AIBU to think a tomato is not a sufficient breakfast?

[TomatoBrain]

DD 10 is not one for eating much when she's just woken up. Being back at school is a slight issue as she needs to leave at 710. To have a chance of eating something she needs to be up at 630. This morning she took a tomato for breakfast. I've just noticed she put toast in the toaster but didn't take it out.

That means for breakfast today she has had one tomato and 100ml of energy milk. She's taken a cereal bar (20g) and water (which she probably won't drink) for break time. Do you think this enough food to power a 10 year old through 5 lessons this morning at school?

I think is isn't enough (YANBU) but at am a loss to know how to get her to eat more. As you can see, I let her have free choice in the mornings just so that she eats something. YABU what she ate is fine.

If you make her breakfast how did you not know the toast was still in the toaster after she left?

*until after she left

@TomatoBrain what kind of school does she go to that the bell goes at 7.20am?! 😳 are you in the UK?

How does she eat the rest of the time?
if she takes too large a snack for break then she doesn't eat more than a mouthful of lunch. Then wants a large snack at 4 when she gets home, then won't eat dinner.

She isn't losing weight but she seems to me like she needs to eat a bit more. She's very active and is exhausted in the evenings meaning she doesn't want to get up meaning she does t have time to be awake so she can eat etc etc.

It’s fine not to eat until later that’s her body clock. The importance of breakfast is embedded due to breakfast cereal marketing campaigns in the 60s. As long as she eats well the rest of the day.

You'll find out when she gets home from school later today.

If it wasn't enough then tomorrow she'll hopefully remember this and eat something more, if she felt fine then a tomato and milk it is!

Can you add to the energy milk? DD10 sometimes has a smoothy with milk, banana, oats, chia seeds, peanut butter. Ahe isn't into breakfast.

@User4223131 no, I'm not. School 720-1145, home for lunch, back for 1330-1600 twice a week and 'til 1505 once a week.

Tricky. She's a grazer who doesn't have time for grazing.

Would she be allowed a few snacks in her pocket - babybels, raisins?

So, this is a primary school that starts at 7.20am?? Where are you op? I'm thinking not the U.K?
I'm struggling to get my head around the idea that a primary school starts at 7.20am and doesn't make any provisions for food in school.

Could she build a snack into some of her activities? Get the activity leaders on side?

Yes, but if they are old enough to be left to make their own breakfast, they are old enough to choose a tomato.

My view is they will be fine with energy milk (what is that anyway?) and a tomato, but if a parent wants their kid to do something different, the parent needs to supervise.

That is an early start not sure I’d want much at that time of day.
Ive recently discovered overnight oats because it’s been too hot for my usual porridge. You could try those.

Can't you feed her more calories at lunch and in the evening?

You don;t seem very parental about this problem, as if it is just her problem - but she is only 10.

I hate eating breakfast too and I would far rather my child eat a tomato for breakfast than some of the ideas here (bacon sandwich, really??). But if it's an issue with energy later in the day could you cut the atternoon snack and bring the evening meal forwards a bit? Sounds like you've just got scheduling issues tbh. I really wouldn't worry too much.

Tbh I've never been one for breakfast...and that is early solid food would make me feel sick. I think the idea of adding fruit to the energy milk is a good idea but don't force feed her if she is balanced throughout the day. Those protein powders are quite filling.
Is there a carry cup with extra energy milk in she could have.

If she is not under weight and concentrating in class don't make her over weight by conforming to others eating patterns.

I would probably make some muffins, put them in the freezer, get one out each evening for the next day. With a drink that would be plenty.

You have to provide something she wants to eat, or leave her to it - you can't provide limited options and then moan when she eats something you wish she hadn't.

Tbh I've never been one for breakfast...and that is early solid food would make me feel sick. Me too - I rarely eat breakfast and this started early. It is a myth people have to eat three meals a day - they have to eat a healthy balanced diet overall.

Can't you feed her more calories at lunch and in the evening?
I can feed her loads of calories but I'd rather she ate vaguely healthily. I can't force her to eat.

Why does your 10 year old start school so early? And why not get them up earlier if they need more time?

You just need to give her high calorie food then if she's not a big eater.

Whole milk, butter in sandwiches, full fat cheese, peanut butter etc

Do you think this is a deliberate thing to lose weight?

So let her eat a large snack at morning break, small lunch and large snack at 4. She/you can cut up crudites and have them ready in the fridge to have as part her snack if you're worried about her not getting enough veg. Plus a bit of dinner if she wants it, but don't worry if she doesn't if she's otherwise eating enough. If there's leftovers, she can always have it as her afternoon snack the next day.

You're trying to force her into eating when she doesn't want to and not allowing her to eat when she does want to. Not everyone wants to eat at the same time.

Actually I think a tomato, milk (protein shake) and a cereal bar sounds perfectly fine for breakfast if that's what she fancies.

DS2 didn't have breakfast all through secondary school. Oten didn't eat anything until dinner. He's now 6'2" and on his way to a RG Uni.

I hated it, but I've recently learned that the "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" slogan came from Kelloggs' marketing dept and there's no science behind it at all.