what do your kids eat for breakfast?

[Rose-Roget]

Ds will be 4 in September, and he is the slowest eater on earth! Even if he loves the food, he can spend hours eating a meal (he's 1/2 French, so we joke that it's genetic!), if we let him. We're looking for morning "solutions" come fall. Last year, my husband, who takes him to school, was routinely late to work because ds took so long to get ready in the AM. He's starting a new preschool this year, which does not have a breakfast time, as far as we know. Plus, with all those distractions, I can't imagine he'd eat much there anyway. So, I'm looking for balanced, healthy ideas that I could try with him, so he can get breakfast in him in about 20 minutes, rather than 45.

His usual breakfast has been a kid's waffle with peanut butter, yogurt or fruit, and milk. I've usually tried to steer clear of cereal because it can be so messy and I don't like the commercial brands (well, actually, I LOVE the commercial brands, but I'd rather not get him hooked on high fructose corn syrup right away). I recently bought some EnviroKids coco crispies, though, hoping that the chocolate factor would be motivating enough to eat quickly. Alas, it still takes 40 mintues. Fruit is about the only thing that he will eat immediately, but don't kids need something else to balance out a breakfast?

Any suggestions to ease our morning routine? What do your kids eat for breakfast? How long do they spend eating?

[milehighmonkeys]

Our pediatritian told us to look at what DD eats over several days, not each meal. We will serve her a balanced meal, but she doesn't eat everything that is offered, but if we look at what she ate over a few days, she does get a good mix. Forty minutes seems a long time to eat. If breakfast was cut short, Do you think he would eat more lunch? What about breakfast on the go?

[Rose-Roget]

Yeah, I've always gone by the idea that it's what he eats over several days/meals, too. Sometimes he's on big a big veggie or fruit or protein or bread kick, and then it'll shift. I guess it's what the body is craving at that time. But I'm thinking that for breakfast, he needs something that is going to "stay" with him through the morning so that he's not grouchy and so he can learn well - can just fruit do that, if that's all he gets in him in a reasonable amount of time? And if fruit isn't doing the trick, then I need other ideas to throw at him.

He always eats a good lunch, but again, he's slow - even if he's really hungry. We've tried the natural consequence of him being hungry because we don't have ages for him to eat and cut it short, but then we just end up with a grouchy kid who doesn't make the connection between his grouchiness and hunger. I'm thinking he may be a little too young for that connection.

I've considered b-fast on the go, but I am really trying to avoid the habit of eating in the car, if we can. Plus, again with the distractions. I may have to resort to it, though. What are good "car foods" for kids?

A friend recently told me that one of the "readiness" requirements for her dd's kindergarten was whether they could eat their lunch in 15 minutes. I laughed and said he'll be about 12 by the time that might happen!

[calynde]

How about fruit with oatmeal or muesli? Or fruit mixed with yogurt?

I also add a spoon of almond butter to the oatmeal so it's not such a carb rush.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Can you do more small meals? Like 6 small meals, instead of 3 big meals? What about sandwhiches or breakfast burrito, something he can hold on to?

[wanderinggypsy]

"Egg McMuffin", at home. Break an egg into mini cast iron pan. Break yolk. Fry on both sides. Butter up a toasted english muffin. Make it into a sandwich. Add cheese/ketchup/whatever. My kids love these. Also you can use the micro for the egg if you prefer.

[peachweenie]

How about a smoothie with yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit and some milk or juice? We also cook oatmeal with dried cherries, cranberries and/or raisins and we put peanut butter in it - but that might be very messy as well.

[4evermom]

How about apple slices with peanut butter?

[Girlo]

We have the same issue with a slow eater. Alex will be 5 in October and he's been like this since he was an infant. Btw....there is a bit of French in his heritage as well.

When I need to get out of the house in a hurry in the morning, I either do frozen waffles (just let him eat it in the car, like toast), Kashi bars, sliced fruit in a baggie or non-breakable dish, or some other portable, non-messy food that can be taken into the car if needed in a hurry. Sometimes I do the organic pop-tarts that Trader Joe's sells. Not the most nutritious breakfast option....but one he likes and I just make it a treat once in a while....and there's no HFCS to worry about!

[LynnS6]

Can you just budget in 40 minutes for breakfast? Work on getting up earlier? Dress him in his clothes the night before so he doesn't have to get dressed?

Can he take part of it in the car? So, for example, you can make a "waffle sandwich" with the peanut butter and fold the waffle in half, and he can eat that while driving. He can drink his milk and eat his fruit before he leaves.

Or give him fruit, milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter and leave it at that. My kids mostly eat cereal with milk or a waffle with butter. I just can't get protein into them.

I would check with the preschool, but most preschools I know have a snack in the AM. If it's daycare, they'll have morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack.

[MommaFox]

My son eats cereal, but only things like cheerios or mini-wheats. He eats waffles with fruit preserves, he eats toast, many different things. Sometimes he doesn't want to eat at all. Like today, all he wanted was some saltine crackers. Of course he was sick last night so that may have something to do with it. He used to eat very slowly as well, but not any more. I think it may be a phase.

