6 secrets to a stress-free breakfast

It might be better known as the most important meal of the day, but if you ask any parent during the morning rush, they’ll tell you breakfast is by far the most stressful.

Between the demands for alternative meals, the soggy cereal, cold toast and completely untouched fruit, getting your kids to eat before daycare or school can often feel like a losing battle.

Since research shows a hearty breakfast can set children up for better learning and mental health outcomes, though, it’s definitely a battle worth fighting. All out of ideas? Give these six simple tweaks a try. Not only will they help set your kids up for a successful day, but they’ll also save you time and give you some much-needed peace of mind.

1. Swap heavy meals for a snack plate

According to the Raising Children Network, a healthy breakfast includes a range of fruits, vegetables, dairy or dairy alternatives, wholegrains and protein. If your little one wrinkles their nose at a big bowl of oats or stack of blueberry pancakes, try offering a platter of bite-sized foods instead. This might look like a handful of berries, a slice of cheese, some brown rice crackers, hummus and a boiled egg. The key is to keep portions small and increase the variety.

2. Prep the night before

If your toddler experiences decision fatigue or isn’t a fan of making choices early in the morning, have a stash of pre-made meals in the fridge or freezer. This way, you won’t need to wait for your child to make up their mind or scramble to cook at the last minute. Think overnight oats topped with yoghurt, chia puddings served with fruit or nut butter or pre-cooked breakfast burritos you can pop in the air-fryer.

3. Make brekkie as a family

A recent study found that children are more likely to eat meals they helped prepare, so invite your kiddos into the kitchen. Pressed for time? Cooking together doesn’t need to be complicated. Try asking them to whisk the eggs or pour their own milk. The more input kids have when it comes to food, the more receptive they may be to actually eating it.

4. Consider a nutritional supplement drink

To help cover nutritional gaps, consider offering a children’s nutritional supplement drink, which can provide complete, balanced nutrition including high quality protein and 28 essential vitamins and minerals.

These are available in a ready-to-drink or powder format that can be mixed into a smoothie, bliss balls or porridge for a nutritional boost

5. Create a breakfast menu

Sometimes kids refuse meals to gain a sense of control over their environment. Instead of fighting this desire for independence, embrace it. Ask your child to list their favourite breakfast foods and create a rotating weekly menu. Not only will it allow your little one to pick meals they really enjoy, but it’ll also help create a sense of predictability – something we all need during busy mornings.

6. Mix things up

If your go-to meals just aren’t hitting the spot anymore, give them a fun new twist. Think frozen bananas dipped in peanut butter and muesli, yoghurt with sprinkles, breakfast tacos, smoothies with hidden avocado, pancakes coloured with spinach or beetroot and breakfast skewers made from chopped fruit, mini pancakes or cheese.

PediaSure can help cover the nutritional gaps for children ages 1-10 when fussy eating takes over, giving you one less thing to stress about. It’s an easy way to help support their growth while you work on expanding their food comfort zone. To find out more, visit www.pediasure.com.au.

Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use under medical supervision.