Breakfast Help

Hi K.,

My son is a picky eater in the morning too but it really depends on how early I try and feed him. If I get him up early to get to work early then he won't eat much of anything!! I might be able to get him to eat a nutri grain cereal bar or a banana but on the weekends when he gets up later on his own he's happy to eat whatever I can get him. My son definitly doesn't like eggs no matter what time it is though but he does eat french toast, waffles and pancakes so that helps. Maybe its just the time that he gets up if you are on a schedule that his body just isn't in . .

Hi K.. Have you tried mixing in some fruit in with his oatmeal? Maybe throw in some applesauce or a chopped up banana. Sometimes all my daughter will eat for breakfast is a banana and a few cherrios.

K.

Its great that you are teaching him a healthy habit like eating breakfast. Who says breakfast has to be breakfast food? It could be last night's leftovers or a peanutbutter and jelly sandwhich. If he likes fresh fruit and yogurt, that's an excellent breakfast. As long as he's eating something healthy, doesn't really matter what it is.

What kind of dinner does he eat? My 4 year old eats such a big dinner at night that he's not usually hungry first thing in the morning. My 6 yr old eats such a poor dinner at night that he's starving first thing in the morning. Can you push breakfast time back by 30 minutes and see if that makes a difference in his appetite.

I hope some of this has helped. Good luck!

Have you tried cereal bars or oatmeal bars??? They are kind of sweet. Also, my son loves sausage. We give it to him with frozen waffles, pancakes or french toast.

I know my daughter (19 months) & I both do not like to eat breakfast until we have been up for at least an hour. Does your son go to daycare if so maybe they can feed him breakfast. Maybe he needs peer pressure my daughter would rather eat baby food for me but will eat whatever her little friend Emma eats so maybe that is what he needs too. Good luck & as long as your doctor is not worried I would not be worried either

Hey K.!
My son likes anything he can have "dippy" with. So maybe a yogurt dip for some apple slices and grapes?
My son also loves waffels and pancakes. I can usually smash up fruit and put it inside or on top depending on the fruit. I use sugar free syrup as well.

Good Luck!

I went through the same thing with my son from about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2....I tried to keep him balanced with a somewhat odd breakfast. I started with a half of peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread a half of banana and a glass of milk. At least I knew he was getting his protien, fruit and whole grain and a dairy. He is now 4 and has matured in his tastes and will eat a microwaved egg sandwich with cheese on whole wheat....hmm now that I think of it, sounds like a sandwich thing lol. I too think the earlier you try to feed them the more resistance you will get. I used to have to get my son up at 5:30 am to go to work and boy did we have some "interesting" mornings...we still have the occasional power struggle over eating. I now try to give him two choices most mornings so he feels like he gets to make a choice every now and then, but the next day I get to make the choice which includs something new for him to try like the egg sandwich, yogurt, or quaker oatmeal breakfast bars (he loves the banana bread flavor)....just remember, they say it takes several times for a child to taste something before they really know that they like or dislike it, and sometimes it's just the child trying to develop a little control over their life.

Good luck!!
Jennifer

all children go through eating phases among other phases they go through in life... and as far as breakfast goes... you can eat anything you want for breakfast. If he does not like breakfast food, try fruit and peanutbutter or toast and fruit. get the jelly or preserves that is all fruit and give him PBJ for breakfast. grilled cheese with turkey ham; put some veggie he likes in scrambled eggs like peas or peas and carrots... maybe the colors will attract him to eat it... have you tried pancakes with fruit; you could use the apples, bananas or try canned peaches if they are not in season or even canned pears... do you have something against dry cereal? there are some that are not sugar loaded and if he won't eat it the traditional way let him eat it like chips with his hands and drink his milk on the side...

if you want any more suggestions just email me back... good luck and remember: this too shall pass

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Kids are so picky and this is his way of having a little control over what he eats. Breakfast doesn't necessarily have to be "breakfast food" either. I would make sure he drinks milk, but a peanut butter sandwich is fine if that's what he wants. My daughter loves graham crackers dipped in apple sauce and I let her have that for breakfast some mornings, too. Don't sweat it - they will eat when they're hungry.

Our Ped. told us to give our 2 year old Carnation instant breakfast. It fills her up, gives her protein to start the day and she loves it!

You could try dry cereal with a cup of milk and some fruit. That is what i give my younger 2 kids some times. My kids don't like eggs either.Or you could try pancakes with fruit without syrup. It isn't too bad for them.

The way I got my picky eater to eat oatmeal was with the little mini M&M's. We said they were Dinosaur eggs. Each week I would put fewer and fewer in to the point there might be only 1-3 in each serving. It worked.

I feel your pain! My son is 2 1/2yrs old. When he was a baby he was a great eater. When he turned about a year...he got really picky, and never seemed to want to eat. Everyday is a battle to get him to eat. He went 5 days once with out really eating. My Doctor said when he gets hungry he'll eat. If im lucky i can get my son to eat 2x a day. Breakfast and dinner are the hardest. I have found my son really likes yogurt..so he usually has that for breakfast. He also would eat junk food all day if i let him, so my Dr suggested choc. chip waffles (eggo's makes them). So he gets something sweet, and fairly nutricious too. If you can pair that with some fruit that would be good. My Dr also said dont try to balance his food everyday...work on a weekly basis. Its almost impossible to get him to eat good everyday...

Hi K.,

My son has the same problem, he wont eat anything in the morning except maybe a banana. I asked my pediatrician about it last month and she said not really to worry about it, kids are picky. As long as he is getting enough nutrition throughout the day to make up for it. I wouldnt be alarmed unless he started to loose weight, or just doesnt want to eat anything, then call the doc.
Hang in there, I know it can be really frustrating sometimes!

Jess

hello K.!!
i have a daughter who is now 6. but around that age she HATED to eat in the morning. she was a VERY good eater also. but i just let her do her thing, and made her breakfast later like around 10ish. then she would gobble it down. maybe a late breakfast you know like brunch may be better for your toddler. she still sometimes doesn't like to eat in the morning but since she has school now she eats anyway. my 2 year old son doesn't like to eat the moment that he gets up either, he will eat about an hour after he has gotten up. all i can say is that all kids are different. never force him to eat but always offer. good luck! :-)

L.

peanut butter, cold pizza, cold chicken, egg salad, tuna salad...all of these things are traditionally not breakfast foods, but if he'll eat...

Hi K.,

My son does the same exact thing! I spoke with the Doctor about it when he turned 2 last month and she said that some people aren't big breakfast eaters. She said if he was still drinking milk and had a couple bites of something that was probably all he needed. She said they usually grow out of it as soon as there bodys need the food. Lately he will eat a breakfast or fruit bar and begals. Maybe try something like that. Good luck!

S. R

Does he like cookies? I have the same problem with our son. But I got him those breakfast cookies from Quaker. He loves the fact that he's eating a cookie and it's ok with mommy!

K.-

My son is 2 and he eats everything. The few things I found that he likes for breakfast are the egoo mini waffles (maple syrup flavored) and quaker breakfast bites (they're lil granola bars with jelly stuff inside) and he also likes the quaker blueberry bars. Maybe try those and see if they help.