My 5 year old will not eat breakfast! Does anyone have any great suggestions on what to feed him that he will actually eat?

Jacque - posted on 01/23/2013

My son use to be the same way and sometimes still is..We got him drinking a protein shake in the morning..You may need to add a teaspoon of cocoa or chocolate or whatever he likes:)) We make them with 2% organic milk as well and a little water..Hope that helps:)

Kelly - posted on 01/23/2013

Try waking him up 1/2 early and giving him a sip or two of apple juice. Some children experience low blood sugar in the mornings and that gives them slight nausia or makes them not experience hunger normally. If he can't eat in the morning, send some crackers and cheese with him to school so he can snack a little later. Kelly RuBert RN

Casey - posted on 08/23/2012

when I make pancakes on the weekends I make a big batch. More then my family will eat. They I freeze them. Ill pull out as many as I need for the kids breakfast. You can always cut up some fresh fruite and make a face on it. Just make it fun.

Breakfast also doesnt have to be traditional breakfast foods eaither. My son had left over fish for breakfast. As long as they are getting something in them to start the day I wouldnt worry about what it is. Just try to stay away from the "junk" foods.

One of my kids favs is cinnamon sugar toast. I use whole wheat bread and lightly sprinkle w/ cinnamon sugar. You have always cut them into fun shapes.

The fruit smoothies posted before are also a good idea. They dont take very long. Frozen fruit works great too, throw in a few carrots or pour in a little V8 veggie juice or V8 fusion and they get a serving of veggies too.

There are also all kinds of breakfast supplemental drink mixes. You could always try one of them.

I remember when I was in school I wasnt hungry but knew I had to eat before school or I would be starving way before lunch. I would drink a glass of milk and eat a granola bar or too wile on the way to school.

I hope some of these work for you. If he wont eat he wont eat though. You can always explain to him the importance of breakfast and get him involved with making it.

Laetitia - posted on 08/23/2012

I have a trick about breakfast : I seat my 4 year old right in front of a child TV program, i seat just next to her and i feed her. She's half awake, she just open the mouth and i know i have 3 minutes to feed her. Past this time, she start to look at the spoon, look around, want to get up, ask about "what to play before school time?" and i stop the TV cause she wont look it no more and if i do we will be both late.

I just have to prepare everything on the table before she get up because i only have a few seconds of her lapse of concentration before she realize i'm feeding her.

I don't know how many times it will works - she will fire me before 8 i think lol

Neetu Vijay - posted on 08/23/2012

i think mix fruit milk shake might help.....

Stella - posted on 08/16/2012

Please, where do I find the Nutrishake, Vita guards? Thanks

Anna - posted on 01/22/2011

My 6 year old daughter is the same way! She likes breakfast food, just not at 7 am. I have tried everything and she is just not hungry before school. Her school has breakfast that is offered to all children before classes start and sometimes she will eat that. I just pack a little extra for snack, usually yogurt, a piece of fruit, applesauce, and goldfish. They have snack around 9:30, wich is when she seems to get hungry anyways.

Kim - posted on 01/22/2011

My kids really prefer to eat breakfast around 10am which is hard when they need to be ready for school by pretty much 8am. I do try to get them to eat, but snack is usually by 10am and while I feel breakfast is important its not worth fighting about. I figure if they are hungry before snack time they will make sure to eat breakfast the next day. I do really push my 4 yr old though, sometimes for some reason they don't have snack until 11:30!!

But some breakfast options are cereal, frozen waffles, Poptarts, little mini donuts or muffins(not all the time), pancakes made up on the weekend and frozen(just microwave them), oatmeal, granola bars. If you have extra time-French toast, eggs, egg sandwiches. good luck! Sometimes my youngest wants a PB&J, I make it for her.

Beatrice - posted on 01/19/2011

What if you gave him supplements like Nitrishake, Vita guards?It could work. I know of a child we helped this way and then the appetite was restored

Jacque - posted on 01/18/2011

I have posted many times about the same scenario with my son who is now 7. I have been dealing with this same subject for years. I went to a nutritionist who told me to try the Isagenix protein shakes (old version). I joined as a member to get a discount and do not work it as a business. In fact If you want to try the shakes Look me up on FB and send me a message or email me at www.cleanbody@comcast.net and i can order for you to save money. My son has been drinking one of these shakes with Rice milk or organic milk for 5 years. It is the only breakfast he will eat and HE LOVES THEM- and his little brain is fed. Hope this helps. God bless- Jacque
PS you can read about them at www.cleanbody.isagenix.com if u order there it will be more money so I am just leaving the link as information. Also they have a new shake for the last 2 years and my son will not drink it. We order the original version which they still carry...

