What's for Breakfast? Alternatives to Sugary Cereals for Kids

Cereal is a very convenient and quick meal to feed to your kids for breakfast. On a recent shopping trip, I was appalled to find out how many cereals list sugar as the first ingredient. Even the healthier "whole grain" cereals often had sugar listed as one of the first three or four ingredients.

The loaded sugar in cereals, soda, and other pre-packaged foods is a contributor to the rise in childhood obesity, diabetes, cavities, and other health problems. To combat this problem, parents need to take a few extra minutes each morning to feed children healthier breakfast choices (without loaded sugar and white flour) and to lead by example.

In this article, I hope to give you some good breakfast alternatives to sugary kid cereals. If you take just a few extra minutes to prepare healthier breakfasts, your kids will benefit for a lifetime.

TIP: As you know, kids can be very resistant to change and may not (will not) want to give up sugary cereals at first. Start by making non-sugary breakfasts just twice a week. Keep with it. Kids will not starve themselves. You can gradually add more whole grain balanced breakfasts as your kids (and you) adjust to the new menu.

Breakfast Alternative 1: Make Crazy Oatmeal

Oatmeal does not have to be boring! You can make oatmeal fun by adding healthy items such as dried fruits, nuts, honey, or a touch of brown sugar. Yes, some of these items have sugar, but the total sugar content is much less than process cereals.

To make crazy oatmeal, take your children on a shopping trip to the bulk food item aisle in your local grocery store. Let them choose some favorite dried fruits like cherries, cranberries, raises, bananas or apricots. Pick out some chopped nuts (provided there are no nut allergies in your home).

Buy oatmeal without any added flavorings or sugar. You can cook it quickly in the microwave. Once cooked, your children have fun adding the colorful fruit to make crazy oatmeal!

Breakfast Alternative 2: Make Mickey Mouse Whole Wheat Pancakes

You can make your own whole grain pancake mix in bulk and store it in plastic containers. If you do not want to make the pancake mix from scratch, look for healthy brands like Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Pancake Mix.

Kids love animal shaped pancakes. Make a Mickey Mouse shape by starting with a regular circular shaped pancake and add 2 smaller circles for the ears. Limit the amount of butter and syrup. Instead, add fresh berries, honey, or sugar free jam.

Breakfast Alternative 3: Make Fun Fruit and Cottage Cheese

As parents, it can be challenging to give our children enough fruit servings. Go beyond the standard apple or banana by creating fun fruit and cottage cheese for breakfast. The idea is to get your children to eat different fruits by engaging them with the process. Go to the grocery store and pick out a few fruits: mango, papaya, pear or other seasonal fruit. Cut them into fun shapes and make a fun fruit salad. Serve with a side of cottage cheese for protein.

Breakfast Alternative 4: Classic Breakfast with a Twist

Instead of serving a heavy Sunday breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, and hash browns, turn this classic breakfast into a healthy one for the whole family. Substitute delicious Morningstar patties for bacon or sausage. Serve toasted whole-grain bread with sugar-free jam. Make scrambled eggs using Egg Beaters.