It’s no secret thatthe best breakfasts for ADHDinclude lots of protein,good fat, and little to no sugar. But it can be tricky to accomplish all three. These recipes are easy, versatile, budget friendly AND tick all the boxes for having great nutrition to fuel ADHD brains.
When my oldest son was first diagnosed with ADHD, I immersed myself into researching the best things for him. The best food, the best exercises, thebest supplements, the best things to say, as well asthe best books to readon the subject.
Needless to say, I have learned a lot over the past 16 years of parenting two boys with ADHD, especially about more natural methods to treat both of their ADHD symptoms. I am BIG ON FOOD and getting a great start in the morning serves us all well. I think I really have foundthe best breakfasts for ADHD.
The following recipes are time tested and kid-approved. There is no short order cooking at my house and I get no complaints from my kids-EVER – when these are served.
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The Best Breakfasts For ADHD
Baked Oatmeal Casserole
I make a big batch of this on Sunday and we eat it for at least 4 more days!
- Place6 to 7 cups of oatsin a 9 by 13 pan. Mix in1 1/2 cups of plain whole milk yogurtandl to 2 cups water(enough to make all the oats moist). Cover with a dishtowel, place on counter(or in cold oven if you have sneaky cats!) and let soak for 12 to 24 hours.
- WHAT? SOAK OATS?Isoak my oats firstto rid them of their phytic acid. This step is optional but once youread about soaking grains, you won’t skip this step. In a nutshell, soaking grains makes them easier to digest and their nutrients more readily available for your body to soak up. But you can skip the soaking and move right on to Number 3.
- Mix in1 stick of melted butter,7 to 8 eggs,1/2 to3/4 cup honey or maple syrup,1/2 cup chia seeds,1/2 cup flax seed meal,1 can pumpkin,big pinch of baking soda,big pinch of salt,big handful of raisinsand as muchalmond milkas needed to make the whole thing super moist. Mixing everything right in the baking dish saves time. I use a potato masher to mix all the ingredients together.
- Bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until the top is a little brown and crispy looking.
- You can tell this is not an exact science. I have easily made this 75 times or more over the past 3 years. Add a little more or less of ingredients as suits your tastes. I usually err on the side of not sweet because you can always drizzle a little honey or maple syrup over it when served.
- Sometimes we add chocolate chips or peanut butter. I will even serve it with a huge dollop of nut butter or sun butter for an extra punch. Sometimes I drizzle whole milk kefir over it for extra protein and probiotics.
- On day two thru four, slice this up like bread and toast it a bit in the oven and spread nut butter on it–delicious!!
- Store in the fridge and scoop out as needed.
You can also use and equal amount of coconut oil, in place of the butter.(This articleabout boys’ starving brains is a must-read).
This recipe was adapted from Katie Kimball(her cookbookshave been a staple for about 5 years.They are awesomeand a must for healthy families.). I’ve beefed up her recipe with more eggs, more fat and a whole host of add-ins.
Related: The Best Superfoods for ADHD
Cowboy Cookies
These are hearty, protein packed “cookies” with just a bit of sweetness. We serve them with nut butter or non dairy yogurt (our favorite isKite Hill) for breakfast and enjoy them as a snack anytime of the day.
- Combine1 cup coconut oil or butterwith6 eggsand3/4 cup honey.Mix well.
- Add5 cups of almond flour and1/4 cup of coconut flour. If too dry, add a bit of almond milk until very moist, but not runny.
- Now add in1/4 cup chia seeds,big handful of raisins,1/4 flax seed mealor any other mix in. Again, add a bit of almond milk if batter gets too dry.
- Spoon out biscuit sized spoonfuls onto a parchment covered cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes or until no longer soft and a bit brown on the edges. Makes about 20 large “cookies”.
High Protein Sources for an ADHD Diet
Grain Free Pancakes
This pancake recipe is all over pinterest and is so easy, yet packs a real protein punch. I make a huge batch and freeze them to eat all week. They even pack well in lunches.