Sarah - posted on 01/18/2011

I recently bought a juicer and make my son all sorts of drinks - he gets to choose the fruit and make the drink himself - he loves this and will try so many different things. Yesterday he had carrot, strawberries and MAndarin orange - it was wonderfull! He also had a goghurt and I buy the 8 packs of cereal and he gets to choose which one he wants each day.

Rebecca - posted on 01/27/2009

the main thing is that he is old enough to be making his own breakfast. my daughter will pour her own cereal or make herself a peanut butter sandwich or etc. also obviously have a chat with him about why breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

when my daughter was younger, if she dawdled over breakfast, i would tell her if she didn't finish it in two minutes she would be out of time and would have to move onto the next step in the morning routine.

it sounds to me like your son knows he has lots of options and he's just testing how far he can push you in getting you to fuss about it.

Teri - posted on 01/27/2009

I understand. LOL. my daughter, who is one, would only eat potatoes and brocolli today.

But, I find that my older child ate a lot better at that finicky age when I let him stand on a stool and help fix breakfast (break eggs, etc)

Thea - posted on 01/27/2009

I also had this problem with my son when he was 5. I made my smoothies with all kinds of fruit, and I put bran in it and also some protein powder in it, yogurt, and milk, just so he got all the food groups. Its filling and he drank it up and usually asked for more. This is what my doctor recomended for him. Good luck

Jacque - posted on 01/27/2009

YES!!! Hi Dena, I am new today and just saw your post. I too have a 5 year old boy and he use to be so picky about eating period. He now drinks an amazing protein shake that we were drinking. Crazy--I thought he would be too young or whatever maybe he wouldn't like it etc. We mix it with 1 o4 2% milk and he absolutely loves it!! He has one every morning before kindergarten and asks for it right when he wakes up. It all happened by accident but it has made our life so much easier and we actually feel like we are doing the perfect thing for his little, growing BRAIN and BODY. I have checked with Doctors and even a nutritionist and they all gave it the big thumbs up. He has been on it almost 4 years and is excelling in school and our whole family can see a difference is his mood and attitude. It has to be true that when their little brain is fed there mind and body act so much better! I have told my friends, neighbors and anyone looking for a way to feed a picky child and this has been an amazing answer for almost all. It comes in 2 flavors chocolate and vanilla and is all organic. It even has an enzyme delivery system in it to break down all the protein and so that is goes into the blood stream and brain within 10 minutes of drinking. We started with one scoop for a while and he has been drinking an adult serving for at least 2 years now. It is a staple in our home. I was telling another mom about it earlier today and that he woke up today with a very sore throat and still drank the shake. He hasn't felt like having anything else because his throat is so sore but he asked for another shake a bit ago and my husband made him one. You can also mix them with water they are that good or half water half milk.There are several moms in his kindergarten class that have their kids on them now and all have noticed a significant increase in focus as well. It is so cool. Anyway... so much great things to say about this. Email me at www.cleanbody@comcast.net for more info or just post your question. It is so rewarding to feed your child good nutrition and makes them happier as well. Good Luck. Blessings, Jacque

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2009

he doesn't have a snack time before lunch? if not, talk to his teacher, I'm sure they have a recess, maybe of you let her know your son needs to eat smaller meals, and he could have a bar or the breakfast shake Carinda wrote about., handy, and eat it then. Even my 3rd grader has a snack time before lunch, it can't hurt to ask!:-)

Dena - posted on 01/27/2009

I love all the help everyone is giving and I will be sure to try some of the suggestions.

As far as the burritos are concerned, I make them myself. He loves the Chili Frito burritos (obviously not the healthiest thing in the world, but it puts something in his tummy... and they are yummy) The bottom line is that he is not a big breakfast person, which is fine. But... I dont want him to be starving by lunch time! Since he is in school, they obviously will not allow him to eat a snack. I frequently will give him leftovers from the night before, but sometimes that does not even work.

You guys are great! Glad I joined!

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2009

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2009

Clarinda - posted on 01/27/2009

Hey Dena, If he likes chocolate milk you might try Carnation Instant Breakfast or a supplimental drink like Pedisure. I would only do this IF you can't get him to eat at all or you think he is not getting enough at breakfast. Make it a last resort. Also try cereal straws or breakfast bars and let him pick them out. Hope this helps!

Margie - posted on 01/27/2009

Hi Dena, Try getting him involved with helping you make his breakfast. He can help set things out and it's also benificial to let him serve himself. See if that helps.