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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Avoiding UPFs at breakfast

395 replies

Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 20:17

After breakfast we eat virtually no UPFs but the kids breakfast is a huge issue.

They wake early and are hungry. They're 9&6 so can be trusted to go downstairs, get themselves some cereal and occupy themselves in the morning until we get up.

They eat cereal and pastries mainly until we get up and make a more substantial breakfast if they want it) 90mins - 2 hours later.

AIBU to want quick and easy breakfast that the DC can get themselves? So I don't have to get up at 5.30!

OP posts:
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5
nopdhhd · 05/01/2025 21:43

OP shredded wheat isn't UPF if you can try that, although my kids won't abide it, even with toppings!

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 21:43

It’s mad how triggered some people get when others want to avoid things like processed foods. Why is it considered so radical to want to eat well and as close to natural as possible? Honestly, I don’t get it? It should be praised!

nopdhhd · 05/01/2025 21:43

@Wizzardry weetabix is UPF, and unless OP is making her own bread is one of the worst offenders for UPF.

MumofCrohnie · 05/01/2025 21:42

Drop scones:

Flour
Greek yoghurt
1 egg
1/4 tsp Vanilla essence
1/2 tsp baking powder
Little bit of sugar if you want.

Mix all ingredients to a thick batter and drop into a hot greased frying pan about a tbsp at a time. Turn when they have small bubbles appearing.

I cook them in butter for DD, she often takes a pile of them for her packed lunch with sliced strawberries and some tiptree chocolate spread.

LuckySantangelo35 · 05/01/2025 21:42

@Ayechinnyreckon

why don’t you just tell them to wait to eat until you’re up? It’s not very healthy to eat double breakfast so much!

Booksandwine80 · 05/01/2025 21:42

I think while the youngest is only 6 you should be getting up with them. DD is almost 8 and can’t imagine leaving her to fend for herself while I lounged in bed for another 2 hours.

I’m pretty relaxed but this is awful 😳

thestudio · 05/01/2025 21:40

thestudio · 05/01/2025 21:18

UPFs are a huge problem.

not because of salt sugar fat , but because of the impact on the gut microbiome of emulsifiers, thickeners, preservatives and probably refined seed oils. Put simply, these ingredients kill ‘good’ bacteria in the gut.

we know very very little about the microbiome but we know that there is a strong link between it and the amount of inflammation in the body. Inflammation is always negative and is connected to many forms of physical disease. There is also increasing evidence of a connection between gut health and mental illness.

Disappointingly, many health ‘experts’ including perhaps - gasp - Oxford nutritionists are not up to date with this emerging research and are still working with a ‘nutrient’ based approach to health which ignores the way that the microbiome mediates what goes into the body.

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I meant to tag @IOYOYO too

Spanielsaremad · 05/01/2025 21:40

StiffyByngsDogBartholomewsChristmasBone · 05/01/2025 20:29

Cold hard boiled eggs, boil some at the beginning of the week
cheese like Gouda or edam
greek yoghurt with frozen berry compote & honey
melon slices
pancakes again made in a batch at beginning of week

I was going to say hard boiled eggs.
Op why are they having 2 breakfasts?

Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:39

Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 21:38

Good to see you've grasped the point of the thread.

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Look online- loads of ideas on some websites for healthy breakfasts.
Ive already posted 3/4 ideas for you.

Weetabix
Porridge oats
Porridge- if 9 yr old can heat it in microwave.
Plain yoghurt and fruit
Filled sandwiches put in fridge night before.

Original poster
Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 21:38

Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:37

If you just stop buying cereal that you don't want them to eat, problem solved.

There are plenty of other options.

Good to see you've grasped the point of the thread.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 05/01/2025 21:38

Breadbin full of wholemeal rolls? Or prepared filled rolls, wrapped, in fridge?

Muesli? I like Granola but shop stuff is high in sugar.

Can they use microwave to make a hot milky drink? If not, perhaps a flask?

soupfiend · 05/01/2025 21:38

NoNoNona · 05/01/2025 21:35

This will sound awful, but give them a "hot" banana milkshake at bedtime, well not scalding hot. All the good stuff and sleep-inducing extras.
Like an age-appropriate beddy bottle.

