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AIBU?

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Original poster

DH thinks rice crispies are a suitable breakfast

869 replies

thisismyheart · 28/03/2023 07:46

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?

OP posts:
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13
Iam4eels · 28/03/2023 08:26

rice krispies have 0 nutritional value.

They're fortified with vitamins and iron and relatively low in fat/sugar/salt compared to other breakfast foods. Yes they don't have much fibre but children don't need as much fibre as adults and is easily taken care of with the addition of a piece of fruit.

SoozyWoozy5 · 28/03/2023 08:26

I’m with you! But seems we are in the minority… not much nutritional value in my opinion but we are not a cereal eating family. lots of other better options!

Widmerpool · 28/03/2023 08:26

I agree with you, OP. Rice crispies are not great breakfast or their own.

But then, we don’t really do snacks, so I like to fill them up a bit more with porridge or toast and peanut butter or a boiled egg.

TroysMammy · 28/03/2023 08:26

Don't buy them of you don't want your children to eat them. I used to have half a weetabix in hot milk for breakfast as a child, there wasn't such thing as snacks between meals then.

hoover12345 · 28/03/2023 08:27

CockPits · 28/03/2023 08:03

No child should eat a minimum of:

Cereal + toast + yogurt + fruit + eggs

Anything less than this is practically starvation

Hahahahhaaha 😂

ActDottie · 28/03/2023 08:27

Ffs! Your husband is right it’s literally cereal

ClairDeLaLune · 28/03/2023 08:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Imagine being this nasty.

KrasiTime · 28/03/2023 08:28

I assumed @CockPits was being sarcastic.

Sweetapplestrudel · 28/03/2023 08:29

Pretty standard breakfast, esp if with whole milk.

ChocSaltyBalls · 28/03/2023 08:29

Just clocked the ages. Jesus they’re only little! They’ll be totally fine. They’ll be running around and playing not out chopping logs

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 28/03/2023 08:29

Kanaloa · 28/03/2023 08:17

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.

Show quote history

Fair point! My dd has always been about as uninterested in food as it is possible for a human being to be. She's nearly an adult now but I could probably count the times she has said that she is hungry on one hand! But I agree that kids could just be in the habit of stuffing themselves if they are used to getting more.

IPlayedFortnite · 28/03/2023 08:30

I can't even remember having breakfast as a child.

As I got older I would eat a bowl of cereal.
This morning all I've eaten is a bowl of cornflakes.

Hoolihan · 28/03/2023 08:30

I think Rice Crispies and most commercially available cereals are absolute crap - not sure when the food companies convinced us all to eat bowls of sugary nothing for breakfast but it must have been one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time!

We have toast + peanut butter/avocado/marmite, porridge (sometimes make it, sometimes instant) or hm muesli with nuts, seeds & fruit. Just seems more filling/less nutritionally pointless.

Bree82 · 28/03/2023 08:30

BitOutOfPractice · 28/03/2023 08:20

She didn’t say they were still hungry. She said they were asking for something else. That’s two different things.

Show quote history

Aw oops I thought asking for more she meant they were still hungry but yeh maybe I just assumed that part.

TheFluffyCoatWithTheBrokenZip · 28/03/2023 08:30

Exactly what my own DC has Rice Krispies and an apple or banana.

Breakfast club offer toast, cornflakes, rice krispies or shreddies with fruit.

hoover12345 · 28/03/2023 08:30

Kanaloa · 28/03/2023 08:09

Why do you ‘feel strongly’ about ‘filling their tummies properly before school?’ Why do you think cereal with milk and fruit doesn’t ‘fill their tummies properly?’ Honestly a bowl of cereal itself without fruit does me in the mornings - I think this idea of ‘filling tummies’ by presenting a million different breakfasts is actually a bit unhealthy. I wouldn’t have cereal and toast and this and that and the next. Most tummies (especially small kids) are ‘properly filled’ with a normal sized meal. They aren’t going to work down the mines, and they’ll have their lunch about 12/12.30.

