Avoiding UPFs at breakfast

[Ayechinnyreckon]

After breakfast we eat virtually no UPFs but the kids breakfast is a huge issue.

They wake early and are hungry. They're 9&6 so can be trusted to go downstairs, get themselves some cereal and occupy themselves in the morning until we get up.

They eat cereal and pastries mainly until we get up and make a more substantial breakfast if they want it) 90mins - 2 hours later.

AIBU to want quick and easy breakfast that the DC can get themselves? So I don't have to get up at 5.30!

Most cereal is honestly horrible stuff with next to no nutritional value.

This will sound awful, but give them a "hot" banana milkshake at bedtime, well not scalding hot. All the good stuff and sleep-inducing extras.
Like an age-appropriate beddy bottle.

They could have full fat Greek yoghurt with fruit, which is actually very filling.
It's my main breakfast most days- Fage yoghurt, blueberries, mixed seeds and sometimes a banana.

I'd ditch the pastries. Full of crap.

If you just stop buying cereal that you don't want them to eat, problem solved.

There are plenty of other options.

Exactly. I think an 80/20 is a good balance. But breakfast is more like 25% meaning no room for any other stuff. Which is why I want to switch it up.

I've made granola before, but before the kids were of an age to eat it so I may try again.

laden with sugar and horribly bad for you. Pretty much no nutritional value? Empty calories?

How about drop scones/American pancakes?
You could make in advance and put some on a plate in the microwave. 9 year old just warms for 30 seconds, or they eat them cold. Squirt on a little golden syrup, or bonne maman jam is ok, or tiptree chocolate spread for a treat - it does have emulsifier in but it's soya lecithin which is the least harmful.

Like a banana horlicks? Could add nut butter to it as well

Doesnt sound awful

Breadbin full of wholemeal rolls? Or prepared filled rolls, wrapped, in fridge?

Muesli? I like Granola but shop stuff is high in sugar.

Can they use microwave to make a hot milky drink? If not, perhaps a flask?

Good to see you've grasped the point of the thread.

Look online- loads of ideas on some websites for healthy breakfasts.
Ive already posted 3/4 ideas for you.

Weetabix
Porridge oats
Porridge- if 9 yr old can heat it in microwave.
Plain yoghurt and fruit
Filled sandwiches put in fridge night before.

I was going to say hard boiled eggs.
Op why are they having 2 breakfasts?

I meant to tag @IOYOYO too

I think while the youngest is only 6 you should be getting up with them. DD is almost 8 and can’t imagine leaving her to fend for herself while I lounged in bed for another 2 hours.

I’m pretty relaxed but this is awful 😳

@Ayechinnyreckon

why don’t you just tell them to wait to eat until you’re up? It’s not very healthy to eat double breakfast so much!

Drop scones:

Flour
Greek yoghurt
1 egg
1/4 tsp Vanilla essence
1/2 tsp baking powder
Little bit of sugar if you want.

Mix all ingredients to a thick batter and drop into a hot greased frying pan about a tbsp at a time. Turn when they have small bubbles appearing.

I cook them in butter for DD, she often takes a pile of them for her packed lunch with sliced strawberries and some tiptree chocolate spread.

@Wizzardry weetabix is UPF, and unless OP is making her own bread is one of the worst offenders for UPF.

It’s mad how triggered some people get when others want to avoid things like processed foods. Why is it considered so radical to want to eat well and as close to natural as possible? Honestly, I don’t get it? It should be praised!

OP shredded wheat isn't UPF if you can try that, although my kids won't abide it, even with toppings!

Cheese, crackers, (I love the peters yard sourdough ones, pricey but no nasties. Taste amazing!) boiled eggs. With the nakd ham? Continental style. My autistic 10 yr old loves goats cheese and crackers for breakfast! With slices of pepper on the side.

Because they aren't getting enough nutrients with cereal/ pastries and end up with a sugar (carb) crash midmorning if we don't give them a better breakfast. If breakfast 1 will meet their nutritional needs then they won't need breakfast 2, except on weekends where we have brunch together after their activities.

And for those wondering, they aren't overweight or even close (I weigh them for car seats (younger) and jiu-jitsu completion entries (eldest).

Unless she's making her own bread, the toast is likely to be UPF.

They're probably the same posters who go crazy when someone suggests a cheese sandwich in a packed lunch!

I do 🫣