Healthy Kids: Good Kids & Bad Breakfasts--Egads!

Here's a fact: Despite the "hype" on Saturday morning TV, sugary cereals are not necessarily "food" and according to folks who compile statistics, they are surely not good for 12% of kids aged 2-5 and 17% of kids aged 6-11--kids who are considered obese. Not to mention the fact that when kids fill up with non-nutritive cereals, there's no room for good nutritious foods.

So, now what? What can you do to change the cereal-for-breakfast habit?

First, decide if you need to cut your child's sugar intake. Is he/she in the category of "obese" as defined by medical experts? Is the dentist finding new cavities at almost every exam appointment? If the answer is "Yes", it makes sense to make a change in the morning meal choices. You may consider offering a small bowl of cereal for "dessert" after your child has eaten something more substantial for breakfast.

Second, determine if your child is a picky eater? If the only way you can get breakfast into your child is to "sweeten" the deal, sugary cereals may make some sense. However, you might consider diluting the sugary concentration. Or combine an essentially sugar-free cereal with a sugary one your child likes--choose ones that look kinda-the-same. For example mix regular cheerios with Froot Loops (start with a 1 to 4 ratio of Cheerios to Froot Loops and work toward 50/50) then reduce the sugary cereal even more.

Third, is a "bowl of cereal for breakfast" a hard-and-fast rule at your house? Is it possible that you might pass on the sugary cereal and prepare a "fruit smoothy" and a piece of toast for breakfast? How about spreading peanut butter on a piece of toast with just a tiny swirl of jelly/jam? OR…how about a yogurt "sundae" with fruit and nuts? (If the word "yogurt" turns them off, use the word "creamy stuff"…It worked with my picky Grandson.)

And finally, get input from the kids. Ask them what they think is a good-for-you breakfast. Read the labels together and make smart choices.

But, finally….REALLY: you may need to compromise a little at first. So, make as-good-as-you-can choices as you begin to change the breakfast rituals at your house. You won't be popular (nor will your breakfasts) if you make your children quit sugary cereals cold-turkey. Make your changes slowly if you need to!

Breakfast has a reputation for being "the most important meal of the day". And, there are mountains of evidence that suggest that kids do better in school when they've had a nutritious breakfast. So part of ensuring your kids will succeed in school is to give them the fuel they need to think and perform their best. For other ideas about how to grow successful students, you're invited to visit: www.HomeworkSuccessNetwork.com

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