I agree! The amount of food first thing in the morning these kids are having must make them feel sluggish all morning.

Mustthinkofausername · 28/03/2023 08:30

If you feel so strongly about it why not make breakfast for them yourself?

At that age, don't they get a mid morning snack from the child minder/school? Mine had fruit, milk and other snacks at nursery/school at 11am at that age. Then lunch around 12:30. Never had complaints about hunger and they weren't passing out from lack of energy.

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 28/03/2023 08:31

That's a really foolish choice of hill to die on IMO - absolutely not worth "arguing properly" over!

He fed them rice crispies and fruit for breakfast, he didn't give them cola and a bag of haribo or nothing at all...

It's on the level of personal preference not right versus wrong, especially as the 3 year old will certainly have access to food mid morning at the childminder's unless you use a terrible childminder!

Does your eldest take or have access to fruit or similar snacks mid morning/ at playtime?

ArcticSkewer · 28/03/2023 08:32

God, the word tummies. Bleurgh.

It's processed crap but perfectly standard breakfast and at least it's fortified

lv884 · 28/03/2023 08:32

Fine for young kids, with a banana and a mid-morning healthy snack. I don’t think you’re necessarily being unreasonable though in having your reservations (although it’s not worth arguing about): it’s not as nutritious as something like porridge or egg on granary toast, of course, but these are also obviously more time-consuming and it would be a little unreasonable to expect these to be cooked daily arguably if you’re both working full-time and the morning dash is hectic enough as it is. Yes, I’m sure there’ll be mums out there who do, before anyone replies saying so. But this is fine as part of a balanced diet. Good source of calcium and these cereals tend to be fortified which makes me feel a bit better about things like sugar. There are far worse cereals than Rice Krispies mind.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 28/03/2023 08:32

I agree with you OP I'm not a fan of most cereals. Ultra processed and also get metabolized very quickly and leave you hungry and dont think they are very nutritious. However they're widely accepted by most people as being an ok breakfast so think you will have a hard time arguing otherwise. Why dont you buy a cereal thats a bit more filling like weetabix or something? Still quick and easy

Spanielsarepainless · 28/03/2023 08:32

When I was growing up, we had cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Frosties, Ricicles, Weetabix with milk, then two biscuits afterwards, about 7.30. Or toast with butter and marmalade. We never had a mid-morning snack, lunch was 12.45.

Cinnamon23 · 28/03/2023 08:33

Bimblybomeyelash · 28/03/2023 07:50

You may not like it for your children, but surely it is obvious that plenty of people do? It’s breakfast cereal that has been on shelves and in peoples breakfast bowls for decades. When I was a kid I used to have it with sliced banana and sultanas on top. And a spoon of sugar!

Exactly the same here, Bimbly!

hoover12345 · 28/03/2023 08:33

Choconut · 28/03/2023 08:10

The second ingredient in Rice Crispies is sugar so it's not something I'd give for breakfast apart from as a treat, but they do add in vitamins. Weetabix or Shredded wheat would be more filling and less sweet (but I don't know if the kids would eat them as I remember thinking they were horrid as a child).

If you've got time and they'll eat it then I'd make porridge and put some cinnamon and nutmeg in it to sweeten it and chop up the fruit and put it in there. Unless you're having vegetable protein ie lentil dahl for breakfast I wouldn't have animal protein if they already have it for lunch and dinner. It's probably healthier not to have any protein for breakfast than to have 3 lots of animal protein during the day (not that I'm vegetarian by any means!).

Rice Crispies as treat?! Jeez 🤣🤣

Starlightstarbright1 · 28/03/2023 08:35

There are many children turn up at nursery / school having eaten nothing.

I have a teen - happy if he has eaten anything in fact . Often eats his leftover tea from night before - not suggesting this is something to strive for but a bowl of ceral and fruit it fine