DH thinks rice crispies are a suitable breakfast

[thisismyheart]

That's it really, DH would happily send children (3&6) off to school/childminder on one bowl of rice crispies and a bit of fruit in the morning. I feel very strongly about filling kids tummies properly before school, and while i have no problem with a bowl of rice crispies now and then, that they are ultimately just puffs of air, and the children need something more nutritionally dense.

We argued about it properly this morning, and now he's in a huff about me undermining him. I just want to guage what others think - is a bowl of rice crispies and a bit of fruit enough to keep a child's energy levels up all morning?

Sssssh, she’ll be raging. 😬

It's fine. No need to overstuff kids.

I’ve just looked in my cupboard for you all:

Rice Krispies 2.4g
Alpen 6.3g
Plain Granola 5.2g
honey cheerios 6.7g
multigrain shapes 4.5g

The MN carb police haven't arrived yet, there must be another food emergency they're attending to!

I think rice crispies are OK. My kids are teens and they have 1 slice of toast for breakfast (on school days) . I'm sure many would think that wasn't enough but they seem to think it is

I hate this idea that kids must be stuffed to the gunnels at all times and fed a snack before they can feel even slightly peckish.

Its ok ti feel peckish. It’s ok to feel hungry and ready for lunch.

This is really what i mean, I'm not against them as such. And it's not about the sugar content, I realise they're not bad in that regard. It's just that I would think a child would need more then that! (Assuming they're telling you they are still hungry.)

Dismissing it as dreadful based on just assuming that it must be because it’s cereal is really silly.

Well, pick muesli with less dried fruits and non flavoured yogurts? And stick to kids portion size. Good muesli are a lot less processed by default, rice krispies have 0 nutritional value.

I agree, I was always happy if dd had eaten anything in the mornings as she just doesn't like to eat first thing. It doesn't appear to have affected her negatively in any way.

If the kids are saying that they're hungry, then obviously they need more. Not sure why the OP didn't mention that in her first post, though. Most kids - and probably most adults too - would be fine on a bowl of cereal!

And before anyone jumps on me, no I didn’t starve my kids. I just didn’t obsess about them being permanently full!

I feel the same about them but in primary they have morning snack then lunch so could be worse. I pick my battles (side eyeing my youngest who is eating toast with possibly more jam on it than actually bread)

If they’re telling you they’re still hungry, you feed them. If they’re happy to go out to school/childminder, no issue. Toast is very portable so can get eaten on the way out the door if necessary.

It's fine.

It's also what they would be served for breakfast in many nurseries and school breakfast clubs.

Even if they start getting a bit hungry they'll get a snack mid morning/at breaktime.

RK is a fortified cereal, very little fibre granted but fruit will help with that.
Most women on here would be beyond pleased if their OH gave the children breakfast!

They're a literal breakfast cereal. That he's giving them for breakfast. That sounds like a pretty normal thing to do.

Cereal, milk and fruit is plenty for most people, and presumably they're also getting two other meals later in the day. If you're concerned that your children are getting hungry, why not send a snack with them to the childminder? Healthy snacks are easy enough to make.

I agree that it's not great.

I feel the same about rice crispies - I have Cheerios in the cupboard so I’m not anti-cereal - but like you say, I think rice crispies are made of nothing and I know I’m not filled by them. I wouldn’t mind at a weekend but wouldn’t allow them to have them before school. Can’t imagine a row with DH about it though!

YABU

What would you feed them? Sausage, bacon? Heart attack food!!!

Cereals are fine, just make sure they have food to snack on before lunch.

Completely agree with you. It's processed junk. Not only is it empty carbohydrate they will be hungry again very quickly after so more likely to overeat.

Porridge, eggs, nut butter on wholemeal toast, avocado etc is all proper food for breakfast

I was just about to say I remember being on a diet and hiring surprised that Rice Krispies has less sugar than bran flakes or special K!

but OP did mention later on that the kids were still hungry right after this breakfast so maybe they need a bigger portion or add in something else or a glass of milk or something..

I really don’t think it’s true that if kids are saying they’re hungry then they ‘obviously need more.’ Three of my kids know when they’re full, but my youngest just doesn’t. If something is tasty (strawberries, grapes, chocolate etc) she will be ‘so hungry’ for more. But if you respond to her ‘so hungry’ with an offer of a bowl of porridge or bread and butter she’s suddenly not hungry. I am the exact same way - I can eat till I’m bloated if it’s something I like.

It could simply be that these kids are used to their mum making them food constantly in the morning so they’ve got used to eating till they’re stuffed rather than till they’re satisfied.

I know! A cereal thread is usually amazing and I could do with a laugh today. No-one's called cereal shit in box yet either. Sad face.

“Filling their tummies” was probably more important when kids didn’t eat all day long, like they do now.

Why do you say a “bit of fruit”? What’s he giving them, 3 grapes? Half an apple?! 😵‍💫

i love rice cakes my dad calls them ‘air food’ lol. He doesn’t see the point then. But Ive honestly been known to get full on plain rice cakes lol. I do eat a lot 😂