6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast + Strawberry Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie
6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast
Some days, getting my children to eat breakfast seems like the toughest task that I tackle each day. It's tough sometimes. They try to get out of eating breakfast not fully realizing that they need it to start their day. I have educated them many times about the importance of eating breakfast but still I often times fell on deaf ears. This 6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast post is something that my family needed.
I decided that I needed to get creative. My kids needed breakfast and I needed the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you do everything that you can for your children. Simply, my kids needed fuel and I was determined to get it to them. Here is what I do:
6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast
1. Make it portable.
This was the number one thing that completely changed the way my kids look at breakfast. I am fine with them eating in the car as long it means they are eating breakfast. I started making things that were much more portable. Pancake wrapped around sausage, an egg sandwich, etc. No matter what it was wrapped, easy to carry and easy to eat.
2. Eat breakfast together.
Every few weeks, we plan an early day and we all have breakfast together. We all love this time because we never usually spend that much time together in the early mornings so it is different and fun. We even play card games after eating.
3. Try serving dinner instead.
Do you really care what they eat as long as they are getting protein? My son asked for chicken and broccoli a few weeks ago for breakfast. Of course I said yes because that was a great choice. I didn't want to let the fact that it was morning ruin the good eating decision he was making. We eat breakfast for dinner so why not dinner for breakfast?
4. Give them choices.
In the morning, I give them a choice on what they can have to eat depending on what time it is. If we have plenty of time, I might make scrambled or over medium eggs with toast. I always give the choice of one or the other so they can't say no. They have to choose one or the other.
5. Let them make their breakfast.
Our middle child loves to make her own breakfast. She will make herself scrambled eggs and toast. Sometimes she cooks for her siblings as well. We get her up a few minutes early and she is thrilled.
6. Try smoothies.
Often times a liquid breakfast is much easier to consume rather than eggs or cereal. At least for me, it is. I found the same to be true for my kids so I started making smoothies every day for the kids in travel cups. The deal is that they hand me the empty cup when they get out at carpool. Our smoothies are made with Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink.
Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink
Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink is the perfect start to the day. In fact, it is one of our faves in this house because my kids love coming up with new flavors. It's the perfect start to anyone's day, really. Simply add milk, stir and drink for the most nutritious start to your day complete with 21 vitamins and minerals and protein.
Delicious flavors like Rich Milk Chocolate, Classic French Vanilla and Strawberry Sensation mean that you have a variety to choose from. In fact, Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink Mix is so versatile that it makes a great smoothie base (we use Classic French Vanilla for our everyday smoothies). Consider switching up the milk used and trying soy or almond milk for a tasty twist.
Strawberry Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie
Did you know Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink Mix is great for making smoothies? Just blend with milk and your favorite fruits like strawberries or bananas. We do our smoothies a little different. My kids love chocolate and berries together so we make a Strawberry Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie.
Ingredients
- 1/4 of ice
- 3/4 frozen strawberries
- 1 cup of 2% milk
- 1 packet of Rick Milk Chocolate Flavor Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Powder Drink Mix
- 1/2 banana (this adds creaminess – as an alternative, consider adding avocado or Greek yogurt)
Directions
- Add milk to blender, the strawberries, 1/2 banana and Carnation Breakfast Essentials® powder drink mik
- Add ice. Blend until smooth.
- Garnish with a strawberry if desired.
NOTE: This recipe also tastes just as good with the Carnation Breakfast Essentials® French Vanilla.
This is sponsored post on behalf of Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Complete Nutritional Drink Mix. This 6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Breakfast post is our own opinion.
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Yummy! My family loves smoothies! We will be trying this recipe as soon as we get to the grocery again!
My daughter used to love eating leftover pizza or leftover spaghetti for breakfast. As long as she was eating.
Breakfast is the death of me every single morning with my kids. Those are great suggestions to making it easier, especially eating dinner for breakfast because I have let my son do that a few times. I myself drink the carnation breakfast drinks, and never thought to make it with strawberries and bananas or let alone to let my kids drink it. I will be making this tomorrow morning for sure!
Love all these tips! My kids love smoothies for breakfast. They’ll surely enjoy this!
These are all amazing tips!! Yes to making it portable!! I am definitely going to try this smoothie recipe at home and serve it to my kids for breakfast-I think they will actually be pleasantly surprised!
Breakfast smoothies are a no fail breakfast in my house. My kids love them.
Carnation Breakfast Essentials are delicious. We love to start the day with smoothies. It is so important to have a good breakfast.
I love, love, love making breakfast smoothies. My favorite is using chocolate protein powder with a little natural peanut butter, a banana and then a bit of raw honey. So good.
I love the idea of having dinner for breakfast. My girls could eat pasta morning, noon, and night. I like to have smoothies too, and this one sound awesome!
Carnation brands are yummy and make it easy for your child to “eat” breakfast! 🙂
I also like the idea of eating breakfast with your children – too much rushing around these days and no time for family time.
I can attest to the success of allowing kids to make breakfast. Once I started allowing my little brother and sister to help when they were kids, they would eat breakfast when they wouldn’t before.
I love these ways. Our mornings are so rushed, it can be hard sometimes to get the kids to eat breakfast regularly and healthy.
And all my problems are solved! thanks! Why didn’t I think of that, dang it! well thank you for this wonderful idea… I’ll give it a shot for the young mini-me’s (that is, if I don’t drink it all by the time I get to the table!) NO PROMISES people! ha!
I LOVED drinking Carnation when I was a child. I forgot all about it until reading this post. Making a smoothie with one is an amazing idea! Thanks!
Those breakfast smoothies are so tasty. And they are great for people on the go who just don’t have the time to cook a full breakfast.
We are always running late, to an on the go breakfast works for us. I love the idea of a yummy smoothie!
My son drinks these for extra protein and nutrients.
I will share with my son. He rarely wants to eat a healthy breakfast in he mornings
As an underweight kid who hated breakfast, I was so glad that my mom came across Carnation Instant Breakfast. Now I give it to my kids for breakfast or as a snack–the tradition continues!
Growing up, Carnation breakfast is the only thing my mom could get my older sister to drink. It’s a solid option!
I love Carnation Goodstart. My son’s doctor recommended it a few years ago when he was struggling to maintain his weight. It helped a ton. My son is super lean and eats great.
My youngest is like me and does like to eat breakfast. It’s a struggle, and I hate when she tells me that she’s so hungry before lunch. A smoothie might be just the thing to help her get something down.
I’m sure my son would LOVE this! Luckily he was never a fussy eater and will literally eat whatever is set in front of him.
smoothies is how i get my toddler to eat breakfast sometimes. Sometimes she just doesn’t want nothing to do with food and it makes it so difficult!
Smoothies are portable and help our son get his vegetable intake. He loves raw spinach and I add it to his smoothies.
This is such a great reminder. One of my kids used to drink a smoothie like this years ago. He is still not a big breakfast eater and it makes me wonder how he can concentrate until lunch starts!
Great ideas! If you aren’t diligent, it’s so easy to go unhealthy with breakfast when you need something a kid is willing to eat and can eat fast before school.
Carnation Instant Breakfast is my go to for last minute breakfast. My girls are always running late on school mornings, so I make them a shake and hand it to them as they leave.
My son is 8 now and he’s in charge of making his own breakfast on the weekend. He usually goes for cereals and when I get up I make him eggs or whatever else. Smoothies would be a great idea too.
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