protein breakfasts if they struggle with attention and that is what I came looking for! 🙂

I’m excited to try the cottage cheese pancakes for my boys. I can’t get them to eat eggs or cottage cheese but putting these ingredients into a pancake is genius!