Home » ADHD Parenting » The Best Breakfasts for ADHD

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

It’s no secret that the best breakfasts for ADHD include 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, the best supplements, the best things to say, as well as the best books to read on 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 found the 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.

“Mom Brain” side note: This cooking class helped my youngest learn how to cook for himself. It emphasizes REAL FOOD and teaches kids how to be independent in the kitchen – a win for the both of us!! 

Oh, and their knife skills module is free for a limited time! Get a free sneak peak HERE.

See our full disclosure policy here.

The Best Breakfasts For ADHD

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making  a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

Baked Oatmeal Casserole

I make a big batch of this on Sunday and we eat it for at least 4 more days!

  1. Place 6 to 7 cups of oats in a 9 by 13 pan. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of plain whole milk yogurt and l 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.
  2. WHAT? SOAK OATS?  I soak my oats first to rid them of their phytic acid. This step is optional but once you read 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.
  3. Mix in 1 stick of melted butter7 to 8 eggs1/2 to 3/4 cup honey or maple syrup1/2 cup chia seeds1/2 cup flax seed meal1 can pumpkinbig pinch of baking sodabig pinch of saltbig handful of raisins and as much almond milk as 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.
  4. Bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until the top is a little brown and crispy looking.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!!
  8. 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 article about boys’ starving brains is a  must-read).

This recipe was adapted from Katie Kimball(her cookbooks have been a staple for about 5 years. They are awesome and 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

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making  a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

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 is Kite Hill) for breakfast and enjoy them as a snack anytime of the day.

  1. Combine 1 cup coconut oil or butter with 6 eggs and 3/4 cup honey. Mix well.
  2. Add 5 cups of almond flour and 1/4 cup of coconut flour. If too dry, add a bit of almond milk until very moist, but not runny.
  3. Now add in 1/4 cup chia seedsbig handful of raisins1/4 flax seed meal or any other mix in. Again, add a bit of almond milk if batter gets too dry.
  4. Spoon out biscuit sized spoonfuls onto a parchment covered cookie sheet.
  5. 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”.
grain free pancakes

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.

  1. Mix 2 eggs and one, 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.
  2. 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 of Sun Warrior Protein 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

Oatmeal Sundae

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

One of our favorite high protein breakfasts is oatmeal casserole,(it’s adapted from a version in my 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 of plain, steel-cut oatmeal to 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 a big bag of organic (did you know that regular oats are bathed in glyphosate? Yuck.) oats on Amazon and it ends up being a really economical choice, as well! 

Remember to check out Katie Kimball’s cookbooks,  for more amazing ideas for high protein breakfasts (and lunches and snacks and dinners!)

Potato Skillet

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!

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

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.
  • These Teff Brownies (yes, it’s that viral picture on 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 be starving) 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 for brain boosting lunches for ADHD Kids.

***This post contains affiliate links which means, if you purchase thru the link, I  may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.***

adhd diet

Here’s How I Save Some Money

One way I save a lot of money is by using Imperfect Produce. This company saves precious resources that went into growing the food by saving the food and they bring it straght to your front door. Each week I get a box of organic produce delivered to my door for about 1/2 the price of organic produce at my local grocery store. And I get to choose what I receive!

 Try it out here – you get $10 bucks off your first order and I’ll get $10 bucks off my next order. Seriously – I consistently save money each week buying produce and organic specialty items from Imperfect.

Need Help With Lunches For Your ADHD Kiddo?

This article has ideas for easy lunch packing.

Find the best snacks to include in lunches, here.

PIN FOR LATER!!

The Best Breakfasts for ADHD gives you our top three high-protein, whole food recipes that you can alter to make them perfect for your ADHD kid. We all know that making a high protein breakfast part of an ADHD diet is a great alternative remedy. Fuel your ADHD kid for school success with these make ahead breakfast ideas.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

85 Comments

  1. Thank you for these healthy options. Can’t wait to try them out with my gang.

    1. Thanks, let me know whatcha think. You can really modify them to suit your tastes very easily. I am eating some Oatmeal Casserole as I type!!

  2. Love these ideas! I’m dealing with a 6 year old girl with ADHD who is a very picky eater, but I see a lot of things here that I think she will eat! Definitely going to give these a try, thanks!!