[mamalemon]

I have a super slow eater too. He is so slow in fact that we have had to start setting a 15 min. kitchen time on the table to help speed him up. I try to give him as many days as possible to eat at his leisure, but sometimes it just isn't possible and out comes the timer.

As far as what he eats... I let him pick pretty much anything he wants as long as it is healthy. Sometimes he eats dinner leftovers, sometimes cereal, or today he wanted chicken soup!

[MacKinnon]

My DD is NOT hungry in the morning. So on non-school days she often doesn't eat until like 10am. She'll pick at whatever I offer but won't have much. On school mornings she picks at dry cereal and fruit, with milk in a sippy, in the car. We have a 20 min drive though, so that might not work for you! Typical quick breakfasts for us are dry cereal or toast, milk or yogurt, and fruit. Breakfast is a big challenge for us too, although not because she is slow, she just WON'T eat!

[vegemamato]

we l-o-v-e vegan mcmuffins :
(tofu, "sausage", cheeze slices, tomato, spinach, english muffin)

and smoothies- yogurt or silken tofu and fresh (or frozen) fruit
(with agave when the occasion calls..)

frozen waffles, toast w/jam, fruit salad (fruit, yogurt) and snack-bags (cereal, raisons, seeds, nuts) are also yummy...

[annethcz]

My kids routinely eat nothing but fruit for breakfast, and they are very healthy and happy kids.

In your situation, I'd just be clear with the child that he had a limited time in which to eat. Whatever he finishes is great, but I wouldn't be waiting around for a child to finish breakfast. I guess I'm a mean mom, but that's just the way it is. I wouldn't deny my child food, but I wouldn't allow the child to make everyone else late either.

This past spring my kids started attending school, and it was the first time we'd ever had a rushed morning routine. There were a few times when my kids got up late or ate slowly and ran out of time before finishing their breakfast. I didn't allow one child to make everyone else late, which means that the child didn't get to eat in the morning. You'd better believe that my children learned that if they wanted breakfast, they needed to eat it in a reasonable amount of time

[Nikki Christina]

grits with cheese
grits with eggs
scrambled eggs
egg sandwich
waffles
instant oatmeal, add strawberries or blueberries
yogurt with either a piece of toast or granola added in
bannah and toast
apple slices & peanut butter sandwich
muffin and apple slices
orange slices & toast with orange preserves

my girls like change!

my oldest dd is also a slow eater. i get her dressed first. then she sits at the table & eats while i get dressed & get the little ones dressed. then she brings the rest with her , so i pack it to go before i give it to her (i use soup cups for the things that would go in a bowl)
we have a 13 -14 minute drive to school. i remind her about 4-5 times that she needs to eat. sometimes she still dosent finish.
the good thing is that her school serves breakfast in the classroom for all grades (goes up to 5th grade) , so she grabs a milk when she gets inside. I dont like what they serve as far as "food" though. its mostly poptarts, cereal & stuff like that.

[inthezoo]

Millet flakes
Pancakes
Super healthy muffins (extra eggs, shredded carrots or zucchini, raisin, flax meal)
Scrambled eggs
Steel cut oats w/dried fruit
Breakfast alway includes a fruit

Both my kids take a long time to eat, it doesn't matter the meal. They must have hollow legs they could eat and eat. If I know we need to go somewhere in a hurry I make muffins and serve them in the car with a banana after the muffins. When I make pancakes I make a double batch and freeze some for a quick on the go straight from the toaster breakfast.

Most days breakfast seems to be a quite time of reflection for my 3yr old. He will tell me about his dreams and what he wants to do for the day. My 1yr old, contemplates his fingers and how many ways he can use the spoon. I check my email while chatting with the kids. Yep breakfast takes at least an hour around here.

[oceanbaby]

My 4yo's favorite breakfast would probably be a burrito, cold, straight from the fridge. I have to say, it's a pretty easy breakfast to take on the run!

[oceanbaby]

Originally Posted by ilovemyavery

My DD is NOT hungry in the morning. So on non-school days she often doesn't eat until like 10am. She'll pick at whatever I offer but won't have much. On school mornings she picks at dry cereal and fruit, with milk in a sippy, in the car. We have a 20 min drive though, so that might not work for you! Typical quick breakfasts for us are dry cereal or toast, milk or yogurt, and fruit. Breakfast is a big challenge for us too, although not because she is slow, she just WON'T eat!

You know, I'm kind of like this. I don't really like to eat breakfast until later in the morning. If we have to leave the house early, I can usually manage some yogurt with lots of fresh berries, or some toast. Otherwise I take a Clif Bar with me. I know it's supposed to be really important to eat breakfast, but it's always been a challenge for me.

[angela&avery]

I didnt read the whole thread, but if he is driven, could you make him things to eat in the car?? Toast on a napkin and a cup of fruit.. things that you can just bring with you?? A bagel, you could do a waffle and p-butter sandwich, even an egg muffin (between english muffins).... and you could always add a strip of bacon.... maybe put it all in a medium rectangle tupperware container that could be a tray...

also stoneyfield farm brand gogurts, start him at the table and then just bring it with you in the car.....

I did this a few times with my dd when we were late, but our drive is a good 15 minutes to school, so.....