Like a banana horlicks? Could add nut butter to it as well

Doesnt sound awful

MumofCrohnie · 05/01/2025 21:38

How about drop scones/American pancakes?
You could make in advance and put some on a plate in the microwave. 9 year old just warms for 30 seconds, or they eat them cold. Squirt on a little golden syrup, or bonne maman jam is ok, or tiptree chocolate spread for a treat - it does have emulsifier in but it's soya lecithin which is the least harmful.

WhiteLily1 · 05/01/2025 21:38

OtterlyMad · 05/01/2025 20:22

What’s wrong with cereal and pastries? It sounds like your children are currently having 2 breakfasts which is very odd. I would just give them a snack of fruit mid-morning if they complain of being hungry before lunch.

laden with sugar and horribly bad for you. Pretty much no nutritional value? Empty calories?

Original poster
Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 21:37

Blueskies4 · 05/01/2025 21:33

@thestudio completely agree.. I think in the future there will be a completely different position on UPFs

OP I’ve been cutting back in our household a lot, trying to achieve a more 80/20 particularly with having a young child, and one of the main breakfast foods I give is home made granola with different seeds and nuts/dried fruits (my LO selects them from jars herself dependant on what she fancies). I’ve also switched to this myself (in my heart I’m a big cereal fan!) and have noticed a big difference in that I’m full until lunch/no late morning sugar crash so feel the proofs in the pudding!

Exactly. I think an 80/20 is a good balance. But breakfast is more like 25% meaning no room for any other stuff. Which is why I want to switch it up.

I've made granola before, but before the kids were of an age to eat it so I may try again.

OP posts:
Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:37

If you just stop buying cereal that you don't want them to eat, problem solved.

There are plenty of other options.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 05/01/2025 21:36

I'd ditch the pastries. Full of crap.

Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:35

They could have full fat Greek yoghurt with fruit, which is actually very filling.
It's my main breakfast most days- Fage yoghurt, blueberries, mixed seeds and sometimes a banana.

NoNoNona · 05/01/2025 21:35

This will sound awful, but give them a "hot" banana milkshake at bedtime, well not scalding hot. All the good stuff and sleep-inducing extras.
Like an age-appropriate beddy bottle.

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 21:34

OtterlyMad · 05/01/2025 20:22

What’s wrong with cereal and pastries? It sounds like your children are currently having 2 breakfasts which is very odd. I would just give them a snack of fruit mid-morning if they complain of being hungry before lunch.

Most cereal is honestly horrible stuff with next to no nutritional value.

Original poster
Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 21:34

Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:33

Nutella is very high in sugar- it's dreadful stuff.

Presume you mean you can make your own nut butter?

There are plenty of lovely nut butters like almond butter - Meridian- that is 100% nuts .

Edited
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That's why that poster was suggesting home made 'nutella'.

OP posts:
Wizzardry · 05/01/2025 21:34

Ayechinnyreckon · 05/01/2025 21:33

Trust me, I've tried and it's more trouble than it's worth. Like I say 6yo will often sleep later (8.10 on Friday!) but the 9yo likes his sleep routine and changing it creates much bigger issues elsewhere.

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I wouldn't allow a 6 year old downstairs at 5.30am on their own as it's simply too dangerous. You have no idea what they might get up to.

soupfiend · 05/01/2025 21:34

By the side of the bed, some flap jacks, some cheese scones, a small pot of philly type spread (wont go off overnight)

Perhaps the slow cooker prepared before you go to bed with either savoury congee or good old rice pudding, what a thing to wake up to

nothing wrong with the 9 year old putting a slice of toast in the toaster for the sibiling either, no one is suggesting she become a young carer FFS!!!

Differentstarts · 05/01/2025 21:33

BaconMassive · 05/01/2025 21:32

Bacon sandwiches all round. No sauce.

No sauce is a crime got have ketchup with loads of butter so it melt in together 😋

Blueskies4 · 05/01/2025 21:33

@thestudio completely agree.. I think in the future there will be a completely different position on UPFs

OP I’ve been cutting back in our household a lot, trying to achieve a more 80/20 particularly with having a young child, and one of the main breakfast foods I give is home made granola with different seeds and nuts/dried fruits (my LO selects them from jars herself dependant on what she fancies). I’ve also switched to this myself (in my heart I’m a big cereal fan!) and have noticed a big difference in that I’m full until lunch/no late morning sugar crash so feel the proofs in the pudding!