what should i tell my kids when they beg for sugary cereal besides the obvious "it isn't healthy?"

Answer 1

I think it depends on your childrens ages and or why they want the cereal. My daughter is almost 4 and wanted the sugary cereals because of the characters on the box and the bright colors of say fruit loopy cereals. That said she has not tyried those sugary cereals so has no idea what they taste like, I imagine if she does try them when I am not aroudn I will have a harder time persauding her away from them. I resolved that by getting a plastic cereal container and having her help me decorate it with her favourite characters and stickers. To make her cereal more colorful we add fruit as a previous poster suggested. Dried fruit is very convenient to toss on quickly in the mornings that you are in a rush.

Answer 2

One of the joys of being a parent is that we don't have to explain every decision we make to our children. All you need to tell them is that you are older and know more about what is healthy and leave it at that. They will get over it. Also if they are used to eating non-sugary cereal it should never be a problem because they will like what they are used to .

Answer 3

Compromise with them. Tell them that you will get one box of sugary cereal for every 5 boxes of honey sweetened cereal they eat. Some of the honey sweetened cereal is quite good and you might just win them away from the sugary cereal.

Answer 4

I would tell them we do not have them in this house.....We never had them and now as an adult i actually do not like them.

Find out why they want them...is it the boxes or the toys inside...if so try to collect some small toys and when they go a week with out complaining or asking for a sugar cereal let them pick a small toy out of a bag or something. Might make mornings easier for you.

Also let them choose what kinds to have in the house...give them a choice of 4 to buy and they also might be more inclined to eat them.

Answer 5

Someone already said this and I totally agree. Give them two cereal choices that YOU picked out. It shows them that you are in charge and gives them some responsibility in making the final choice. Kids like to be involved in the decision making. So it's simple, just ask them "which one do you want A or B (two cereals you want them to eat?". They'll choose. And everyone's happy.

Answer 6

Give them a choice of cereals you would like them to eat and Don't have the sugary ones in the cupboard available.

Answer 7

Kids love having a choice it makes them feel as if they are in control. One thing that I do with my 2 year old is to let her choose a fruit that she wants and likes to eat maybe an orange or an apple and after she finishes that she may a serving of what she wants.

I think this teaches her to eat healthy and lets her enjoy the food loves in moderation.

Answer 8

Sometimes I mix the surgary cereal in with a more healthy one. You could also offer your child a choice of healthy cereals, maybe having a choice would help. Maybe explain why it isn't healthy. Good luck!

Answer 9

just don't buy them. buy the healthy ones then give them a choice between which ones they want and what kind of fruit they want in it. I don't buy them and my kids still ask for cocoa puffs when they see the commercial or when we are in the store. I just tell them no. they may still ask but I just still say no and then change the subject. sometimes there isn't a thing you can say to keep them from asking but just don't do it.

Answer 10

Sugar gives you false energy, and in a couple of hours you come down from it and it makes you really sleepy. You want to eat good stuff at the beginning of the day so you feel good all day.