Breakfast

[Three0fivepointfour]

I’d appreciate any ideas for reakfast for a 13 year old who finds it difficult to get going in the morning.

She finds it really difficult to get eat first thing so I started buying breakfast bars of various sorts. She’ll also eat Greak yougurt with fruit. She’ll drink a glass of fruit juice. School say they’re not a proper breakfast.

What IS a proper breakfast that’s also realistic for a child who doesn’t get a break until 11am?

School say? What does it have to do with them?

Why do school know or care about it?

Because she’s got an anxiety problem that makes her feel physically ill. Especially on school mornings. She tells the school staff she feels ill and they tell her (and me) that it’s because she’s not eaten properly. I’d like to know what is a proper breakfast!

Is she actually hungry in the morning? If not, then don't force it. Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day, that's just nonsense. Give her something more substantial for her break.

Coffee and a cigarette...

What does she want for breakfast and just let her have that? At 13 she's probably getting it herself right? I assume you have cereal, bread and maybe some croissants or something.

Thanks Give. No, she’s not hungry in the morning but will eat yogurt or a cereal bar.

I think the problem is she feels ill because of anxiety but that’s difficult to fix. She turns up at reception saying she feels ill and they’ve nothing to offer. Just feeling like a bad parent and wondered if I could feed her better.

Fruit and yogurt are fine, maybe add a croissant to that? If it’s good enough for our European friends? 😁

I agree that breakfast bars aren’t great.

Kinsters :) thats whst I do but it’s not right!

My similar aged DD doesn't really eat breakfast, she just isn't hungry and never really been a breakfast person. She has options of breakie bars, crumpet, waffles, cereal, toast etc or just fruit. Will sometimes have something or just take a breakie bar for break time. I would say what you offer your DD is enough and it's up to them.

If her anxiety is causing such a response, can you call and speak to the school about it? Also have a talk with dd as I'm not sure the school can do anything to immediately ease her feeling ill if its anxiety related.

I've never been able to eat first thing and have fruit and yogurt mid morning.

Why is she telling reception she feels ill though? Is she hoping to be sent home?

Yogurt and fruit sounds proper to me? Sounds actually very healthy. I wish I could get my LO to eat fruit in the morning. What about french toast? I usually make the batter the night before and in the morning I just need to dip and fry the bread. Easier than eating egg separately x

Egg and soldiers? Toast with marmite or peanut butter?

Why does she have to eat breakfast if she's not hungry?

That makes no sense.

I haven't eaten breakfast since I was about 11 or 12 years old. I'm 52 now and still can't eat it.

She should learn to feed herself by hunger, not by the clock.

My DD is prone to low blood pressure and fainting and I have over the last few years had to force breakfast on her.

So in yr7 this was a cooked bagel on the school bus, this year its toast on the way to the bus.

In the car I keep protein bars or brunch bars (basically both cake) for her to take in case we leave the house without breakfast.

My GP said she needs sugar and salt to keep the blood pressure high as well as water. If your DD is feeling faint then a cereal bar is actually ideal. Can she take a second one and eat in small pieces between lessons?

I used to get awful anxiety and it gave me awful nausea. I would only eat when I was really hungry and if someone had told me it was because I hadn't eaten enough I'd have laughed at them (probably told them to fuck off). So I really feel for her.
My suggestion is she doesn't have to eat first thing but something really nice and a bit more substantial for break/lunch. I used to find big meals daunting so I liked things I could nibble on like cheese and crackers, grapes, maybe ham or chicken, salad etc.
Is your DD getting any help/treatment for the anxiety?

Crumpets with peanut butter work for us.

DD 13 doesn't eat breakfast and she's fine. I'm surprised that a secondary school's so controlling.

Thanks all.

I wanted to gauge if my feelings are right. My feelings are that the school can’t deal with anxiety and mental health issues so are dealing with what they can “see”.

I imagine she’s going to reception because she feels like she’s going to be sick and faint and wants an adult to help. Of course she wants to be sent home.

I’ll maybe start another thread about getting help for the anxiety but yes, of course, we’ve tried and are trying.

Yeah, I think the school are not handling it well. It sounds like more going on than not eating the "right" breakfast.

Breakfast is whatever she will eat surely

Would she eat a warm crossiant with ham and cheese inside? Filled Bagel? Blueberry muffin?

How is she at the weekend /does she eat breakfast then?

I think the anxiety is the issue to address, not the breakfast.

Yup. It’s anxiety. I know it’s anxiety. She’ll have a cereal bar or croissant or yogurt first thing on a weekend and then raid the fridge again about 11.

I’m desperately trying to get help but I need the school on side. It’s so frustrating as they say they are but they just don’t seem to get it. And yes we’ve thought about trying to move her. Many options but I thought the easiest would be school understanding anxiety and not blaming me for my shit parenting.

DD (now a young adult living at home) has always had terrible anxiety, and when that's bad, she doesn't eat.

We buy frozen smoothie mix, and make it with full fat milk or greek yogurt and add some protein powder. So it's more of a drink than food, but fills her up.