Getting Kids to Eat Breakfast (Without the Need For Leprachan Luck)

1) Make time for breakfast 
Even if that means getting the kids up a few minutes earlier. Sitting as a family is a good way to start the day especially if everyone has different schedules with after-school activities and work.

2)Everything ready to go
Have the ingredients out for your kids when they wake up.  Whether it is cold cereal, pancakes, oatmeal, toast, a bagel, or yogurt, having the foods easily accessible may increase the chances of your child eating.  


3)Give choices

4)Have a back-up plan on hand
Have a stash of healthy running late foods in the car, the fridge, or in backpacks.  A bag filled with on-the-go breakfast choices is always handy. Granola bars, fruit bars, bagged nuts, trail mix with dried fruit, and string cheese are good on-the-go foods.  Make smoothies for your kids to drink if they prefer not to eat breakfast.  This way your kids can eat on the way to school or eat at the bus stop. 

5)Don't make it into a battle
You won't win. Sometimes molehills are mountains in the eyes of children.  Sometimes you may have to bend with what it is your child is hungry for rather than what you would like them to eat. Leftover pizza, go ahead, eat up.  Sprinkling a few chocolate chips in with their Cheerios is better than them not eating anything.  Being the breakfast police every morning is just going to make breakfast be a struggle for you and your child.  Want to increase the chances of them grabbing something moderately healthy?  Limit the junk in the pantry.  I know this is easier said than done. 

6) Make breakfast fun
Make faces on their toast or pancakes with fruit.  Create placemats out of activity sheets that you have laminated for them to do while you make breakfast.  Have them make edible pictures with their Cheerios.  Have a question or joke of the day for them to puzzle over.  Better yet, have them help make breakfast.