Eating Breakfast on the Go!

I truly feel that 15 minutes earlier to bed would help her get up 15 minutes earlier so that she'd have time to eat slowly. An extra 15 minutes with mom in the morning might be just what she needs to alleviate those tummy aches too. I sometimes read a book to my little 5 year old. He's a picky eater and doesn't have much of an appetite. Hearing the story distracts him and he eats and listens. If that doesn't stop the tummy aches, I'd look really close at what is happening during the time she is away from you. Good luck. :)

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I'd look into whether her tummy hurts because of anxiety (feeling rushed in the morning, new baby on the way, etc.), and I'd make sure she likes her preschool. And try to make mornings fun, with music, etc. Maybe she can help plan breakfast the night before. Oh-and a good, quick breakfast my daughter always likes is a smoothie (soft, silken tofu, yogurt, frozen unsweetened fruit, ripe banana, and milk or juice). I also add flax meal and it's got fiber, protein, fruit, and is really tasty. Good luck!

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do you think she is reacting to the new baby coming? This is her way of getting attention perhaps? Could be? How long is she at pre-school? Do they do snacks there? Does she eat there if they have snacks? Its true when they say kids will eat when they get hungry. I would offer it to her like you have been doing and if she refuses don't make a big deal out of it and have her brush her teeth......she is getting a big reaction from you...."attention" is what she sees she is getting at the moment. I would talk about things she will get do when she is the big sister. Like help shop for things the baby needs, getting diapers for you at home....making her feel she's a very important helper around the house with the new baby coming. :-)
K

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Two out of three of my children wouldn't eat first thing when they woke up.They waited a couple of hours.Does her preschool serve breakfast?Most do so I would find out what time breakfast is there and get her there about 30 minutes before breakfast.Not only would that give her time for her tummy to get hungry and or settle she might also eat better with her friends if she's not a breakfast person.

I can't help but feel that your daughter might be going through some insecurities due to the coming of the new baby. In that respect, she needs plenty of reassurance and love. She needs to feel that she will matter, just as she always did, now & always even though a new member of the family will demand a great amount of attention. Your 4 year old will adjust once she sees she is just as important, too. On the eating that early in the morning, she might or might not have the upset tummy issue. If she does, it could be the Preschool and again, her insecurities or doubts. If she doesn't have the stomach issue but says she does and still, does not have an appetite, don't pressure her. Possibly tempt her getting up a little earlier some days and making different breakfast items, sitting down & enjoying them heartily in front of her. Ready to make tasty sausages, bacon, cheesy eggs, waffles, french toast, etc. Also try healthy smoothies, shakes, yogurts, small glass of chocolate milk, etc. Make sure it is in small amounts so it does not overwhelm her. You could also send her off to Preschool with a creative, healthy snack & drink she will enjoy when her appetite hits. I had 4 children and routine same-foods get boring. We have to be inventive and refreshing, even though it may crimp our schedules a bit. But think of the benefits. My kids are all young adults now and every now and then, I hear one of them repeat a story to someone about a special lunch, treat or snack which either surprised them, made them the envy of many or just thrilled them incredibly. Little gestures I made for them left the mark, so to speak! I even put little special notes every now & then in their lunch pails, with a special treat. I also dropped their snacks/lunches off at the office with a special meal in it which was hot. Make sure too that your child is taking Vitamins and Iron. Good luck to you and yours!

Have you thought that maybe her stomach really hurts? Mine has always hurt in the morning if I eat very soon at all after I get up. It is better now that I don't have to get up and rush out the door and I eat better. My doctor told me I had IBS (irritable bowl syndrome) and what helped me the most is I got metamucil wafers and ate them for breakfast. They did pretty well on my stomach and they're quite tasty. Now that I'm older I think the thing that has really helped is eating well, whole foods, etc. I still have some symptoms of it, but I can eat in the morning (though I still wait awhile). Is there anyway she could eat mid-morning?

My son is 2 1/2 and he will eat waffles (blueberry or chocolate chip) "like a cookie!" I tried this with my nephews years ago and it worked. The excitement of the idea of having a cookie for breakfast just works for him. Also, if I can't get him to eat, I can almost almost always get him to drink strawberry or chocolate milk. I use Carnation Instant Breakfast to make it, and...presto! They are really nutritious and they taste pretty good, too.

