You probably don’t need convincing that a nutritious breakfast is great for kids. Compared to breakfast-skippers, kids who eat breakfast:
- Are more likely to meet their nutrient intake recommendations.1
- Make healthy food choices throughout the day and are more physically active.2,3
- Tend to do better in school.1
- Have healthier body weights.4,5
Fortunately, you can help make breakfast a lifelong habit for your kids. Try these tips:
Convene a planning team. Kids might be more likely to eat breakfast when they help plan it. Sit down together to map out a week’s worth of breakfasts (it’s okay to repeat!). Let them pick from nutritious offerings such as Kellogg's* cereals, whole wheat toast or toaster waffles, milk, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit or 100% fruit juice.
- Need ideas? Download our Breakfast Table of tasty options. Each one features foods from at least three Canada’s Food Guide food groups. Have kids circle their favourites for the week.
Assign breakfast tasks. Helping to prepare breakfast gives kids “ownership” of their meal, which encourages them to eat it. Even little kids can do simple tasks like setting the table, pouring cereal into bowls or packing breakfast items like cereal bars and fruit into brown bags to eat later.
Be a breakfast role model. Make sure you eat a nutritious breakfast each morning. Remember, your kids are watching and love to imitate you!
Breakfast together. Even if it’s only on weekends, eat breakfast together to enjoy some “catch-up” time. You might be instilling healthy habits, too. Teens that eat with their families are more likely to do things like eat breakfast, eat more fruits and veggies and drink fewer soft drinks when they get older.6
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