My 18 month old son has had a bowl of hot cereal (instant oatmeal, multigrain cereal etc..) for breakfast everyday since he started eating solids. Not because I made him, but that is all he ever wanted. If I tried giving him something else, he would throw a fit! Now, the enivitable is happening. He is getting sick of the same stuff and rightfully so. My problem is that I am having a hard time finding other things he likes. The only other thing he likes is the Ego French Toast sticks, no waffles, no pancakes! He gets those sticks as his breakfast snack at daycare. I need some help finding something that I can give him before daycare, but obviously, I don't have time to make anything fancy. He likes dry cereals, but mostly as snacks. He doesn't eat enough of it to be the only think he eats. He hates milk, so a bowl of cereal is out. Just wondering what other daycare kids get before going. Oh yeah, not a egg man either. The rest of the day is no problem, he eats very healthy and seems to be open to more things, but first thing in the morning is just a problem for us.
Thank you all so much. My grocery bill was HUGE late last week so I could experiment with different things. I made applesauce pancakes and froze them. They worked out great this morning! I made baked French toast, but he wasn't a big fan. He loves the apple bran muffins from publix and toast. We will still keep trying, but I am feeling much better about things since hearing from all of you. Thanks again!!
Hi M.,
I am always in a rush in the mornings. My daughter likes bananas and toast. Just an idea!
K.
My daughter is not a very good eater in the morning but I found that she loves Cereal bars and Nutriagrain bars. For awhile she would not eat breakfast she would pick at stuff so I would give her Carnation instant breakfast. She's not a big milk drinker but she liked that.
My son is not a big morning eater and neither is my husband. Here are some of the things he gets, but he very rarely finishes unless he is home and has a couple of hours to get warmed up to eating. Peanut butter, banana, & honey, on toasted wheat bread. Scrambled eggs with cheese on wheat and cut in to a circle shape. Graduates breaskfeast bar and grapes (great on the go in the car breakfeast). Oatmeal, but he has to eat it out of my bowl for some reason. Mini bagel w/cream cheese. Banana smoothy. Put a peeled and sliced banana in a ziplock bag and freeze it. In the morning put the banana in the blender, pour in some milk (we use 2%), add some ice, turn blender on and mix till smooth. HE LOVES THIS ONE. You can add honey and/or cinnimon for additional flavor. Good luck!
I have a tough time getting my daughter to eat a lot before daycare as well, But we buy the froozen pancakes and I put the strawberry applesauce on top or just let her eat the sauce alone and she loves it. I also buy the toddler breakfast bars. My daughter;s favorite is chocolate muffins (she eats almost any muffins) and a bagel with cream cheese. I give her anything that isn't too time consuming like peanut butter and jelly sandwich, oatmeal, she loves bananas. If your son loves cheese then make a cheese sandwich. Think of stuff you like or eat for breakfast and try that with your son.
Rita wouldn't eat eggs either, now she loves them! I put one egg in a microwavable coffee cup with a little milk, stir and microwave for approx. 1 minute. Instant scrambled egg! Try adding cheese too if he is a cheese man! I also give her a lot of fruit cups, Dole, Delmonte, etc. Pineapple, pears, peaches, mixed fruit. I keep them in the fridge, drain the juice and the cold fruit also helps her hurting teeth.
I realize this post is a little late, but it might come in handy as he gets even older (my 1st grader is a very picky breakfast eater, too... dinner.. she's fine... but not breakfast). I heat up those Kellog's cinnamon toast waffles (the square shaped things that break into 4 pieces). After I heat them in the toaster on the lowest setting (sometimes it takes twice, depending on your toaster), I cut them into the squares and spread peanut butter on them. She LOVES them, and gets a bit of protein. You can even sprinkle other stuff on top of the peanut butter when he's ready for a change (cereal, cinnamon, raisins, granola, bananas, whatever). When he is smaller, you can cut them in half before you toast them, and only prepare as much as you think he'll eat.
I know you already got alot of great suggestions but here's our tried and true
1 flour tortilla shell smear with peanut butter drizzle with honey sprinkle with granola crunch (I have even used fruity peebles)cut banana to fit wrap up. serve with milk.
I have a boy his age as well and he is just not a big eater at breakfast. He heats all day long and HUGE meals at lunch and dinner...but never been a fan of the am food. Sometimes he will eat a bannana or some peanut butter toast...even a bagle, but never when he just wakes up. I am home on leave with our second and my oldest wil eat only several hours after he wakes. Maybe your is not a big fan of eating in the am as well. Try just letting him snack on breakfast foods he likes and see if he does ok at day care. Dont knopw if this helps, but at least you know you are not the only one.
My 3 year old loves bagels with cream cheese (though you could use butter if you don't want to use cream cheese). He also LOVES toast with butter. (He's always been a huge fan of bread.) Sometimes if I'm too rushed to make a big breakfast in the morning, I'll give my kids a fruit cup. The younger one (17 months) loves plain yogurt with granola and a fruit cup mixed in. Also, have you tried chocolate chip pancakes? It's a little more like dessert, but the choclate chips make the pancakes more appealing. Kruteaz makes a delicious mix that you just add water to, so they're quick. They really don't need butter and syrup either, since it's almost like a hot and soft chocolate chip cookie! AND a friend of mine, her son would only eat sausage in the morning, so maybe you might want to try some different breakfast meats. Good luck!