I agree with the other mom who said to try and get her up a little earlier to have time to eat. Her stomach aches may be a sign of being worried about being separated from you. I had stomach aches from anxiety a lot as a child and my anxiety still comes out that way. Or, it could just be that she's hungry! :) Other things you could try to give her are those bottled yogurt smoothies, or a homemade smoothie, a banana, or mini whole wheat pitas filled with peanut butter. God's blessings on your daughter's arrival!

Will she drink a shake? You might try Carnation Breakfast or I believe there is a kid's product - Pedisure. It is not the same as eating, but at 4 they seem to go through eating spurts anyway. Hopefully it will last for a short while and she will change her mind and start into eating. I also used instant Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat for my Autistic son when he went through a similiar spell. (as long as there were no lumps he would drink the instant Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat.)

My daughter is a picky eater...and wasn't huge on what I would call a traditional breakfast. What has really worked this year (she's in kindergarten now, so breakfast is especially important) are Dananimals Yogurt smoothies and Premium brand cheese and cracker sticks. I know it is a snack food, but I feel it is better than doughnuts or pop tarts, which were her old stand bys. She also gets a shot of Mona Vie (loaded with phytonutrients)and a vitamin. When time allows she picks strawberries and yogurt too.

Hi A.,

I heard Dr. Sears talk about nutrition and went to his website and learned that he recommends a product called Juice Plus+. They have gummies, and smoothies (what Dr. Sears calls the "Brainy Breakfast). Before getting on Juice Plus+, my kids were constipated, didn't eat fruits or vegetables and were sick alot. Now, they are healthy kids and the constipation is gone. I became a representative of Juice Plus+ because I believe that all of us need better nutrition, especially our kids. I would love to send you some samples if you want but I certainly want you to do some research yourself at www.juiceplus.com

Let me know if I can help,

Yours In Good Health,

Rene'

My daughter just turned 3 and it takes her a couple hours after waking up before she's ready to eat. When I bring her to school, they have breakfast at 8:30 and she eats then. I am the same way, I need to be up and about before I'm ready to eat. Don't try to force her. If her preschool provides breakfast, then let her wait until then. Or if they let you bring food for her, bring some yogurt for her to eat there. Hope this helps!

I have this problem with my 7 year old son as well. We get up very early because I drive a school bus. So we out the door quickly in the morning and he rides along. I get notes home from his teacher saying "make sure your student has a healthy breakfast before arriving at school. Some of the children are complaining of being hungry at 9 AM." Sometimes he will eat, but it's not very much. And I bet he is hungry by 9AM. He ate at 6. (That is if he did eat). I have decided that I can't force feed him. I can give him breakfast and let him make the choice to eat it. Perhaps when 9 AM rolls around at school and he is complaining of being hungry, he will connect the dots and realize that perhaps he should have eaten more at breakfast. I don't know, this is a tough one. Good luck!

Does her daycare allow you to bring in something for her to eat in the mornings or do they offer breakfast there? I had this issue with my now 9 year old daughter when she was about that age and again now with my 4 year old daughter. I would just take in yogurt or let her eat the breakfast at the daycare. I also resolved myself to the fact that she may not be that hungry and kids will eat when they want to eat. She may not be someone that needs much in the mornings. Maybe juice or a smoothie could work in the car too. She would think it's a shake possibly?

Hi!

I had the same thing as a child, breakfast made me sick before a certain time. You could try making yogurt smoothies, if she doesn't have a milk allergy. In a blender mix a cup of yogurt, half a banana, and a teaspoon of wheat germ. It's a complete meal and it's great for on the go. You can even freeze the left over smoothies for other mornings. I hope it helps.

N.

A.,

I would try fruit. It is easily digested. Our digestive systems get a little dehydrated overnight as we are not drinking. So, drinking water in the morning and eating helps to get everything moistened and moving along. You could try grapes perhaps cut up in a cup, strawberries, apples slices etc.

Some kids are not breakfast eaters. If she eats lunch and dinner I wouldn't worry about it.
It could just be a power struggle issue due to being in such a rush in the morning or the new baby coming.

Good Luck

Find out if the preschool serves a snack early in the am if not you may have to get her up couple of hours earlier My daycare kids are like that so by the time they get here we have a 9:oo am snack

Does she like popcicles? You might try freezing chopped up fruit like bananas or strawberries that aren't too small on popcicle sticks.

It's so hard to get little kids to eat - even getting my big kids to eat breakfast is tough. Sometimes all I can get my daughter to eat is a little peanut butter on a spoon before she goes to school. Maybe she'd eat it if you call it a peanut butter sucker?

