Starting kids off with breakfast has been shown to improve test taking and behavior. If your child isn’t eating breakfast let’s first find out why.

1. Are they eating too many before bedtime snacks so they aren’t hungry when they wake up? High fat and high calorie snacks right before bedtime make it less likely your child will be hungry enough to be interested in breakfast and then will have to wait until lunch to eat. That’s far too long for a child to go without eating. Cut off snacks at least 2 hours before bedtime.

2. Do they have enough time in the morning to get breakfast? If your child barely makes it to the bus stop on time think about getting them up 5-10 minutes earlier so they have time to eat breakfast. You can also give them portable foods that they can eat on their way to the bus stop and while waiting like: 100% juice cartons and baggies of dry cereal, Dannon or Stonyfield drinkable yogurt, or a piece of fruit and Borden cheese.

Do they prefer non-traditional breakfast foods? There’s no reason they have to eat cereal or eggs for breakfast. Leftovers from dinner, sandwiches, even cold pizza will get their metabolism going and give them energy for the morning ahead.

This is general information only and should not replace advice or instructions given to you by your physician.

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