Quick breakfasts in Paris

You should be able to get something in the train station itself, I would think.

Which stations will you be leaving from?

I should have put that in my post. One day is Gare Montparnasse and the other day is Paris Est.

You will find branches of the " Paul " chain , with pastries and coffee to go , in the stations

Well Montparnasse is the size of a small city all by itself - you will have no problem getting plenty of food there before your trip - just be sure to be in the right part of the station so you avoid a last minute gallop; gare de l'Est has a row of food concessions in front of the ends of the platforms and a few behind, there will be plenty to eat there, too.

And if you pass a nice boulangerie on the way their products may be a little more local. They tend to open pretty early.

Thank you all so much! I feel more prepared now. Thanks for the tip about how huge the station is, Nigel. I will be sure to get there earlier than I had planned to make sure I'm in the right spot.

Bakeries where we usually get breakfast items to go including coffee sometimes are often not open that early, so the best bet is a kiosk with basic baked goods in the train station. When we are in this situation, I usually pick up fruit, and perhaps bottled juice the day before at least and we always have granola bars in the bag when traveling -- I have once or twice in early trips been glad I had a couple of bananas, oj and granola bar.

Trains themselves may or may not have food and regional trains e.g. Paris to Fountainebleau may not have toilets that are available and the small train stations may also not have these facilities, so go before you get on a train.

Thank you! I'll be sure to pack some granola bars just in case!

Rather than packing anything from home, I would check local stores the evening before.

I pick up stuff night before.. I do not find even the kiosks are open that early.. may be one though.. but I would not completely count on it. Bakeries sometimes open that early .. however when on way to train stations who has time to look.

The French equivalent to the Keebler elf is called BN -- you can get a packet of BN biscuits along with some fruit the night before for 2E. Suitable for vegetarians, and the packaging has the French equivalent of 'part of a healthy breakfast' on the side that it's fun to practice your language skills reading.

One word -- Monoprix! Some are even open late in the evening with a large grocery section.