Breakfast for kids

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Breakfast for kids
10
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 10:13pm

Our earlier discussion about "healthy" cereal has gotten me thinking about what I should be feeding my kids. I want to give them healthy eating habits at an early age, but at the same time I don't want meals to be stressful. I know Jean and Kiervin have done a good job feeding their children, and there are probably others of you who do too. Do any of you have any suggestions for cereal that kids (toddlers) will eat without a throw down? I've tried cheerios, and my three year old complains and my 22 month old throws them at my three year old. They will eat the high sugar crud, but I want something healthy and tasty.

Thanks,
Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2003
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 10:18pm
When I was younger, one of my absolute favorite cereals was Cinnamon Life- specifically the cinnamon kind, because it tastes "bad" for you, but really isn't. But then again, my mom raised us not allowing junky cereals, except for treats- we'd get the variety packs of the little boxes when we'd go on vacation, but that was it. But yeah, Cinnamon Life was good stuff. It still is. As an adult, I also like the Peanut Butter Puffins cereal- found at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, etc. I'm not sure of the sugar content, but seeing as how it's at those stores, it's probably not as bad as, say Fruity Pebbles. And it makes the milk taste really good. Check the label and if you approve, it's definitely a tasty one to try on your kids.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 10:34pm

Trust me--my kids don't eat that well! I try really hard to get them to eat better but it's still a struggle.






iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 9:03am

I wish I could help you but,

1. I don't have any kids.
2. I used to have cookies and cake and milk for breakfast as a kid and my mom thought that was perfectly fine. In fact, SHE still eats crap like that for breakfast, hee.





Lilypie First Birthday tickers
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 9:14am

I ate junk for breakfast a lot as a kid.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 11:17am

I don't know that I've been successful on getting healthy food in my kids as much as I've been lucky enough to have kids willing to try whatever is put in front of them.


I'm not a big fan of cereal except oatmeal and creme of wheat, so that is pretty much the only thing we keep in the house cereal wise.

~Kiervin~

Co-author of:  MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press

Avatar for soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 11:26am

You may be shocked to learn that my fave cereals as a kid were Grape Nut (never could figure out this name), shredded wheat and Total. Saturday mornings I'd have Cream of Wheat or oatmeal w/ brown sugar sprinkled on. Since I lived on PB & J sandwiches these were a breakfast staple too (and eating PB by the spoonful if I could get away w/ it). Soooo... you never know what a kid'll like.

I'm pretty lucky w/ #1 Son. His fave cereal is Triple Berry Cheerios, oatmeal & multigrain Cheerios running a close second. To be honest though I won't buy anything junkier than those (and my Triple Berry Oatmeal Crisp on occasion, which I actually buy as a treat, not as a breakfast food). He loves bagels and sometimes I make smoothies. On Sundays I make whole grain waffles w/ fruit. For a number of years I had trouble getting him to eat breakfast before school during which time we compromised w/ granola bars.

I think its just a matter of trial & error and being open minded about what constitutes breakfast. If neccessary I'd go Jean's route & serve non-breakfast-type foods, sometimes I do anyway. I could be wrong, although its worked for me, but if a kid is hungry he/she'll eat what's available and we parents are reponsible for what that is. You might try getting creative about how you present the options. I noticed in Costco recently that one of the big companies sells cereal in individual serving cups that you just add milk too. They're the healthier ones. It's not the most cost effective & eco-friendly solution, but it be a good way to let your kids sample cereals and in a way they'll probably think is cool.

Good luck and take care.

Soleilune
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 1:33pm

Breakfast is tough. I think that my daughter tends to not have a huge appetite in the morning, so it's often a challenge to get her to finish anything. She does like this honey nut cheerio type cereal made by Barbara's - I believe Whole Foods carries them - which is made of whole grains and is sweetened by organic cane juice so it's a little better than just plain sugary cereal. She'll also eat my protein pancakes (1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup egg whites, 1/2 cup cottage cheese blended together and cooked like pancakes) with sugar-free syrup. If we're really in a hurry she'll eat apple or orange slices with a cup of organic yogurt or a yogurt smoothie. On Saturday or Sunday I'll cook up some nitrate-free sausage or bacon as a treat, along with some egg whites scrambled with onions, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms and cheese. She also likes breakfast burritos made with whole wheat tortillas, scrambled egg whites with veggies, a few pieces of the sausage, topped with shredded cheese.

Ideally I'd like her to have a fully balanced breakfast with the proper protein/carb/fat ratio, but it doesn't always work out that way. I'm usually happy if she eats a little bit of each.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 10:24pm

Thanks gals for all your suggestions. I am trying to come up with cereal suggestions for those mornings that I don't have time to prepare anything. The kids love waffles, eggs, sausage, and even oatmeal, but cereal is just so much easier. We don't have whole foods around here. My options for food are Kroger and Walmart. If I drive 30 minutes I can get to a foodlion and a bi-lo. So, I pretty much have to stick to the commercialized junk.

Thanks again,
Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 6:55am
Just mix it with something healthy





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 6:57am
I just thought of a good cereal--Kellogg's Tiger Power.