Breakfast - What and How long?

3boys · **Breakfast - What and How long?**

I'm about to pull my hair out here. Today my boys have a field trip to goto the pumpkin patch. They've been really excited all week about it. Today I've taken the morning off work and they are right now sitting at the table eating their breakfast (pancakes and milk). They've been sitting at the table trying to finish their food. How do you get them to finish and is one pancake and a glass of milk too much for them? They're 4 1/2 and 3.

Oregano · 10-25-2006, 07:28 AM

Maybe they're just excited and aren't hungry? I know for my kids, they just can't eat when they're excited. That's why on Christmas morning we eat AFTER the gifts are opened...LOL. I would just try to encourage him (them?) to eat because they'll be hungry later or let them eat in the car? Maybe some toast with PB on it or a piece of fruit? Good luck~!

I have one child that is a good eater and one child that hardly seems to eat a thing but I am a mom that really keeps a hands off attitude in terms of eating. I don't punish or reward with food and I don't make a big deal about how much they eat.

Doozer · 10-25-2006, 07:39 AM

I agree with Oregano. They are just too excited!

Maybe next time think breakfast bars and milk to go!! LOL

Have fun on the trip!

luvmybabies3 · 10-25-2006, 07:51 AM

Do they normally give problems with eating breakfast?I know my kids did not eat the best when they were/are little and it worries me that they will/would get hungry.If this is not the case,maybe they ARE excited.

Pancakes sound good lol.

treehugger · 10-25-2006, 07:56 AM

We used to have morning battles over breakfast too (also dinner now that I'm thinking back). It all got better when we started having a pretty ridged schedule. Not that I'm a drill sargent (most of the time) but morning is busy, so we need to stay on schedule. My boys like to have an extra 10 minutes or so to do something they enjoy before the bus comes. My oldest likes to listen to his music and my youngest likes to draw a picture for his teacher or watch a cartoon. The only way they have this extra time is if they keep it moving. Is there something that they like to do in the morning that you could use as leverage?

If all else fails I have mentioned that if they are too sleepy in the morning to get everything done, maybe a little earlier bed time will be in order. That usually wakes them up and gets them moving.

blessed_with_6 · 10-25-2006, 08:38 AM

One of my kids actually ate breakfast at school when she was in early elementary school...because I could not get her to eat at home, no matter what I did. She LOVES school breakfast, and I was happy that she was eating! I think it was $.35 a day, too! Here, breakfast is $1.75...and thankfully, none of my kids are interested in it often.
For my little ones..sometimes a breakfast that is not breakfast is a good alternative. We do pizza bites once in a while (has to be better for them than a lot of breakfast foods!), mac-n-cheese, etc. The eat it faster when it is something a little different.

allgirls · 10-25-2006, 08:52 AM

my kids have started their day without eating b4. no I don't recommend it but sometimes there's no muh you can do. I agree theya re excited. I usually tell them they won't be able to go unless they eat at least half. my 3 year old rarely eats more than half pancake at one sitting. I always carry food with me, like snack bars. for my school age kids I always keep two snacks in their backpacks just in case.

allgirls

jessthenurse · 10-25-2006, 09:38 AM

OK, this should probably go under the dirty little secret post but I rarely if ever put together an actual meal for breakfast. They usually get something along the lines of a cereal bar or a container of yogurt and some milk. They do eat but not alot. I am not a morning person and neither is oldest DS so it would be a lost battle before it even began.

stacia · 10-25-2006, 12:09 PM

one pancake too much? Are you kidding!

My kids are 4 and 2 and they will eat three pancakes, couple slices of fruit, and a yogurt plus milk! But they are good eaters. I agree with everyone else they are too excited! Don't worry they won't starve they will make up for it later!

3boys · 10-26-2006, 06:53 AM

Dude, 3 pancakes? How big are these pancakes? Mine arethe size of a salad plate (the ones you get at IHOP). Yes, they were excited, but it's like this everyday. I'm not too big of a fan of the breakfast bar. Normally they either eat a pancake and milk or cereal with milk. They're usually good with lunch and dinner. At school, snack time isn't until 11 and I just think that's too long to go without food if they don't eat a good breakfast.