[blparent] As long as they eat breakfast

[Veronica Smith]

LEARNING TO LOVE: How I Got My Son to Love Breakfast Michelle
Kowalski-Helle, 54, architect, Grayslake, Ill. Like parents every where,
Michelle Kowalski-Helle, of Grayslake, Ill., marked and enjoyed each
developmental milestone her son Andrew reached. Crawling, walking, talking,
and by age 5, eating all sorts of new and different foods. There was just
one big hitch. Breakfast! says Kowalski- Helle. Eggs, oatmeal, breakfast
meats, cereals, he just hated them all. One by one Kowalski- Helle
introduced and reintroduced all of the American breakfast standards to no
avail. But then she thought, Andrew ate the vegetables, meats, and starches
she served at lunch and dinner, so why not offer those things at breakfast?
I thought, there's no reason the first meal of the day has to be the foods
we culturally identify as breakfast foods. It just needs to be nutritious.
Kowalski-Helle shifted the morning meal plan. Andrew, now 14, embraced
breakfast, eating last night's pasta with chicken and vegetables instead of
an omelet. It was a big relief for both of us. I liked seeing him go to
school feeling full and fueled up for the day. And he was a lot happier.
-Monica Kass Rogers Reviewed by Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD WebMD Food &
Nutrition Expert Power Aid A lot of Americans balk at breakfast, says
Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, and manager of wellness nutrition services at
the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Some, like Andrew, just don't like traditional
breakfast foods. Still others say they just can't stomach food early in the
day. Stress, lack of sleep, or eating too late at night-all of those things
can dampen the healthy desire to eat when your body needs it in the
morning," says Kirkpatrick. But, she says, your body really does need
breakfast-preferably within an hour of rising- so your empty tank gets
refueled. And that doesn't mean a sugary donut and heavy-cream coffee,
things that will give you a burst of energy and then leave you crashing an
hour later. You want something that will fill you up, keep you satisfied,
give you as many nutrients as possible, and keep your blood sugar at an even
keel," says Kirkpatrick, who recommends a breakfast made up of about 55% to
60% complex carbs for fiber and energy (vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole
grains), 30% to 35% protein for staying power and satiety (lean meats, fish,
eggs, and low-fat dairy), and 15% to 20% healthy fat such as olive oil,
seed, or nut butters, also for satiety and energy. (Exact ratio depends on
age, weight, and activity level.) SWEET LOWDOWN By Chef Lizzie If you've
heard it once, you've heard it 1,000 times-sugar is bad for kids' teeth,
weight, and long-term health. It's easy to identify obviously sugary foods
such as candy and ice cream. But most sugar comes from hidden sources,
including drinks (such as sweetened fruit juice and sports drinks), snacks
(fruit gummies, toaster pastries, and some flavored yogurts), and many
breakfast cereals. Try these tips to help your kids cut back on their sugar
intake: Sub in water. Help each kid in your family cut out one glass of
juice, sports drink, or soda per day. Replace it with a glass of water.
After a couple days, replace two sweet drinks with water. Check the labels.
When you buy juice, make sure the bottle or can says "no sugar added" and
"100% fruit juice"-these are the healthiest and most natural juices. Also
look for (and skip) juices that say they have cane crystals, corn syrup,
maltose, dextrose, sucrose, and fructose. Those are all words for sugar.
Watch Chef Lizzie in action at fit. WebMD.com!.