A Healthy Breakfast for Your Child

Breakfast has been reported to be the most important meal of the day. And moms know that starting our kid's day off right includes the addition of a healthy breakfast. But sometimes, our idea of a healthy breakfast differs greatly from that of our children. They hop out of bed expecting to find their favorite sugar filled cereals and toaster pastries on the breakfast table, but since these overly-requested breakfast items have received such a bad reputation in the past, we're hesitant about giving our kids the foods they love, that we think are 'bad' for them, so as much as they love and request these favorites on our trips to the grocery store, can we really consider pop tarts and lucky charms healthy breakfast foods for kids?

Well, there sugar filled and contain preservatives and artificial ingredients, so the majority of us moms would probably say, heck no! But actually, your child's favorite cereal also contains the vitamins and minerals they need, and has less fat and calories than the traditional hot breakfast, it's economical, convenient and comes in portion controlled packages, cereal and pop tarts make excellent healthy breakfast foods for our children. And in our rush for extra time in the mornings, having something that we can fix for our kids in less than a minute, is essential in trying to feed them sensibly. Allowing your child to have there sugary favorites for breakfast, once in a while, wont kill them, instead, they fill there tiny bellies with the energy they need to face the day. And, since the majority of us moms use coupons when shopping, can save us tons of money.

Moms everywhere are of diversified opinions on the hot vs. cold breakfast for kids debate. However, research has shown that eating whole grain cereals for breakfast just a few times a week can in fact, cut the risk of some diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Some common, good for you, healthy breakfast cereals are post shredded wheat, post grape nuts, and whole grain flakes.Of course, if you're one of those moms who obsess all day if you let your kids go out the door without something hot in there stomachs, oatmeal is another really good choice, this can also be bought in portion controlled servings for a hot healthy breakfast, and is easy for your kids to make for themselves. Scrambled eggs have long been considered a healthy breakfast item, simply because they are packed with protein. Add some cheese and diced veggies for a quick healthy breakfast omelet. Pancakes and waffles made from a box mix , are a good choice for a hot healthy breakfast, skip the syrup and use fresh fruit packed in its own juice as a topping instead. These can also be made ahead of time and frozen in bulk to be quick and economical, much less expensive than buying already frozen pancakes and waffles. Another wonderful healthy breakfast my husband and I enjoy a few times a week, is scrambled eggs placed atop fresh jasmine rice and sprinkled with hot sauce, a little out of the ordinary, but definitely delicious.

The whole controversy of hot vs. cold breakfast for kids is vastly overrated, my opinion is that one is just as good as the other, just as healthy and as economical. Although hot breakfast foods are considered to be a little more 'green' and good for the enviroment, cereal companies use such excessive packaging which leads to more waste to deal with. But that aside, if we do a little planning, breakfast can be a creative and healthy experience. Of course a hot breakfast on a cold morning, could be just what your children need before beginning there day. On the other hand, a heavy, hot breakfast on a warm summer morning spent playing and running, could be to heavy on there delicate little stomachs. We moms have to use our own judgement when it comes to our children, and there finicky appetites.
Oatmeal, although not one of my children's favorites, has fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates, providing fuel to give your kids the energy they need to face the day, Its also packed with vitamins and minerals. So, even though my children aren't particularly crazy about it, I try to serve it at least once or twice a week.
All moms know that eating a healthy breakfast is a very important start to our kids day. However, that doesn't mean we have to stick to what is considered 'the norm,' yes, cereal and toaster pastries definitely have the vote of the majority of kids as there favorite breakfast food, and in moderation, allowing them to have there favorites is fine, that's the key, moderation. My children don't particularly care for cereals, instead they opt for such favorites as refried beans and eggs topped with cheese, bean burritos, and potatoes and eggs. a healthy breakfast for kids doesn't have to be boring, get creative and see what new recipes and ideas you can come up with. Check out
www.bhg.com for great healthy breakfast recipes like fruit filled puff pancakes, which are packed full of antioxidants, lowfat and good for kids. Vegetable frittata with cheese, this really packs a protein punch and will give your kids the energy they need. So moms, get out of that healthy breakfast rut and be a little creative.