Skipping breakfast before going to preschool?

Question

I fear that I have tried it all! We have an 8,5,3,and 18 m/o, who refuse to eat breakfast! I have tried fortified milkshakes, eggs, pancakes, waffles, french toast,fruit,ham,grits- virtually everything. Sometimes they will eat dry cereal, or a waffle, but I feel so guilty sending them to school with nothing, or next to nothing in their tummies. Plus, we only have dinner as a family a couple of nights each week, so our family breakfasts are important to me. I would not be too concerned, except I knw that they dont eat much lunch at school due to their friends being there, and they would rather play. Should I let them eat dinner food for breakfast, if that is something they will eat? Any suggestions on healthy foods that they might like fr breakfast?
Thanks everyone.
mamaofthesweetest4

Answer 1

Do they like these breakfast foods at other times of the day? If so, it isn't that they don't like the food, its just that they r not hungry, maybe? Dinner food should b no problem, getting something in to them is the main concern here. So many studies show that kids who eat breakfast do much better in school. Hv u considered that maybe breakfast is too stressed or rushed in the mornings? Do they awake with enough time to really wake up n eat fairly relaxed? Just some thoughts.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Some people, kids included, are not really breakfast eaters. It is important to have a little something in the tummy to get a good start on the day, though. You don't have to stick to traditional breakfast foods. My youngest is 9. She has been an unusual eater since the day she was born. She will go several days eating only the tiniest amount of food and then one day she'll eat seconds of everything. I offer her a wide variety of foods and let her choose what she wants and how much she wants. We aren't much of morning people at our house and breakfast is usually what ever you can grab. Sometimes she does go out the door with out any thing to eat. But, usually she has a quick grab of a graham cracker, a few pear slices, or some leftover pasta from dinner the night before. Make being together the focus of your family breakfasts. Offer them several choices and let them pick what they want. I don't recommend being a short order cook, though. If cereal and waffles is what they like then that is fine. If they only eat a little, that is fine, too. Offer a good, substantial, healthy after school snack such as fruit and bagels. When my daughter was 2, she got stuck on being 26 pounds for months. She lived on cucumbers and watermelon for days at a time with an occassional few bites of chicken and pasta thrown in. Her doctor, while concerned she had no weight gain for almost a year while still gaining heighth said that as long as she wasn't losing weight and was having something from all the food groups in a week's time, to let her eat what she wanted, but always offer her healthy choices. I still go by that rule and she eats a wide range of foods, some rather unusual for a 9 year old. She loves mussels, every kind of vegetable, fish, and whole wheat pasta. She is very healthy and hasn't been sick for over 2 years.

Answer 3

I make muffins and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. She also has milk
and fruit. My daughter is going thru the I don't wanna eat phase in the mornings. I find that simple and easy is always the best.
Frozen yogurt is good and yogurt .cereal bars and granola bars are
great. Think easy finger simple food.
As a treat once a month we go to burger king and get cini minis
and milk.Plus I know our school has snack time and she takes food for snack. I am not a breakfast person but I have told she is that as a child she needs the food for her brain.
yes, dinner food can be a good breakfast food we do cold pizza and lasagana,sometimes even pumpkin pie;)
My fav breakfast that I love my daughter still will not eat, as she hates potatoe products.What we do is have her pick one of her favs for the week and then we rotate with what to make her.
From the examples above. Good luck.
Morgaine

Answer 4

Don't force the issue. Sit down and eat with the family. Make them sit with you with food in front of them. If they don't eat, don't worry about it. Tell them it's "family time" and focus on the people, not the food.

Some people don't like eating first thing in the morning. I'm like that too. You don't need to feel guilty about it. Eventually, their body schedules will probably align with your home schedule anyway, especially if they have three meals at about the same time each day. When they're hungry, they'll eat.

If kids at your school are allowed to just get up and go play whenever they feel like they're done eating, you need to talk to the school about that. Or maybe you just meant they sit at the table and fool around? That's not a very good way of running things either. Particularly with the younger ones, you might want to ask their teachers to keep an eye on them and make sure they're actually eating, or at least make a note of how much.

As for the actual food, just have whatever your family usually has. You can throw in some new stuff for variety, but I wouldn't change your menu radically just to acommodate fussy children.

Parents tend to get very guilty at the idea that their children might spend one minute hungry. They shouldn't. No healthy, truly hungry child is going to refuse food. Your kids might just have fast metabolisms. Don't worry about it.

Answer 5

Prepare something that they and you like. When they are at the table, nothing else should be going on. No TV, radio (except perhaps soft music), or video games; no computers on; no books or homework at the table; no newspapers (talk with their dad beforehand if he likes to read at the table to get his cooperation). Once they sit down, they either eat and chat, or they stay quiet and polite while everyone else eats. No matter what they do, YOU and their dad should eat regardless of what they do; do not make a fuss if they don't, but make it clear that if they don't eat, they must respect those who are eating. Make it clear when the meal starts that you will NOT be sending any food with them to school any longer. Do not allow them up from the table until you are finished eating (I know that may be difficult with four kids, but you have got to be the parent here, and not a doormat). If they don't eat, simply remove the plates when you are done. Don't send anything with them; make it clear that breakfast is to be eaten AT HOME, and AT THE TABLE. When you send food with them to school, you only make it possible for their behavior to continue; a few mornings with a very empty tummy may very well have them reconsidering whether or not to eat before school. You might want to let the children's teachers know what you're doing, to forestall any ideas that you're not feeding your children.

Answer 6

My kid doesn't like to eat in the morning either. I can sometimes bribe him with a mcgriddle, but I know it's not good for him. On the other hand it's better than nothing at all. If your kids will eat dinner food in the a.m. then give them that. anything is better than nothing. Try to get them to take vitamins so you don't have to worry too much about the nutritional value of what they are eating.

Answer 7

I have the same problem with my 3 year old. Other then force feeding, there isn't too much to do about it. I sometimes send her to school with a little container of cereal. They will eat when they are hungry. Offer some milk or juice as an alternative...at least they would be getting something.

Answer 8

i don't like eating first thing in the morning either. i also struggle with my 4 year old as well.

i do give in and let him eat dinner foods for breakfast if he is willing to eat it. i figure a healthy dinner food is better than a junky breakfast food or nothing at all. no chicken nuggets or hotdogs though.

will they eat sandwiches? i have a couple kids who bring pb&j for breakfast.

i also do applesauce and yogurt occasionally or fruit.

good luck!

Answer 9

Last time I made snacks for my kids school I got a lot of compliments. So easy. I cut up apples, oranges, strawberries and grapes. 2 slices of apples and oranges, 2 strawberries and 4 or 5 grapes. I put them in a decorative zip lock bag....It was Halloween so I used Halloween ones but they make cool ones all year. The kids thought that was exciting. Anyway, it was healthy and fun. Good Luck

Answer 10

Give them a granola bar or cereal bar on the way out the door. Many people can't eat shortly after waking up.