Anonymous
Post 03/17/2016 21:38     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Does she have snack at school? My kids aren't big breakfast eaters but they've always - since preschool - had a morning snack and I think their bodies have just adjusted to eating at 9:30/10. I always put out something I know they like before school and they usually graze on a bit of the fruit and maybe a tiny bit of somethings else but not a huge amount. I don't stress get it though bc I know they will eat snack around 9:30/10

Another reason - IMO - why I think snacking is bad. Don't get me started on that soccer snack!!!
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 15:58     Subject: Re:When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Research has been clear about the importance of breakfast. One of my kids is a non-eater so I've learned to be more flexible about how he gets his nutrition. I've come to the realization that nutrition doesn't need to be chewed so we start use a lot of different protein drinks. We started him on Boost (high protein) which is really quite tasty but somewhat expensive (eg more than $1 a bottle). We then tried a variety of other protein drinks and, now that he's older and understand that his body needs nutrition whether he's hungry or not, are currently quaffing a protein drink we get at Costco. HTH.

I don't think that research has been so clear and I definitely disagree that you should feed your body whether you're hungry or not.

How do you folks reconcile forcing/strongly encouraging children to eat with also teaching them to listen to their body cues regarding hunger? I really don't want my kids to think "it's x time so it's time to eat". Also, I think it's a bad idea to feed them foods you would otherwise find unacceptable simply because it is breakfast time.


I'm the person you're quoting. I've got kids with SN and my DH has Type 2 diabetes (not weight related). I've extensively read literature/research on this and have worked with nutritionists for years because of my DH/kids' issues. You may not believe it or you may find a study that suggests the link isn't strong but the totality of the research indicates breakfast is important, especially for children and their learning.

Not everyone recognizes when they're hungry (including my kids and DH). This is why we have to teach them that sometimes your body does not tell you what it needs and sometimes we ignore it. They're not hungry in the morning but they do need nutrition. There are all kinds of objective measures that back this up.

You are dealing with a whole different situation than most of us. Kids with SN and diabetes need to be dealt with in a specific way. I disagree with you that a typically developing person of normal weight should get in the habit of eating when they are not hungry, but we can agree to disagree since we aren't raising the other's kids.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 13:22     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
I have a non-breakfast eating teen and at first I was really concerned but 1) food battles are no good for teens, especially, 2) he should eat when he is hungry, and 3) there does seem to be more recent research casting doubt on the "you must eat breakfast" mantra.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-berardi-phd/breakfast-health_b_4436439.html

At any rate, my teen eats at snack around 10:00, or at lunch, is a very healthy weight, and definitely a good student. I do insist that he sit down for family dinner 3 or 4 times a week, but again, I don't make my kids eat if they aren't hungry (which is rarely the case by dinner).
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 12:55     Subject: Re:When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Research has been clear about the importance of breakfast. One of my kids is a non-eater so I've learned to be more flexible about how he gets his nutrition. I've come to the realization that nutrition doesn't need to be chewed so we start use a lot of different protein drinks. We started him on Boost (high protein) which is really quite tasty but somewhat expensive (eg more than $1 a bottle). We then tried a variety of other protein drinks and, now that he's older and understand that his body needs nutrition whether he's hungry or not, are currently quaffing a protein drink we get at Costco. HTH.

I don't think that research has been so clear and I definitely disagree that you should feed your body whether you're hungry or not.

How do you folks reconcile forcing/strongly encouraging children to eat with also teaching them to listen to their body cues regarding hunger? I really don't want my kids to think "it's x time so it's time to eat". Also, I think it's a bad idea to feed them foods you would otherwise find unacceptable simply because it is breakfast time.


I'm the person you're quoting. I've got kids with SN and my DH has Type 2 diabetes (not weight related). I've extensively read literature/research on this and have worked with nutritionists for years because of my DH/kids' issues. You may not believe it or you may find a study that suggests the link isn't strong but the totality of the research indicates breakfast is important, especially for children and their learning.

Not everyone recognizes when they're hungry (including my kids and DH). This is why we have to teach them that sometimes your body does not tell you what it needs and sometimes we ignore it. They're not hungry in the morning but they do need nutrition. There are all kinds of objective measures that back this up.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 12:47     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:
Never.

You child may:
1. Eat too much in the evening.
2. Be overly anxious in the morning before school.
3. Get up too late to let her body wake up and feel hungry before gearing up for "school mode".



This is the case for our kids. They aren't hungry until they've been awake for 1-2 hours. So they get hungry when they are at school. Fortunately, they still have snack in the AM, but that won't always be the case. And it's too much to wake them up even earlier.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 12:40     Subject: Re:When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:Research has been clear about the importance of breakfast. One of my kids is a non-eater so I've learned to be more flexible about how he gets his nutrition. I've come to the realization that nutrition doesn't need to be chewed so we start use a lot of different protein drinks. We started him on Boost (high protein) which is really quite tasty but somewhat expensive (eg more than $1 a bottle). We then tried a variety of other protein drinks and, now that he's older and understand that his body needs nutrition whether he's hungry or not, are currently quaffing a protein drink we get at Costco. HTH.