    1. Great Jessica! The oatmeal can be so easily tailored-berries, raisins, a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips…we eat a ton of it! Let me know what works for your picky eater.

      1. Stephanie says:

        I appreciate that you have taken the time and effort to share this information. Unfortunately, none of these would be an option. The only ingredients listed that he would eat, are chocolate chips, and honey. It’s very difficult dealing with a child who’s very texturally driven. I can only get him to eat berries, by blending them into a smoothie. He won’t eat oatmeal, or anything with seeds. Veggies are potatoes, raw carrots, and once in a blue moon, frozen peas. Fruits,…he’ll eat bananas, apples, and grapes. Nothing else. Once in awhile I can get him to eat an egg. If made to try anything else, aka, broccoli, or tomatoes, he will vomit. Do you have any recipes, or ideas that don’t include seeds, raisins, oatmeal or veggies?

        1. HI Stephanie, Sorry you have it so rough! Does your kiddo like smoothies? I put a world of stuff in them…..start sweet and then slowly taper off the sweetness. How about chia puddings? Cookies baked with protein powder? meatloaf with veggies pureed? Chocolate avocado pudding? Let me know if any of those sound doable. Have you also seen an OT to work on sensory issues? Very often its the textures of the foods that kids avoid.

  3. Question about the oatmeal casserole: you recommend soaking it to get rid of phytic acid; do you drain it before mixing in the rest of the ingredients? Or does soaking/cooking “kill” them?

    1. Hi Fran, Thanks for your question. I do not drain my soaked oats..the soaking does the breaks down the enzymes in the oatmeal, making it more digestible and the nutrients more readily available. Bon appetite!

      1. Hi, Beth. Thanks for your quick reply!

      2. Can I use greek yogurt and GF oats?

        1. Hi Jennifer, Any plain, whole milk yogurt works and yes, on the GF oats. I just made it and added frozen blueberries – great for summer! On day 2 and 3, I slice it like bread and put peanut butter on it. Let me know how you like it!

  4. If we skip the soaking step, do we still add the yogurt and the water?
    Thank you!!

    1. Hi Cindy,
      Yes, still add the yogurt and water…you will probably not need as much liquid since it won’t be soaked up by the oats as quickly. The oats should be very moist, but not swimming. Thanks for asking!!!

    2. Michelle L Dumler says:

      I love these ideas, but can you make the oatmeal casserole without egg? My son has a pretty nasty egg allergy. We’ve been blessed that’s his only allergy, but takes some protein favorites away.

      1. Hi Michelle, Have you ever tried to make an “egg” with chia seeds? I think whatever you normally sub for eggs would work as well. You seriously can’t go wrong…worst case its a bit dry and then you slather on thawed frozen fruit or just slice it like bread. Let me know how it goes.

      2. Elizabeth s says:

        Yes you can! I used egg replacer and it worked brilliantly. I use it when I run out of eggs….they’re so expensive right now I keep it in the pantryf

  5. a couple questions – can we add some cinnamon to the oatmeal casserole? Also can I use maple syrup made with Monk Fruit instead of traditional maple syrup? We are trying to go as sugar free as possible.

    1. HI Mary, YES and YES…really you can modify this so easily. Monk Fruit syrup sounds interesting-do you buy it at Whole Foods? I have made it without sugar at all and then just add a teeny bit of honey when I serve it. Enjoy!Thanks for reading.

    2. Elizabeth s says:

      Same here. I substitute unsweetened chopped dates and apricots and reduce the maple syrup by half. I do not use raisens since they’re so very high in sugar too. I add a bit of vanilla and cinnamon and its superb. If they want a bit more drizzle honey in top when you serve it.

  6. Could you provide a smaller batch of cookies recipe pls? I don’t want to burn through all that good stuff if it ends up in the trash. 🙁 thanks!!

    1. Hi Melissa…I get it! Expensive ingredients…I will include on in my upcoming newsletter. Thanks for the feedback!

    2. Elizabeth S says:

      Same happened to me. Half went into the trash first time…I cut the recipe in half. Smaller pan. Lasts a week for three people. This recipe is very generously portioned.

      1. I have been cutting it up like brownies and freezing it in a big ziploc bag…easy breakfasts to just heat up. My husband takes them to work and eats it like cake.

