My Daughter Refuses to Eat Breakfast Before School

How long is she awake before eating? I really don't want to eat unless I've been awake at least 30 minutes or more before eating. Ask her when she feels hungry after she wakes up and plan food accordingly.

Breakfasty foods have always made me nauseous and sleepy if I eat them in the morning. A sandwich, otoh, or leftovers from dinner = *fantastic*.

As a matter of fact, I still eat sammies or leftovers for breakfast, and will often cook breakfast for dinner.

Will she drink it? How about making some kind of smoothie. In a blender, add in this order: juice, yogurt, frozen fruit and ice. You can also make a banana-peanut butter smoothie by substituting banana for your frozen fruit and peanut butter for the yogurt. You can also freeze the smoothies in a popcicle mold so that she can have a smoothie pop to suck on in the morning. Of course, now that it's fall, maybe having a smoothie in the morning may not sound as appealing . . . maybe keep this on the backburner until spring or summer.

Our second period teacher allows food in her class. Also ours get lunch by 10:30 so mine is usually OK. Have her get a good snack when she gets home. Who's hungry at 6:30AM anyway?

Mine wont eat before school either, luckily the school has breakfast I just send in money for them to eat at school.

How old is your daughter? I personally cant eat before 10 a.m. now most of the time. The thought of food turns my tummy. I wouldnt push it to hard but I would be more worried about the why she doesnt want to eat breakfast than the fact that she isnt. Have you found out why? Is she a healthy weight right now? Has she gained weight or lost a bunch of weight recently?

Will she have a drink? You could give her milk with Carnation Good Start. My son loved his heated up.

Try something like a breakfast bar or an instant breakfast.

I would TRY to get something in her....granola bar, juice, smoothie, Carnation Instant Breakfast.

Is she able to concentrate normally with no breakfast, is she alert and just as aware? I always refused to eat breakfast and it drove my mom crazy. Eating food in the morning made feel I would vomit. If I ate breakfast, I was starving and shaking by 9:30-10:00. We weren't allowed to have snacks and lunch wasn't until 12:00. It became a huge problem, for me. With breakfast (no matter how big, well-balanced, or protein filled it was) I was nauseous, irritable, hungry, shaky, and unable to concentrate. When I didn't have breakfast, I was normal and did great. I still can't eat breakfast, because I'm still the same way. If she can function as normal, I'm not sure it's a huge deal. Have you asked her why she doesn't like breakfast? Maybe, she's similar to my situation??

just try to get some juice or some drink with the same nutrients...i personally havn't eaten breakfast since i was in 6th grade and still don't except for occasions on the weekends

Some people are just not early morning eaters (I can't eat before noon!). You don't say how old she is, but I would think if she is starving before lunch every day, she would know to eat breakfast if she really needed it.
Have you tried buying Nutrigrain Bars? I've had some luck getting my kids to eat those in the morning and at least it puts something in their stomach. I wouldn't worry about it too much :)

Mom, I have a young teenage daughter who is the same way and I was that way as a gir into my teensl. We both have absolutely no appetite in the mornings and it was hard to force food down. I at least would try to get her to drink a glass of juice if she will and be sure it is 100% juice, not one of those with 10% juice like Sunny D. Once I got into college I forced myself to eat breakfast and eat now as an adul,t but pls. dont pressure her to eat breakfast. For some people it is just unappealing. FYI-We are both of normal weight and have never had problems with eating other than breakfast, Yes, I knew how important breakfast is as a meal for you but yu dont want a big fight over it each day. With times things may change Mom.

My son is 7 years old, has fantastic eatting habits (brocolli and brussel sprouts are among his favorites!) but has just this school year (2nd grade) not felt like eatting breakfast. He says his tummy just doesn't feel like it wants food :) I've tried having him drink atleast a few sips of milk and ovaltine or milk and carnation instant breakfast mix. Sometimes he just can't do it, he thinks it will make him throw-up. nearly 3 months into the school year, i finally got it figured out! (Never said i was the quickest momma!) He is allowed to have a water bottle on his desk at school. I just started to put the ovaltine or carnation instant breakfast in his water bottle...it's stainless steel so no one realizes its not water) and he drinks it after he gets all settled in at school. i still send in the regular water bottle for him to get out of his locker after lunch. This seems to have done the trick...he gets some energy for his little body and i don't feel guilty for having sent him to school without breakfast. Isn't the bowl the oatmeal he used to have, but atleast he's getting something half way decent when he's ready for it. hope this helps.

YES...you should be worried. Breakfast IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. Always was, always will be. This is the ONLY thing my kids eat in the AM www.BestBreakfastEver.com

B.
Family Success Coach

How old is she? And do they have school breakfast? (Maybe she just wants to eat there). If she's under 10, I would guess that it's either she just isn't hungry yet or that there's somewhere she's getting food that seems more desirable. Talk to her teacher and see if she gets hungry or grumpy or out of sorts before lunch (which could be a clue of whats going on) as well as how she eats at lunch (another clue) if anything doesn't seem right, I would call the doctor to rule out issues.
If she's older than about 10, really look at her overall eating habits as well as her weight and body image. I make this age differentiation because it seems to be about the point where girls can get hypersensitive about body and weight. Does she eat breakfast on weekends? What time? Does she eat regularly? Does she seem to be growing well. Again, when you look at the big picture, if it seems off, it would be good to have her checked. Rule out metabolic disorders (I don't know what all symptoms are, but sometime no appetite is a red flag). And talk about her body image. Let her know that she should focus on healthy, not skinny. And talk to her about how important breakfast is, for overall health, for maintaining a healthy weight (if she's concerned about her weight), for focus in school, etc. It may be nothing more than personal preference (some people don't eat breakfast until later) but it could also be a sign of something else. Take the big picture into account, though.

I would be concerned. My kid usually eats breakfast pretty well. When she won't though, I offer to let her eat a cheese stick in the car on the way to school. This usually works. I think it's the portable, non-traditional breakfast food idea that works on her.

Our Pediatrician once told me that kids have a way of eating what they need and not to worry. Although we have all learned that breakfast is the most important meal of the day we are all made different and your daughter just may not need it. I would just let it roll and monitor her progress. Sit her down to breakfast each morning and if she doesn't eat then so be it. My two sons need breakfast but my daughter will not eat breakfast - EVER. Although it drives me crazy, she is just fine and is great on weight, personality and academics, so I just let it go.

Good luck!

I agree. Try to get her to drink juice or a nutritional shake etc...

I think the main problem here is, that your child is allowed to refuse when you ask or tell her to do something. You didn't mention her age, but she needs nutrition to do her best at school. Maybe you should ask her the night before what she would like for breakfast in the morning, that's what i did with my kids. In our home breakfast lunch and dinner were a given everyday. J.

Good answers already, and I agree with most. As long as she's healthy she may just take awhile to get hungry. If they allow snacks at school just make sure she has really healthy ones.

Another thought if you are really trying to get her to eat even a little, is have her help prep as much as possible the night before. Pick out a box of cereal and set it out next to a bowl and spoon. Sometimes the visual helps and she doesn't have to make any decisions that early in the morning.

I haven't eaten breakfast in ages. I think as long as she's eating snacks and/or lunch and dinner, she'll be fine.