BreakfastI am in need of serious help! Breakfast time has become a very stressful, expensive and time consuming experience for me. I'm not even talking about the getting up early and trying not to be late problem because I can deal with that. It's the I feel like a horrible mom because my kid will not eat and goes to school with an empty stomach that really gets to me. Now I can already hear some of you now "that's her choice" ... I know. But haven't you heard of mommy guilt? I have a freezer full of french toast sticks and eggo everything. I have a cupboard full of three different granola bars, two different types of organic pop tarts, cereals galore, bagels, mini corn muffins, where does it end? How many kids are going to school with their tummies rumbling and their mommy?s heart breaking all at the same time? Posted by mommyzuzu. |
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Re: Breakfast!
What do you mean when you say your child "will not eat"?
Growing up we didnt have the choice. We had to do what we were told or there were consequences. My parents made it perfectly clear they were the ones in charge, not us.
Thats how it is in our house now and it works. We are not unreasonable, but telling us they are not going to do something is not acceptable.
How about trying something other than traditional breakfast foods?
How old is the child?
I'm not a fan of forcing a child to eat, but I do think breakfast is important.
Does the child not like the food items? You could try some non-traditional breakfast items. I would talk to the child in the evening to decide on what's for breakfast the next day. What about a smoothie? You can load the blender the night before to save time.
Is the child "not hungry" in the morning? Maybe you could try waking her/him up earlier (30 mins), so their body has more time to awaken and feel hungry. Switch around the morning routine...instead of eat then dress, try dress then eat.
First, if she gets hungry enough, she'll eat. And yes, I have two kids and know about "mommy guilt". But I don't experience it if my children go to school hungry because they have chosen not to eat the perfectly acceptable foods I have offered. I did my part.
Second, you do have a lot of choices. It may be too many. Most of them are processed foods, as well, that she might not like if they taste artificial to her (plus if she eats so little, you really need to try to make every bite count...I'll get off my soap box now). Have you considered making your own french toast, waffles, muffins, etc.? That way you can make them healthier, tastier and/or more fun (unique colors, shapes, and so on). Plus some kids are more likely to be interested in eating things that they've helped prepare. I batch cook waffles, french toast, pancakes, muffins, granola bars, and the like so that they're ready in the freezer whenever my kids are ready for them.
Finally, consider offering things you know she likes at other meals that are not traditional breakfast foods. There's no rule that she has to have "breakfast foods" in the morning. My kids love to eat peanut butter and jelly for breakfast (and pancakes for dinner, for that matter!).
You need to figure out if she's really not hungry, or if she just doesn't like the choices and can't/won't ask for something else. If she's truly not hungry, you can't force her to eat. In that case, her going without breakfast is bothering you far more than it is her, otherwise she'd be asking for something and/or eating what you offer. My 7 year old often tells me she doesn't want breakfast. I know that when she says it, she's telling the truth, but breakfast is important so I try. If I'm really concerned that she won't eat before we leave, I just tell her she has to either get dressed or do homework if she's not eating. That'll get her to the table any time. :-) And when all else fails, I tuck a healthy snack she likes into her bag so she can nosh when she gets the urge (her teacher allows a daily snack in the classroom, which helps).
I kind of agree with the processed stuff, but if you're really concerned, you could always just put something in her backpack. Just tell her, it is okay if you don't eat breakfast now, but I put a pop tart in your backpack in case you get hungry. Maybe she'll get to the playground and realize that she really did want something and sit down to munch it really fast before school starts.
Or get her involved in shopping at the store. Tell her it is important to you that she starts her day off right with something to eat. See if she'll show you some things at the grocery store that she is willing to try for breakfast.
I'm not a big fan of sweet things for breakfast. And that appears to be all you're making available to her. Scramble up some eggs for her sometime and see if that makes her more likely to eat.
And yeah, I think she's probably better off not eating breakfast at all than than eating that crap you are so proud of having available to her. I'm not of the mindset that you shouldn't be able to have a Pop-Tart once in awhile, but that is most certainly not breakfast for a growing child. That should be something eaten in moderation, not her consistent breakfast option.
And I also would like to know if you've given her any consequences for not eating. It sounds like your daughter makes the rules... that's not going to end well.
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I would agree with all the processed foods. Some sounded better than others, but maybe you should try something else. I personally get sick when I eat sugary stuff in the a.m. Even pancakes is a stretch for me. And I like them, but for breakfast it's a bit sweet.
Anyhow, when I was a kid, I hated breakfast. I fought my mom on it everyday. And let me tell you, I ate breakfast. My mom, God love her, got up at 6am and would make me tuna salad sandwiches and clam chowder. That's what I liked to eat, so that's what she made me.
Try mixing it up. What are some of her favorite foods? Can you serve her those for breakfast??