Hope that helps.
Hang in there!

Hi A.! This is my first post to mamasource... Anyway, I have a 3.5 year old daughter and I find that when I give her specific suggestions for breakfast, she declines them, unless I give her a choice between two things. But more importantly, I also find that she prefers a banana or a scrambled egg most mornings to cereal. She eats cereal at night right before bed, and prefers fruit or something else in the mornings. That usually opens up her appetite for a frozen waffle with butter and honey, and a glass of milk.

I hope this helps! Also, I am pregnant with my second one too! Due April 6.

Have you tried the drinkable yogurts. I do not like to sit and eat a breakfast...but i am thirsty and want something nutritious in my stomach...this works great. My 2.5 yr old loves them too.

What about a smoothie that U can pre-make the evening before or those yogurt drinks? My daughter also likes to have her "tummy wake up" in the mornings, so she gets a "milkshake" as we call it. (I purchased those cups that can be frozen to remain cold, however my daughter ususlly finishes hers by the time we arrive at school). Somethimes I'll even have her help me put whipcream on the top....this is SUPER motivating for her to drink and get full. Best of luck!

I keep cans of Ensure shakes on hand for mornings we are running behind. My boys love those, and can drink them in the car on the way to school. I use them for extra calories for my super-skinny older son, too.

J.

My son is the same way. But we have found that any kind of fresh fruit works every time. They have cut up apples in a bag. But of course bananas are the most transportable. Look in your produce section they even have individual sized bags of apples. My sons favorite has got to be canteloupe though. I just wash and cut of the rind then I can easily slice it into chunks that are perfect to grab on the go. hope this helps

My girls are very hard to feed in the morning also. They do love the "mini muffins" for on the run days. But of course they only like the chocolate chip ones. I feel better that they are eating something so i'll cave on the chocolate chips!! -A

I have the same issues with both of my boys. They are ages 4 & 7. I offer them anything and everything and they say their tummies hurt also. Unfortunately, I have thrown away hundred of dollars worth of breakfast foods. Sometimes, I've even resorted to offering them no bake cookies - hey, they have oatmeal in them - and that has seemed to work a few times. I don't eat breakfast at home, so I blame myself for their not wanting breakfast. Have you tried bananas or other fruit? It sounds as though you have tried what you can, I don't believe it will hurt her although it is supposed to be the most important meal of the day -
You will probably get the common sense answer - if you don't have time - just get up 30 minutes earlier - But I know for me, I barely get 5 hours of sleep a night and with your new one on the way - you need ALL the sleep you can. Rest easy and know you are not alone.

Good Luck with your new baby

G.

Hi A.,
Your daughter may be experiencing some anxiety about her day or she may have a nervous stomach. Try Ovaltine, or Carnation instant breakfast that you put in milk. That will give her vitamins and nutrition if she will drink it. You might also try peanut butter crackers. She may also begin to feel or recognize hunger after having something to drink. There are some people who just aren't morning eaters, but maybe this will help.

Have you had your doctor check her to be sure there is nothing physical causing her tummy aches?
If there is nothing, my guess would be that she's stalling you. She wants more time with you and does not want to go to preschool. If she's generally healthy I would send her to school with some portable snacks (assuming the school will allow them) and trust that she will eat when she's hungry.
But if you must work, then she must live within your schedule.
And try to give her some extra attention in a fun and loving way when you do have time for her.

My 4 year old won't either, but loves milk, so I mix in some Carnation breakfast and that seems to keep her full til lunch.

Well, I give my kids when we are in a rush a meal replacement shake,a banana or yogurt. Someone in another board mentioned Ovaltine.
You can even make it special by having your daughter select her own breakfast cup that she only uses in the morning.

A.,
for myself and my daughter (now 15) we prefer to eat later after waking up, not during the rush of wake up, get dressed, eat as we go. Is there a way she can eat at preschool? Our preschool was great about letting us bring in breakfast.

Also- morning stomach aches are probably more often hunger related but could be other things too. In our household, we girls are stuck with allergies year round. That means that often we have post nasal drip at night and wake up with stomach aches from the extra mucuous that found it's way down there. Does she like her preschool or is she trying to avoid going? If she is, then find out why. She may not know that she is avoiding it - as in not lying about the stomach aches, but if she's worried about it that can cause a stomach ache.

Good LuckQ!
S.

