Kids Cuisine

This is the time of year when everyone is talking about healthy lunches, but so far on Kids’ Cuisine, we haven’t discussed healthy breakfast. If your kid is going to have a happy and successful day at school, he or she needs to start the day with a well-balanced, filling meal. This can be hard for a lot of people; breakfast is often lost in the rush to get out the door, and when you are in a hurry, a Pop-Tart starts looking like an OK option.

Cereal can also be a questionable option. Sure, it’s quick, but most of the cereals popular with kids have almost no nutritional value. Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Froot Loops are all very high in sugar and low in protein. They are “part of a complete breakfast” only if you add a fruit serving and a protein serving, and how many of us actually do that?

When I was in high school my mom started making a hot breakfast for me and my 5 brothers and sisters every day. She was careful to make sure that there was protein available for long lasting energy and concentration. We had everything from oatmeal to scrambled eggs, and it was great. Of course, how she found the time to coordinate all that, I still don’t know.

So what’s a busy parent to do? First, back away from the sugary cereals and pastries. Then, see about adding some protein-rich sources — light sausage, egg, yogurt. When my husband was a small child, he ate a hamburger for breakfast each morning. I’m not sure I’d advocate this on a regular basis, but I do think it is an improvement over a Pop-Tart or granola bar on the run.

Almost everybody loves breakfast for dinner (pancakes, etc.) — why not try dinner for breakfast?

Photo from Flickr user Bookgrl under Creative Commons license.