- Mix2 eggsandone, very ripe banana. Add cinnamon to taste. Cook on a griddle as you would any type of pancakes. I usually make these smallish-about 4 to 5 inches around. Make a big batch with 12 eggs and 5 to 6 bananas.
- We often serve these with almond yogurt and “sprinkles” – otherwise known as flax seed meal. When my kids were really little I called flax seed meal, “sprinkles” and the name stuck!
We love adding in a big scoop ofSun WarriorProtein Powder to amp up the nutrition on these. It makes them a bit sweeeter, so there is no maple syrup needed. Heck, you can even pack them in a lunch box and eat them cold.
Related:How to pack the BEST Lunch for ADHD
One of our favorite high protein breakfasts isoatmeal casserole,(it’s adapted from a version inmy favorite cookbook, ever.) but I don’t always have everything I need to make the full recipe. Instead, I often cook up a big batch ofplain, steel-cut oatmealto serve over many days. My kids can serve themselves and add any number of “toppings”.
This is where the fun comes in. Each morning my kids spice it up with several options which vary from week to week. These toppings include:
- baked apples
- peanut or almond butter
- whole milk yogurt
- flax meal, hemp or chia seeds
- mini chocolate chips
- banana slices, frozen blueberries, raisins, or freeze dried fruit
- jam, honey, or maple syrup
I usually have at least two or three of these options on hand and only have to supervise the sweetener portions. : ) I buy abig bag of organic(did you know thatregular oats are bathed in glyphosate? Yuck.)oats on Amazonand it ends up being a really economical choice, as well!
Remember to check outKatie Kimball’s cookbooks, for more amazing ideas for high protein breakfasts (and lunches and snacks and dinners!)
This is one of those dishes that’s great for dinner, too. I usually make a huge batch and then serve it for breakfast a few times the same week. My boys love this!
For the base chop 2 sweet potatoes and 2 russet potatoes into cubes. Saute in a huge frying pan with some coconut or olive oil until nearly done.
Then add in sliced, pre-cooked sausages or hot dogs along with chopped apples or pineapple(yes!! it’s yummy!) Keep in the pan until everything is heated well through. Enjoy!
This recipe is so versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes and dietary needs.You can use bacon instead of or alongside the sausage. I sometimes add greens in this, but my kids don’t love that.
And I tend to favor sweet potatoes over white potatoes as much as I can. Cheese makes a great topper, if you can tolerate dairy. I’ve added walnuts to this, too. Stores great in the fridge for many days.
More SUPER EASY Breakfasts Ideas For ADHD
These need little explanation, are super easy, and older kids can make these themselves. Many of these items are in our cupboard or freezer at all times. My boys usually get their own breakfasts, so I need options that are super easy to prep.
- G-free waffles and nut butter or yogurt.
- TheseTeff Brownies(yes, it’sthat viral pictureon Pinterest!)are packed with protein – and Brownies for Breakfast!
- Salami(no dyes or antibiotics) and cheese – both of my kids LOVE this!!
- Egg salad on toast with fruit
- Frozen berries with whole milk yogurt and “sprinkles”(flax-seed meal)
- Scrambled egg(leftover from dinner – who has time to cook in the am?) and veg sandwich
- Gluten free toast, butter( I let them slather it on–remember their brains may bestarving) and whole milk yogurt with fruit.
Other Time Saving Tips:
Serve the same thing a few days in a row. If kids like something they most likely won’t complain about eating it again, and again.
Leftovers for breakfast! We’ll make loads of scrambled eggs for dinner and save the rest for breakfast. Wrap in a burrito with cheese or serve on toast to give it a new twist.
Make it easy for your kids to serve themselves. We started this early on with frozen waffles and peanut butter. My kids learned how to defrost in the micro and then spread on some nut butter around age 6 or 7.
Why stop at breakfast, check out my easy system forbrain boosting lunches for ADHD Kids.
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Need Help With Lunches For Your ADHD Kiddo?
This articlehas ideas for easy lunch packing.
Findthe best snacksto include in lunches,here.
