Whether it's school, distance learning, or a day adventure, getting up in
the morning is a scene every parent dreads. The alarm goes off; the kids pull
up their covers and refuse to get up. As the kids finally rise and decide what
to wear, it's time to head to the breakfast table. Whether breakfast is eaten
at home or in the car, it is important for your child's performance. Breakfast
jump-starts the brain and keeps adults and children alert throughout the
morning. After eight to ten hours without food, the body is essentially a cold
furnace waiting to be fueled. A good breakfast should include.
-A serving of protein-rich food, such as low-fat milk or
yogurt, cheese, or peanut butter.
-A food rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain
cereal, bread, or muffins.
-A food rich in vitamin C such as an orange, grapefruit, or
strawberries.
-A small amount of fat.
Special containers make mealtime a special treat for the
young child. Use clean egg cartons and fill each section with a finger food. Or
fill an ice cream cone with snacks other than ice cream. Try foods such as
cubed cheese, peeled apple slices, or cereal. Your youngster may find this
on-the-go breakfast fun while carpooling your older children. The almighty
juice boxes and bags can help to wean your toddler from his bottle. Start by
filling his bottle only with water and later, let him drink juice with a straw
from the box or bag. This is a pleasant diversion for your child and a
convenience for you because these containers can be carried easily in the stroller
or car.
Instead of serving your child plain hot cereal, set out a
few small bowls of toppings from which she can choose. For instance, try
yogurt, applesauce, apple butter, fruit spreads, chopped nuts, dates, raisins,
fresh fruit, or granola. Your child many want to add just one topping or she
might choose to mix several of them on top of her cereal to experience some new
and different tastes. Some of these toppings can also be used to add creative
interest to cold cereals with nutrition along the way.
Keeping in mind that creativity often means doing something
in a new way, you can give your child's breakfast toast a "new look"
by using a cookie cutter to make them heart shaped. This also boosts
self-esteem by sending her a "you are special" message. Another way
to do some creative personalizing is to form your child's initials with batter
when you are cooking pancakes. Or use ketchup to squeeze an "I love
you", a heart shape or her initials onto cooked hash browns. Having fun in
the kitchen now should bring a love of cooking later.
Hope these tips are helpful.
Happy Parenting,
Tania
Photos courtesy of pixabay.com -- CC0 Creative Commons
