Childhood obesity is a potentially devastating problem in terms of overall health. Even worse, it’s a problem faced by around 14.7 million kids and teens in the US.
Potential health risks include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Given these risks, many parents would prefer to give their kids healthier foods, but the dividing line between health and healthy-appearing food isn’t always easy to spot.
If you’re in the market for healthy kids breakfast ideas and want to instill smart eating habits with your kids, keep reading. We’ll offer up five healthy selections that you can put on your kid’s plate for a morning meal.
1. Protein
Protein is one of those very important things that often get passed over during breakfast. While you should probably take a pass on things like traditional bacon, there are some healthier options you can consider, such as:
- Eggs
- Turkey bacon
- Greek yogurt
Granted, it might take some convincing, but that protein will help your kids power through the morning.
2. Fiber
Kids need fiber just like adults do. That makes the time-honored oatmeal breakfast an excellent choice. Just make sure you get whole oats, rather than the highly processed instant oatmeal. Instant oatmeal often comes with a lot of sugar.
Whole-grain breads can also provide a fair amount of fiber. Almonds, pistachios, and pecans all offer a healthy dose of fiber if you can get your kids to eat them with breakfast.
3. Fruit
Just like adults, kids like things that taste sweet. That’s why cereals packed with lots of sugar remain popular, despite almost constant warnings from the medical community about the risks of sugar.
One way you can ease kids through the transition from unhealthy to healthy breakfasts is by including some fruits. Fruit is often sweet and offers plenty of vitamins and nutrients. They’re also a good source of fiber.
4. Vegetables
Vegetables offer many of the same benefits for children’s health as fruit, but they can become a harder sell. You might need to disguise them a little bit by cooking them into other things. Omelets are a good option for sneaking in some veggies on the sly.
5. Smoothies
Smoothies aren’t so much a selection by themselves as a way to get multiple healthy things into your kids in one fell swoop. You can start with milk for a dairy component, then toss in things like fruit and oatmeal to give the smoothie some nutritional value and weight.
You should consult with a doctor before making huge dietary changes for your kids. Not sure what kind of doctor you need? Head over here and have a look.
Healthy Kids Breakfast Ideas and You
Morning is often one of the most stressful times for parents as they try to get themselves and their kids ready for the day. It’s one reason why cold cereal is so popular, despite the high sugar content.
Transitioning over to healthy kids breakfast ideas will take some planning in terms of shopping and daily prep. As much as possible, prep the meal the night before to keep things simple in the morning.
Looking for more food tips? Check out the Food posts in our Health section.