  7. My son is allergic to tree nuts. He can have peanuts and coconuts so what would you recommend instead of almond flour? Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hi Tracey, I have not tried it with this recipe, but I have good luck with CostCo’s gluten free flour mix as well as Bob’s Red Mill brand. I know Bob’s has no nuts of any sort. You can use it as a 1:1 sub for any recipe.

  8. For the oatmeal casserole: what type of oatmeal (instant or regular) and what size can of pumpkin?

    1. Hi LuAnn, I use regular oatmeal and the small can (12 to 14oz.) of pumpkin. Let me know how you like it. It’s cool here this week, so I think I’m going to make a batch!

  9. “Breakfasts” is spelled wrong in your main photo for this post. Just wanted to let you know so you could update it.

    1. Hi Laura!! Thank you!! So funny that I have never noticed — and it’s my most read post! I think our eye compensates all the time. Fixed! Thanks!

  10. I appreciate the ideas, but I knew that I was going to see things that my son, with anaphylaxis to multiple food allergens, would not be able to eat… yes, I was right. What do families like mine do? When you have a child with multiple issues, including severe food allergies, and their IgE is off the charts, contributing to them “leaping out of their skin” and making their usual ADHD issues spike into the stratosphere, and yet, there is very few things they can eat…. my son’s preferred breakfast (okay, every single meal and snack, every single day) is frozen corn (frozen, he doesn’t want it warmed up) and rice crackers. To jazz it up and add colour… frozen peas. That’s it. He can’t eat eggs. He won’t go near anything that remotely resembles things he is allergic to, or once was allergic to, AND he has OAS (oral allergy syndrome) so he can’t eat raw fruit or vegetables. He does like potatoes, though, so we do lots of variations on those, and cauliflower. Count your blessings, if you don’t live with anaphylaxis to food allergens…. if one more teacher tells me my kid needs to stop getting up out of his seat so often, I will scream — you try living with an iGe of 550+

    1. OH my gosh, Lisa, I am sorry that none of these ideas will work for your son. Will he eat any protein? Has he eaten corn all his life? Have you tried non-food related things to soothe your son’s adhd? Epsom salt baths, magnesium oil rubbed on his skin, essential oils in a diffuser?

    2. Carly Meacham says:

      Hi, Do you leave the oats soaking with yogurt out of the fridge for 24 hours?

      1. Hi Carly, Yes, I know it sounds weird….make sure it is plain whole milk yogurt. If you are curious, look up “soaking grains”. You can also use water and lemon juice, but I think that leaves a bit of a bitter taste to the oats. Have fun experimenting!

    1. Hi Dee, I use almond milk for my recipes and that works well. Do you mean the eggs? Chia seeds are a great egg replacement. Let me know if I am not answering your question correctly, my apologies.

  11. Stephanie says:

    I can’t wrap my head around leaving yogurt on the counter for 12-24 hours….it doesn’t get bacteria?

    1. I know Stephanie, I couldn’t believe it either, but yogurt is created by bacterial action on milk – a way to actually preserve it without refrigeration. Up to 24 hours is a good rule of thumb for yogurt.

  12. I am really excited to try these! We recently decided to go medication free and I need all the holistic ideas I can get! Thanks 🙂

    1. Thanks Kristine! Great job…let me know what works best for your child. I love to hear from other, naturally minded folks.

  13. What is the purpose of soaking it with yogurt? Is it dangerous to leave the yogurt soaking all night at room temp?

    1. Hi Breanna, I know, I wondered that, too. But, the process is called facto-fermentation and it breaks down the physic acid of the oats, making more of the nutrients available to you. Make sure you use PLAIN whole milk yogurt for this process and it’s totally safe and makes your oats better for you! Thanks for your question.

      1. Could you let it soak in the refrigerator overnight?

        1. Sure Tonya…no need to, but keeps out of the way, too. Let me know how you like it!

  14. My child is allergic to every breakfast listed here. Ugh. So hard to feed an ADHD child with multiple food allergies.

    1. Oh no!! I am sorry. Did you check my second breakfast post? I understand — I am dealing with some autoimmune issues and eating AIP – no grains, sugar, eggs, nuts, dairy. What are the worst allergies for your child?