I don't think that research has been so clear and I definitely disagree that you should feed your body whether you're hungry or not.

How do you folks reconcile forcing/strongly encouraging children to eat with also teaching them to listen to their body cues regarding hunger? I really don't want my kids to think "it's x time so it's time to eat". Also, I think it's a bad idea to feed them foods you would otherwise find unacceptable simply because it is breakfast time.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 12:05     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
My 8 year old would eat every hour on the dot if I let her. Never skips breakfast. She's on the 60 percentile for weight but 95th for height. I don't know where it all goes.

Maybe your child doesn't like breakfast foods. Offer something that's a favorite for other meals.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 11:27     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
I don't have evidence other than anecdotal. But my older DD, 5.5, rarely eats breakfast. She drinks a large glass of 2 pct milk (12 oz), and that is it, most days. She does eat breakfast on weekends, around 9:30. This is when she gets hungry. At school, (Montessori KG), they have snack staring around 9:30, so she will have some of that (usually its hummus & pita, or bananas & yogurt). She is doing well in school.

My DH is MD-Phd and rarely eats breakfast. He has coffee and carries a banana with him for around 10 am. I am in applied math, and I take a fruit cup, also for mid-morning.

So of the 4 of us, only 1 eats breakfast (the 3 year old), and we're all doing fine. We are just not hungry at 7:45 when we have to be out the door.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 09:21     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OK for your child not to have breakfast? I am tired of fighting. Before DD, 8 year old would at least have spoon of peanut butter; now nothing. I wouldn't care or that is go overboard if I wasn't afraid it would affect her school work. How much does breakfast impact brainpower at school. Anyone know?

I'd like to suggest looking at the bigger picture, OP.

This is a pretty big symptom of major issues. Family and/or school related. Likely a combination of both.


no it is not!! I am a breakfast skipper always have been. I have three boys, two are famished when they wake up. My 10 year old is exactly like me in terms of not being hungry in the morning. I ask him to at least try to eat a banana with PB or a smoothie...a handful of nuts..if not no big deal. He eats healthy the rest of the day and has a snack around 9:30 which is usually a kind bar and a fruit. My kids eat well, are not picky at all are always willing to try new foods and most importantly happy normal kids. I hated being forced to eat as a child and refuse to do it to my kids. Don't worry OP!!
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 06:50     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:OK for your child not to have breakfast? I am tired of fighting. Before DD, 8 year old would at least have spoon of peanut butter; now nothing. I wouldn't care or that is go overboard if I wasn't afraid it would affect her school work. How much does breakfast impact brainpower at school. Anyone know?

I'd like to suggest looking at the bigger picture, OP.

This is a pretty big symptom of major issues. Family and/or school related. Likely a combination of both.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 06:42     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Smoothies! Yogurt, fruit, a bit of OJ or coconut water, and they can put in whatever stuff they like. You get some protein and fiber, and they're light on a non-morning tummy (like mine!).


+1. My kids won't eat before 10am. But they will happily drink a smoothie. I keep a variety of fruits and vegetables around and they can throw whatever they want into the blender. This week spinach, banana, and strawberry seems to be the favorite. I add in some full fat plain yogurt, skim milk, honey, vanilla, and protein powder. I think about 4oz and it keeps me full until around 2.


I am the same way and agree with the smoothie idea. However, most of the "nutritional" shakes are sugar and chemicals. Better off just eating a piece of fruit.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 06:24     Subject: Re:When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Anonymous wrote:Research has been clear about the importance of breakfast. One of my kids is a non-eater so I've learned to be more flexible about how he gets his nutrition. I've come to the realization that nutrition doesn't need to be chewed so we start use a lot of different protein drinks. We started him on Boost (high protein) which is really quite tasty but somewhat expensive (eg more than $1 a bottle). We then tried a variety of other protein drinks and, now that he's older and understand that his body needs nutrition whether he's hungry or not, are currently quaffing a protein drink we get at Costco. HTH.


Research seems to have gotten much less clear in recent years. My kids eat when hungry. One gobbles b
reakfast. The other usually not. Neit you error has weight issues.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2016 06:09     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?
Mine have never been hungry in the morning. One will eat a bite of something since he has the late lunch this year. The other usually skips and takes a snack to school. It's basically her breakfast. I can't eat immediately when I wake up. Today I was up before 6 but I'll bring something to have at work around 9:30.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2016 22:22     Subject: When did your child start skipping breakfast?

Never.

You child may:
1. Eat too much in the evening.
2. Be overly anxious in the morning before school.
3. Get up too late to let her body wake up and feel hungry before gearing up for "school mode".