You could try bagels w/flavored cream cheese, they even make mini bagels. My son used to not like eggs & id take a slice of bread, butter each side & cut a hole out of the middle (about the size of the rim of the shot class) put it in a pan on the stove & break an egg into the hole, cook on each side then melt cheese on top. Cut it into 4 slices & give him ketchup to dip in. My son loved this & never realized he was eating eggs.
I have two very picky eaters and I had to learn the hard way..... Breakfast does not have to be breakfast foods. My kids might eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or a corn on the cob for breakfast. I look at it as they are getting good healthy food even if it is not eggs, bacon, and toast. Also, my kids love fruit and yogurt, so maybe you should try cutting a banana up in the oatmeal (just to change it up). In short my advice is to let him eat whatever (as long as it is not straight junk food).... if he wants a hamburger, let him. It will break down to the same vitamins, etc. that he needs.
My son is also very finiky and just would'nt eat unless it was mac and cheese or pizza. SO your son is only missing onemeal a day but breakfast is most important. You should try giving him the french toast sticks or other things and if he doesnt eat very much then you may want to give him a can of pedia sure.. NOT TO REPLACE the meal but just to make sure that he is getting all his proper nutrience also heat up someleft overs fromdinner the night before. I know its weird but awell rounded meal is a well rounded meal. As long as he getssomething nutritional in the morning.
How about instant grits?? Our 4 breakfasts are grits, oatmeal, waffles and pancakes. Fruit cups sometimes on the weekend when I have time for a big cleanup but mostly just the fab 4. And maybe he's just not a breakfast eater. Some people have a puny stomach if they try to eat too early, I guess kids can have that too. Maybe try giving him some Pediasure or Ovaltine so at least he's getting something to hold him until his snack.
My 10 month old loves Yogurt and a fruit cup. Unlike the other child above mine will only eat the fruit cup if the fruit is room temperature so I buy the individuals and just keep them in the closet, she also loves bananas. Sara will also eat bagel with cream cheese, sounds wierd I know, but she sucks the bagel until the cream cheese is off and by then it is soft enough for her to bite with her four little teeth. My four year old also loves bagels with cream cheese.
Good Luck
S. Gallo
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I'm not sure if this will help much but my son was the same way and he actually outgrew it himself. I just let him keep eating what he was eating and he did get tired of it and did try something else. I have found that most finger foods were things that he would try. I know you said he doesn't like pancakes but have you tried the mini pancakes that worked with my son it was something different and he can eat it with his fingers.
raisins, crasins, and almonds are a nice little mix. My kids love it!
My sons are the same way! My youngest (19 months) usually has the Quaker breakfast bites and strawberries/grapes and my oldest son (4 1/2) likes the smuckers pb& j uncrustables with his fruit. Sounds a little strange from breakfast I know, but thats what they like!
Hi! What about fruit, bagels, toast, english muffin, muffin, pb&j sandwich, cheese toast, grits, applesauce? Just some things that came to mind. Good luck!
dear I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL I HAD THE SAME TROUBLE WITH MY TWO.A DR. TOLD ME IT DIDN,T MATTER WHAT THEY ATE IN THE MORNING EVEN A HAMBURGER JUST SO THEY GOT FOOD INSIDE THEM. SO I JUST FED THEM ANYTHING THEY WOULD EAT. ONE OF THE FAST WAYS AND THEY LOVED THIS I PUT SEVERAL SMALL DISHES OF JELLY,S JAMS AND PANCAKE SYURP ON THE TABLE THEN I MADE LIGHT TOAST AND CUT IT INTO STRIPS THEY COULD DUNK IT INTO WHAT EVER THEY WANTED. I EVEN GAVE THEM FRENCH FRIES. THEY MADE IT THROUGH SCHOOL AND EVEN COLLAGE AND WHEN THEY COME HOME GUESS WHAT THEY ASK FOR WHEN IT COMES TO BREAKSFAST? YEP TOAST STICKS GOOD LUCK AND DON,T WWORRY THEY WILL LIVE. A NANNA
Many good suggestions so far from the other moms. Since you said he eats good nutritionally the rest of the day, I wouldn't worry too much about what he's eating for breakfast. Keep the oatmeal in the routine, but give him other options. The banana is a big hit. My son is very picky himself, at almost 2 now. Every morning he has a cereal bar and a cup of milk. Melons, when they're in season is always a good choice. Pop some bread, buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar under the broiler for a minute. Or toast with apple butter. They make little sausage biscuits that are ready in a minute from the frozen food section. My son hates eggs, so we don't go there, but my older children used to like breakfast burritos. You could always make some muffins the night before, or have the batter ready and in the fridge to pop in the oven for a few minutes. Banana nut and blueberry are usually good.
And at 18 months, my son started eating graham crackers with a little peanut butter on it and a box of raisins. It depends on how well your little guy can chew, you may want to hold off on that.
My kids don't like plain pancakes, but they eat them with fruit in them. Every other weekend, I make a big batch of pancakes with either bananas, apple sauce or blueberries in them. For added nutrition (more fiber than plain white flour), I mix some ground oats into the mix. I put an extra egg in the mix and use low fat milk. Every morning, they get a pancake or 2 that has something from each food group. Sometimes they like the "brown & serve" sausage too. I can have their breakfast on the table in less than 2 minutes.