  15. Hi, I am going to make the oatmeal casserole but couldn’t find a can of pumpkin in my supermarket (UK based) I have bought some butternut squash instead, if I soften it first, will this work as a substitute? Thanks

    1. I am sure that will work…its similar to pumpkin. Let me know how you like the casserole! Thanks for reading!

  16. Could you use blueberries instead of raisins?

    1. Hi Amy….great idea! Everything I have ever added works out just fine. Fresh or Frozen fruit is a great idea.

  17. Is the Gluten Free part of the ADHD strategy or is that preference?

    1. Hi Kat! Yes, gluten free is part of the adhd diet. Many people think everyone should be g-free because of the awful way they process wheat nowadays. It is really easy – so many g-free products.

    2. Hi Kat, yes, gluten free is part of the adhd diet protocol. It should really be avoided by everyone considering how wheat is harvested and processed. Sugar free or super low sugar is what we have seen the best results with. Gluten free products can sometimes be loaded with white rice flour, so it’s best to check labels.

  18. I’m excited to try your recipes! What do you think about using mashed ripe bananas instead of pumpkin in your breakfast bread.

    1. I think it would be great! Zucchini also works well, if ground up well. Let me know how you like it!!Thanks for reading!

  19. I feel a little nervous that this is a silly question but I was wondering about the yogurt in the oatmeal casserole. You say to use plain whole milk yogurt, can you use 2% plain Greek yogurt? If you can use 2% will you explain why you choose whole milk yogurt? Thanks I’m looking forward to trying this tomorrow with my two kids first day of school.

    1. First off, no question is silly!! My understanding is that the yogurt has to be plain and whole milk to leave out to soak the oats. Anything else has some preservatives, flavorings, etc that will not be great if warm. If you want to use up the 2%, just soak it overnight in the fridge….you might not get the same soaking benefits as it being warm, but you’ll get to enjoy the casserole for their first day. Just buy the plain whole milk the next time. Let me know how you like it!!!

  20. Samantha Moss says:

    Hello Beth, I am in England and just learned our son has ADHD so I love your recipes and will be making a few, there are some ingredients you use that we will struggle to find but I am sure we can adapt, we live in the countryside. Our son is very fussy so any treasures in getting around this would help enormously. Thank you

    1. Hi Samantha! Thanks for your note. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the recipes – I am sure you can make substitutions as needed. Your son is lucky to have you! Glad you found my blog.

  21. Came here thinking it was easy to make breakfasts for adults with Adhd, but the Oatmeal casserole works great for what I was needing! I’ve been looking for healthy breakfast foods I can prepare ahead of time because I rarely have time to make breakfast before work, and my morning oatmeal is getting a bit repetitive. I cant speak for the effectiveness as far as it helping my adhd (because I rarely notice unless I have a bad day) but having something already prepared (that’s easy to make especially) makes my life so much easier. This recipe would be especially good for parents with adhd, as it’s easy to make and the whole family can eat it. The only thing that’s less adhd friendly would be remembering to presoak the oats, I may have to set a reminder for that one, lol

    1. Hi Kalyn! I’m glad you found us! Let me know how you like the Oatmeal Casserole…I just made it with a pureed leftover sweet potato and my kids loved it!

  22. I can’t wait to try the baked oatmeal, but wondering about the “big pinch” amount for the baking soda and salt. Would you say like 1/8 teaspoon?

    1. HI Sara….yes, and I often leave it out just because I am too lazy to get it out of the cupboard! I literally make this 3 times a month in the Spring, Fall and Winter and have it memorized. Let me know how you like it!

  23. Hi there! I got your oat casserole recipe passed to me from a friend and I make it all the time now! Love!! I was wondering if you or anyone else has tried using steel cut oats instead of rolled oats? I generally prefer steel cut texture in regular oatmeal, but wasn’t sure if it would come out okay in this recipe.

    Thanks!

  24. Hi there! My son hasn’t been diagnosed with ADHD, and I don’t think he has it, but he does have major behavior issues that I’m trying to partially manage by making diet changes. Some of them- like no food dyes, added sugars, and seriously limited gluten, overlap with the aDHD diet and I came across your post. Anyway, all this to say I’ve been making your baked oatmeal which my boys now call “breakfast bread” ?‍♀️ And we ALL love it!!! Such a great, healthy, responsible breakfast for these growing boys ( and also me…). Never would have found anything else like this with all these great ingredients and so little sweetener! Thanks a million for sharing!

