Is this a terrible breakfast?

[AlexaShutUp]

My 13yo dd hates eating in the mornings and doesn't want to eat an ordinary breakfast. However, she will drink.

Is it really bad for her to just have a smoothie in the mornings? Mix of fruit (typically berries/grapes/mango and sometimes banana), veg (usually spinach/kale or carrot - not vast quantities), a few nuts and seeds for protein, all blended together with some apple juice? I know it's probably a massive sugar hit and certainly not the best breakfast, but it seems to keep her full until lunchtime.

She won't let me add milk instead of the apple juice. She might let me put a bit of yogurt in if that would help? Is there anything else I could add in to make it a healthier breakfast?

I should add, she'll only drink it if it's sweet so she isn't keen on using water instead of the apple juice.

It sounds very sugary with the fruit and the apple juice, but I can see your thinking, as long as she is getting something inside her then that's all that matters, but if shell have a drink rather than eat something couldn't she have some very Milky porridge?

Coconut water instead of apple juice?
Will she eat savoury ie continental bit of cheese, ham etc?

Or a piece of fruit rather than the smoothie as a full piece is better than blended?

Much better nutritionally than white bread toast and jam or sugary cereal. I’d be fine with that.

Could add a bit of nut butter or some oats?

Would she go for it with a nut milk (eg almond/hazelnut) instead of the apple juice? They are quite sweet - I find even the unsweetened versions a bit sweet - but probably less so than the juice and would add a bit of variety.

Unfortunately, she won't eat anything - not even yoghurt, which she usually loves. She says it makes her feel sick if she eats in the morning.

I know it's too sugary, just not sure how to get her to have anything else instead. I guess I could gradually start reducing the juice and mixing it with water instead....

It's better than what a lot of teens are having (and adults like myself ).

Unless she's consuming lots of sugary food throughout the day I don't see the harm at all.

Could try adding oats, yes - I guess they could be blended?

Nut milk is a good idea - she might be willing to try that. Is it quite nutritious?

Could you add a few porridge oats? She won't taste them but could 'calm down the sugar' a little bit.

Sounds amazing to me.

She eats breakfast.
It's not crisps,white toast,cocopops,pop tarts...
It does contain vitamins and other nutrients.
Unless you are concerned about her weight or she will only eat smoothies I really wouldn't worry.Ok,the fruit would be better un-smoothied but it could be a whole lot worse.

I remember my Mum being like this, why did I have to eat breakfast at all? She's 13 let her make some choices about food and her body.

Even now at 30 in spite of being hungry or not I have felt the need to 'eat' when it's uneccessary. Now I've stopped having breakfasts I am happy till lunch, for some reason breakfast makes me want to snack as well so I'm eating 2 uneccessary meals!

She does have sugary treats sometimes Oooh, but not every day. Mostly at weekends, but sometimes she'll get a cookie in the school canteen or whatever. She's generally pretty good much better than me at self-regulating.

My dad is the same so she has a smoothie everyday. It's fine.

Nut milk is good -almond has a lighter taste than hazelnut. Coconut milk is good for a more tropical smoothie with mango and pineapple.

I do a chocolate one sometimes with almond milk, peanut butter, choc protein powder.

Try adding Greek yoghurt too.

This is MN which seems bonkers about at food at times so you will have posters asking why she can't just have porridge or scrambled eggs on toast but I totally get it.

As others have said, there's nutrition in the smoothies and it's better than nothing.

Unsweetened almond milk has, to me, a less cloying taste so that might work well.

I often have something similar but add a handful of oats. You honestly can't tell they're in there.

Breakfast makes me feel sick, DS2 is the same at age 8... I don't force food on him, can usually get him to have a glass of milk at least.

Sounds a bit stealth boasty to be preparing such a clearly healthy vegetable based drink for her and asking if it's enough. Kids do need energy, not least first thing in the morning so the sugar factor wouldn't bother me - it's hardly a big bowl of choc pockets.

At her age I just chose to go without, if she's otherwise healthy in her attitude to food it's a good thing to learn - eat when you're hungry not just because it's x time of day.

I prefer a smoothie to food at breakfast time, mine is usually spinach, almond milk/coconut water, nut butter, oats, chia seeds and half a banana.

Try swapping out a bit of fruit at a time for a nut butter/oats, replace the apple juice with almond milk and it makes a super creamy and delicious breakfast. She could be eating a lot worse! I wouldn't worry too much.

Id be more than fine with a fruit and veg smoothie for breakfast.

I know what she means about feeling sick if she eats in the morning. She's not chugging down a can of Monster as a breakfast substitute, a smoothie is fine.

Yeah it is a myth that you need to eat when you wake up.

I was the same at that age (and still am). I can't eat food really early. I tend to eat breakfast about 9/10am, any earlier and I feel sick. I'm normally up at 6, had a coffee and then will eat a few hours later.

You could give her something that she can make on her morning break so porridge in those pots where you just mix water, or a bagel to eat. If she happy to demolish a portion of fruit I would be fine with that.

Its absolutely fine! She likes it and it keeps her full until lunch. It’s fruit and veg so 🤷🏻‍♀️

However this is mumsnet so no doubt the sugar and protein police will be on this thread like a seagull on a chip.