How to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast. #tips
How to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast!
My girls are big eaters but, in the morning I find that they need a little extra encouragement. My challenge is also getting them to eat a healthy meal that satisfies their palate but, is good for them. I am a huge advocate of having my girls enjoy an 80/20 diet which allows them to eat nutritious foods and have treats once in a while. They are kids after all.
Serve a Protein.
I think that everyone should start their day off with a protein. It kick starts your metabolism and gets your body ready to break down whatever you eat all day. It is also power food for your muscles first thing in the morning. Your kids are no different, the trick is to find one that they enjoy.
Some Options:
- Eggs. (Scrambled, sunny-side up or poached though boiled are always a kid-favorite.)
- Yogurt.
- Cottage Cheese.
- Peanut Butter or Almond Butter.
Pack Them with Anti-Oxidants.
Anti-oxidants are an important part of a diet they help protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts of digestion and toxins found in the environment. Some of these are direct contributors to serious health problems like cancer and heart disease.
For this reason, I love adding colorful berries or veggies to their diet. It’s as easy as adding berries into yogurt or serving them as a side. I’ve even broken up a cereal bar over yogurt with berries.
Some Options:
- Blueberries.
- Cherries.
- Raspberries
- Blackberries.
- Raisins.
- Strawberries.
Heinz Breakfast Bars.
Breakfast bars are great for those mornings when you are in a rush and are looking to fill their tummies. These Heinz Little Kids Acai Blueberry & Raspberry Cereal Bars are a kid-pleaser. Mimi enjoys them and I love pairing it with a cup of cottage cheese for a protein boost!
About Heinz Little Kids Bars:
- Made with whole grains and fruits.
- No artificial flavours.
- No preservatives.
- Great for small hands.
Portable Food.
Heinz Little Kids Acai Blueberry & Raspberry Cereal Bars are made with whole grains and 100% natural fruit. So, I don’t feel bad giving these to Mimi for a breakfast treat! I love that it has fruits that provide anti-oxidants too! I love the kid-size too, they aren’t huge and are perfect for little hands! Any foods that they can take with them will make sure that their bellies are filled.
Almond Milk.
Kids need a lot of calcium for growing bones. Giving your kids almond milk in the morning is not only tasty but, it contains as much calcium and vitamin D as cow’s milk. It is also rich in other vitamins and minerals like potassium, manganese, magnesium, vitamin E, copper and selenium. My kids call them smoothies because we add vanilla.
Blend It Up.
If your kids find it harder to eat their fruits and veggies in the morning, the best next thing is to make a green smoothie. My kids love the color and though it takes a little for them to acquire the taste, once they do–they love it! You can pair it with a Heinz Little Kids Acai Blueberry & Raspberry Cereal Bars to top it off.
Green Smoothie Recipe:
- Kale.
- Spinach.
- Green Apple.
- Water.
- Chia seeds.
If your kids find it harder to drink a green smoothie, you can always use almond milk, add strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds and a banana to make it taste great.
Keep Them Fueled.
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day and as long as they are having the staples every morning, they’ll be able to keep moving all day long. As with any parent, you have to take it day by day. You kind of have to go with the flow and feel out how they’re feeling each morning.
Do your kids eat breakfast every morning?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.
Beautiful pics, and great tips. Breakfast is a challenge in our home so I am going to try to use some of your ideas!
Thank-you! Hope they help. 🙂
I hardly ever eat breakfast. It's not that I have to kid the kids in order. I don't have kids. It's more that I'm so busy, I'm not hungry.
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I am not usually hungry until lunch time. But, I try to show the kids I eat breakfast too. Even if it is a smoothie!
My daughter loves to eat, but she is also like me and not a big fan of eating in the mornings! But she would probably totally dig one of those bars!
I am totally not a breakfast eater either but, I make sure they do! Even if it\’s a breakfast bar!
Great tips, and wonderful idea – my kids used to eat those bars all the time when they were toddler! I need to incorporate different foods for breakfast – it's too much about the cereal all the time!
Mimi loves them, they are a nice size too. 🙂
Breakfast is always a challenge with my boys, but I love your ideas!!
Thanks, maybe these will help.
Oh those bars look great! My kids are horrible at eating breakfast.
Hope these help!
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I never had a hard time showing my daughter that breakfast is important. I feel horrible if I don't eat breakfast!
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I am not a breakfast person but, the girls are better than I am!
I remember the battle of trying to get my kids to eat breakfast in the morning!!! I still battle with myself to eat it. Those look like they would be perfect for on the go to.
Oh, me too! It is hard but, these tips help!
I really lucked out with my son. He's always been a good eater. I have a little cousin, and her mom had a TERRIBLE time getting her to eat.
The girls are better at it but, some days–it takes a little work!
We are not big breakfast eaters at my house. I love these ideas as they are so healthy and look delicious.
Thanks!
I found giving my kids a choice between things has made breakfast less of a fight.
Great idea!
Breakfast is a daily struggle at my house – my son hates breakfast. I'll have to try some of those bars!
He will like them!
My kids do love fruit and could eat it all day. They generally waste cereal so that is off the menu here.
My kids love fruit too, I think it is eating too early in the morning that gets them. The breakfast bar is great for on the go.
My youngest has turned into such a picky eater when it comes to breakfast time. I won't give up on him. These look really delicious.
It is hard but, you can do it!
I need all the help I can get getting my kids to eat breakfast. They are like me and don't like to eat early.
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Hope this helps!
There are some great tips here,thanks so much for sharing…you sure have been blessed with 2 beautiful daughters
My kids are big on breakfast but eat mainly carbs. I wish they would expand their intake of protein sources :).
Thanks for the blend it u tip,it seems they love the colors and will quickly drink them up…they are drinking stuff they would never eat,have to blend it up while they are sleeping because once they know whats in it….they will not like it
Whatever works, right?
My kids get bored with the same old breakfast choices, these are great options! Thank you!
I like to keep those bars in my purse if my boys get hungry when we are out. They love them.
I start my days with a green smoothie too! Every morning! I also put kale, an apple, and chia seeds, among other ingredients. I highly recommend Nature's Path's Qia.
Thanks, will look out for it!
All great tips! In this house we really need to try and get more nutrition into our breakfast, I have to be honest and admit we tend to eat too many carbs in the morning because it is "easy".
I have noticed since I have been using your tips that the grandkids are loving breakfast time.
Aww, that is awesome!
Thanks Nancy for nice tips. I would like to provide healthy breakfast for my kids. these recipes look yummy!