    1. Hi Lindsey! Thanks so much, so glad your family likes the oatmeal. It is our standard breakfast from October to May(we break in the summer so as not to heat up the house). I love how you can really customize it and just can’t go wrong! What are your favorite add ins? We love pumpkin with hemp and chia seeds. I often slice it and bring it to work for lunch with a little almond butter.

  25. Charlotte says:

    Hi Beth
    I, just like so many others, are very thankful for your efforts in spreading the knowledge of food and how it influences us!
    I live in Sweden and do not find neither pumpkin nor butternut in a can. Does anyone have another suggestion for a substitute?

    1. HI Charlotte! Do you have access to sweet potatoes or yams? I often bake a few sweet potatoes and then blend them into smoothies or mash them into the oatmeal casserole. They have lots of good vitamins, too! Thanks for your question and for being a reader!

  26. What kind of oats do you use for the casserole?

    1. Hi Kayla, I always buy organic oats, sometimes store brands, like Whole Foods or my local grocer. If I can get gluten free, I will – my kids do not have celiac, so the trace amounts in oatmeal does not affect them.Hope that helps!

  27. Can something else replace the coconut sugar in the cowboy cookies? There is coconut sensitities in this house.

    Thanks

    1. Hi! You can use any other sweetener – honey or maple syrup work well. I often go super light on the sugar so my kids can drizzle maple syrup over them and think they are getting more sugar! Even just organic cane sugar. Let me know how it goes!

  28. Hello and thank you for these suggestions! What type of oats do you use for oatmeal casserole – Steel Cut / Irish Oats? Rolled / Old-Fashioned Oats? Quick oats? Steel cut? Any or all? Would you kindly let me know? Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Kelly, I just use old fashioned oats — gluten free when I get them at a decent price. I just made the casserole for the first time this week and added chia and frozen berries and a sprinkling of chocolate chips! At 13 and 15, my kids still love it!!

  29. Your articles are super helpful. I just wanted to share that I made the baked oatmeal and cowboy cookies. They are delicious. My son loved the cowboy cookies…for the win!

    1. Yeah! The oatmeal and cowboy cookies have been in rotation for about 7 years, I think. Still a big family favorite, glad you like them!

  30. My 16 yo son says he doesn’t feel like eating at 7 am, makes him nauseous. I try to make him stuff so he can take it with but he just doesn’t want to eat 🙁
    So frustrating to think he doesn’t eat until lunch

    1. Sorry!! My high schooler is acting the same way !! I’ve been buying OWYN Protein shakes for him in the morning and he has not been making his own lunch either….so he gets home and is starving!! I try to have great options for him them – usually leftover dinner or try to get him to have a smoothie. I know it’s hard but at that age, they have to start feeling the natural consequences and learning from it. It’s hard to watch, I know, because I am in the same boat with you right now.

  31. Love the ideas and recipes, only problem is one of my sons is allergic to tree nuts. Is there any alternative to almonds, and coconut? Probably not, but thought I’d ask.

    1. Hi! have you tried sunflower seeds or sunbutter? Do you mean the coconut flour? There are lots of flours that will substitute….or other non dairy milks, too.

  32. Costco sells sprouted glyphosate free oats. Highly recommend! Also protein powder (we buy the paleo valley one) thanks for the veggie bake idea! Going to try that with my kids

  33. Cynthia Fowles says:

    I love your posts and always take something from them. I struggle with the recommendations for a healthy diet for ADHD brains as we also must deal with allergies. These include all nuts, coconut, avocado, shellfish and kiwi. So many healthier recipes call for these ingredients and it is so frustrating.
    Any suggestions for those of us with fewer options?

    1. Hi Cynthia! Yikes, that is hard…the nuts, especially. I’d say do the best you can with food and supplements with some good vitamins and focus on other areas, like sleep and movement. Treating ADHD is really about the whole body and food is just one part. Focus on eating whole foods and staying away from processed foods as much as possible. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.