How to Get Children to Eat a Healthy Breakfast

A good breakfast gives a child a good start to the day, especially a busy school. Parents are around to make sure their children eat nutritiously during breakfast. According to a 2004 study by the American Dietetic Association, children who eat a healthy, well-balanced breakfast do better throughout the day and are better able to concentrate at school. Children need a good variety of protein, carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day. You can make sure they get this during breakfast.

Things You'll Need

• Breakfast foods
• Ziploc bags
• Cookie cutters

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Make sure you have a set time for breakfast each day so your children know when to be ready in the morning. If you don't normally have time for breakfast, set the alarm clock a little early and make a bit more time. Once you have been doing this for a week or so, the benefits will pay off. If you give your children a nutritious and filling breakfast, they will be less likely to snack on junk food the rest of the day.

• 2

  To save time during busy mornings, try to get as much ready the night before. Set the table for breakfast and have the cereal boxes already out. Try making some pancake batter; keep it in the fridge ready to make in the morning. Try chopping fruits up and storing in Ziploc bags to go with yogurt the next morning. Any fruit left over make great snacks for the kids to take to school.

• 3

  Have the older children help prepare breakfast, such as setting the table, pouring the orange juice and making the toast. Breakfast will be ready more quickly and you will have more time to enjoy it with your children.

• 4

  If the children really aren't hungry for breakfast, or are running late that day, give them a granola bar, blueberry muffin or banana to take with them. There are plenty of breakfast foods that can be eaten as snacks.

• 5

  Make breakfast as varied and interesting as possible; breakfast can become mundane. Give children plenty of options and let them suggest some breakfast ideas. You might want to try cutting some French toast into fun shapes with cookie cutters, drawing silly faces on hard boiled eggs, and adding turkey and ham to an omelet or cheese to scrambled eggs. Also consider putting different fillings--like blueberries or raspberries--into oatmeal or having an English muffin, waffle or bagel instead of toast. Try making a protein shake with milk, strawberries and bananas, or your child's favorite fruits.