Never Skip your Morning Meal

Use Innovative Ideas to Bring your Kid to the Breakfast Table

Many of the kids miss out on the most important thing before going to school! It is not their lunches or backpacks, but a hearty breakfast. Dietitians and nutritionists say that children skip breakfast more than any other meal of the day. When kids do it, they go without foods for almost 15 hours which not only leaves their stomach growling but also impacts their ability to learn.

Kids who eat their morning breakfast are more focused and have better concentration ability during classes which helps them to perform better on math, reading and standardized tests. These kids have very few behavioral problems and never procrastinate. A well-known journal has found that children who are well nourished but skip their breakfast have average problem-solving skills which affect their test performance.

With a little effort, you can get your clan to eat breakfast:

• Curb late night snacking: Kids these day indulge in snacks at night which makes them avoid breakfast in the morning. You can try innovative ideas like hanging a ‘closed’ sign board in front of your kitchen or informing the family during dinner that the kitchen would be closed after dinner. Don’t be surprised to find your kids hungry and waiting for a breakfast the next morning.
• Plan the previous night: Mornings are usually the busiest part of the day for most families. Try to set the breakfast table after dinner to reduce your workload during morning hours. Maybe you can place a few different boxes of whole-grain cereals for your little ones to choose from. They would just need to add a little milk to their chosen cereal.
• Start gradually. If you are never used to eating a breakfast, start developing the habit gradually. A mini meal of yogurt topped with low-fat granola or a small slice of whole-wheat toast goes well with people getting adjusted to eating a morning meal.
• Wake up 10 minutes earlier than your regular time: Mornings are usually chaotic for both parents and children. Getting up a few minutes before your regular time can help you squeeze in a quick morning meal before leaving the house. Prepare quick and healthy breakfast foods by utilizing the tips available at www.firsteatright.com.
• Eat just before going out: Once kids are dressed up and ready for school, they would prefer to eat their breakfast. Getting up early would ignite their hunger.
• Store ready-to-eat items: Don’t panic if you lack time for a full-fledged breakfast. Use foods like whole-grain cereal, string cheese, berries, yogurt, whole-wheat toast and English muffins for a quick and wholesome breakfast.
• Play the role of a perfect host:  Kids are extremely influenced by their parent’s behavior. Make it a habit to sit down with your kids for a wholesome breakfast every single day.