My son is coming up to 9 years old & over the last few months he’s refused any food for breakfast. Doesn’t want toast, doesn’t want cereal, will occasionally eat fruit. I’ve taken him to the supermarket to get him to pick out a cereal or a spread he might want on his toast but he’s turned it all down just saying he doesn’t feel hungry in the mornings, & I end up packing him fruit in his school bag for his break which comes back uneaten. He eats a big lunch & usually has 2 plates for dinner, but I can’t help feeling like I need to do more to get him to eat that first important meal of the day, especially while in school!
12 Replies
Will he drink a fruit smoothie? Milkshake? Up & go drink? Milo? It’s not ideal, but it’s something in his belly that will give him energy to get through the morning. What about some of last nights leftovers?
My 14 year old son often cooks up some pork dumplings or gyoza prawns for breakfast. Yesterday morning it was crumbed fish and hash browns. At one stage it was 2 minute noodles. I really don’t care what he eats for breakfast as long as he eats something, as he now will only take up & go poppers to school.
My eldest son, now 16, used to enjoy fruit smoothies for breakfast when he was younger. Frozen berries, yoghurt, 1 or 2 crushed weet bix, and milk. He loved it. Occasionally also added some banana if we had some.
Don’t worry about it as long as he eats at school and night time. My kids can’t eat breakfast much but sometimes they do. I know they eat at school so I’m not worried
Both my teens and I don’t eat breakfast- we’ve all tried, it makes us feel sick. As long as he eats at other times it’s not crucial.
When she's home (weekends, holidays) my daughter often won't be hungry until 11am or midday. I myself sometimes don't feel like eating until 10 or 11am.
On school days she will often just have a milo and sometimes fruit like a banana. Other days she may have more but not often. The other day her first meal was cooked rice and veggies mixed in. Breakfast food doesn't have to be eaten at breakfast and food eaten for breakfast doesn't have to be "breakfast food".
I've always been like this. Eating breakfast has always made me feel so sick.
I don’t eat breakfast. I can’t eat first thing in the morning. Not all people can/have to eat in the mornings. He might be the same! I say don’t push it if he doesn’t want it. No one made the rule “it’s the most important meal of the day”. It’s a myth. As long as he’s eating, and well by the sounds of it, he will be just fine.
He doesn't need breakfast if he doesn't want it. He's still getting nutrients all day long. Try an Up And Go drink of a morning if he will have it but it's not an issue hun. If he's hungry in the morning he will eat. It won't hurt him not to have any tho.
What about a small container of mixed nuts and dried fruits he can snack on in the car on the way to school?
Something lighter like that may be more preferable than heavy wheat based things like cereal and toast.
Can you incentivise it? He doesn’t have to eat much but it is important. If you don’t get it under control now it will be an issue with school and his ability to concentrate
Both my teens don’t eat breakfast and I never did either- all doing/did well at school.
Some people don’t need or want food in the morning.
Toasted sandwich? My boys will eat them but they don't eat cereal any more. I've never been big on breakfast myself, I know they say it's the most important meal of the day but I have never woken up hungry and don't feel hungry until I have been up for a few hours. It's not the end of the world as long as they are eating morning tea.
I hatttttted breakfast as a kid and early adulthood. Only changed when I fell pregnant. The thought of breakfast would make me sick. My daughter seems to be the same way. I give her a up and go. Not the healthiest thing but it’s something in her belly. Don’t force him.