Hi A.!
I have a slow eater for breakfast as well and he is 13. We try to make sure that he has at least 15 minutes to sit and drink/eat before he heads out to school in the morning. He doesn't like regular milk, so I buy chocolate milk for him; or, he drinks juice. If all she gets down into her stomach is some kind of nutritional drink, then she will probably be fine for awhile at preschool.

If you absolutely can't find the time to get her up early enough to eat before preschool, then I would suggest that you work with the preschool to find a way for her to eat perhaps some time after she gets to school. You could send a midmorning juice and snack in addition to a lunch.

You don't indicate that she has any other eating problems, so if she is eating normally at other meals and she receives clean bills of health from the doctor, then I wouldn't worry too much about her breakfast eating habits. Some kids just aren't ready to put a bunch of food in their stomach first thing in the morning. Or, some kids don't enjoy being rushed when they eat. Quite honestly, I don't either. And, the "breakfast being the most important meal for the day" mantra shouldn't take priority of just knowing your own child and respecting their own natural rhythms.

Good Luck! God Bless!
D. D.

It can be so frustrating trying to get everyone up and dressed and out of the house on time. Does your daughter lag in getting ready to leave, too? If it is a stressful time for you and your husband, it probably is stressful to her. If her preschool allows, you might be able to send her breakfast to school with her. Otherwise, you might consider making/buying smoothies or other healthy beverages so she can drink her breakfast if she doesn't want to sit down and eat. But, you are right, breakfast is too important to growing kids for her to be skipping it.

Another trick I used when my children were small was to serve regular foods we ate at lunch and dinner for breakfast. You might try giving her the healthy foods she eats at other meals instead of making her eat "breakfast" food. After all, a nutritious food is healthy no matter what time of day it is eaten.

My daughter loves those yogurt smoothies by yoplait. She will drink at least one each morning if not 2. We do a lot of fruit in the morning. Cut up oranges, apples, strawberries, grapes etc.

Does the preschool she go to allow kids eat when they arrive or a breakfast program?

If so how about packing her a breakfast that she can eat at the preschool? The preschool my son went was more than happy to work around breakfast and had an area that the kids could eat. They were pretty good about making sure the kids ate before letting them go to play.

My son is like that now. I can't get him to eat at home but he loves to eat breakfast at school.

A., try liquid breakfast with a straw (FUN!). Make her a smoothie. You can make it the night before if you don't have time and you can stash it in the freezer and then zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds to defrost it. I make these for my spouse almost every day. I use fruit I've cut up and frozen - all the leftover fruit from our meals ends up in the freezer and is used for smoothies later. I also usually add protein powder or yogurt and some juice just to help the blender. That way you've got protein, fruit and dairy into her!

One of my daughters refused to eat breakfast because she was holding out for the too-sweet snacks they prepared at school. If that's the case, I'm not sure what you can do except ask your preschool teacher whether they can try to do healthier snacks like carrot sticks, cheese cubes, etc.

I'm sure you'll get lots of other good ideas too. Good luck.

Hi A.,
Both my girls are that way (8 and 3 now) I found out that they always agree to a few things, cheese (specially the twisted kind of the Mickey mouse shaped and the little sausage links, they love that and you only need to put them in the microwave for a few seconds, I usually add a piece of fruit too thought they usually leave it, but since I feed them very healthy the rest of the day I think that a few ssausage won't hurt.
They also like some teddy bears cakes that they had at walmart (they are imported from France) they have Omega 3 and other good things on them, but I haven't found them lately. I had no trouble with those!:(
They will eat if I feed them a doughnut, butr that is a NO!
I found out that if I give them a few things to choose from they will have aome, crasins or chocolate covered raisins, cashews, they also like (sometimes) the Quaker chocolate covered and chocoilate chip granola bar. The key for me is not to give them the same every day unless you find something that they ask for (like the teddy bears that can't find anymore).
You can also make a mix in a plastic bag of Cheerios, M&M's (they'll eat that!), nuts...and fruit pieces (cranberries or pineapple, bananas (anythign dry). Or pretzels/goldfish and cheese....
It's hard on the go, also try different kind of milks, my kids love strawberry milk and sometimes chocolate, and if I let them make the choice they will drink it better.
Well...that is all my brain storm!:)
Best of luck!
M. Abadie
www.MyKidsFirst.com

Have you tried Carnation Instant Breakfast or even Ovaltine. They have all the vitamins she'll need.