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Parenting

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Original poster

10 year old doesn't want breakfast

15 replies

LemonLimeWater · 14/02/2023 11:47

Dd2 has always had a healthy appetite but all of a sudden has stopped eating breakfast. She might eat a few blueberries or grapes before school, but there is no way she would eat a pice of toast or cereal in the morning.
She will eat her lunch and snack, and a normal dinner, and still loves sweets.
Should I be concerned or as she gets enough calories during the day, is it a non issue?

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Original poster

LemonLimeWater · 14/02/2023 11:50

I should have said, she is an average sized child, who does regular dance classes and wears size 10 -12 sized clothes.
Thanks

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JarByTheDoor · 14/02/2023 11:51

Maybe it's hormones and growing up changing the way her appetite works? As a kid I ate breakfast first thing, but as an adult I can't face food until my stomach has woken up, which takes an hour or two. There must've been a point at which that switched, and 10-ish sounds about right.

SpinningFloppa · 14/02/2023 11:51

Having the same issue, my kids never eat breakfast!

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WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 11:54

Would she have a fresh banana milkshake? Made with full fat milk, a whole banana, a drop of vanilla essence and maybe a teaspoon of nut butter, that should keep her going but not be as heavy on the stomach as cereal or toast.

Divebar2021 · 14/02/2023 11:54

My DD10 is not wild about breakfast and although I prefer her to eat something before school it’s her that has to function in the morning. Unless your DD is actively trying to lose weight by cutting meals I’m not sure what the issue is. I don’t think you should make people eat food if theyre not hungry.

MyOldFriendTime · 14/02/2023 11:56

My DD never had breakfast before school, she said the thought made her feel sick. I did used to worry the teachers would think what a terrible parent I was but as long as breakfast is offered I don’t think it’s a problem.

BreviloquentBastard · 14/02/2023 11:57

My 15 year old stopped eating breakfast when she was 11. Just said it made her feel queasy and she didn't feel hungry until 11am ish. I remember being the same, could never eat until lunch time, until I got to my 20's then my morning appetite came back. 15yo has just started nibbling toast again in the morning like a baby bird. Still eats dinner like a ravenous hyena though so maybe it's a tween/teen hormone thing. They reckon their body clocks are set later than an adults once they hit their teens.

I wouldn't worry if she's getting enough calories elsewhere. Grapes are good so if she's happy to just have a few grapes I'd leave her to it. Just make sure she's not skipping meals elsewhere.

liveforsummer · 14/02/2023 12:00

I don't eat breakfast either so wouldn't be worrying about this

catherinewales · 14/02/2023 12:00

My son is 11 and refuses breakfast. He'll get something at break in school. I hate sending him out hungry but he seems ok. He just doesn't like eating so soon after waking up

Original poster

LemonLimeWater · 14/02/2023 12:02

Ok thanks. It seems like this is normal and one less thing for me to worry about.
I always eat breakfast so I guess that's why I was concerned!
I wil keep offering fruit, she can take it or leave it.
Thanks again!

OP posts:

turrrniiipz · 14/02/2023 12:03

Take her to the supermarket and look at some quick easy alternatives to a typical breakfast.

Belvita bars/biscuits/bakes
Fruit and yoghurt
Cereal bars
Milkshakes
Weatabix drinks
Pancakes/waffles with fruit

As long as it's offered there's not much you can do, but I'd try and encourage her to have something small even on the walk to school.

As long as she is eating dinner and tea I wouldn't be too worried.

NuffSaidSam · 14/02/2023 12:06

I remember having this argument with my mum from about 10 until I left home! I still don't eat breakfast straight away and I'm a fully grown adult now. I do eat in the morning, but not until I've been up at least an hour. Just can't stomach food straight away.

If they have morning snack at school I'd beef it up a bit because she'll probably be ready to eat by then but otherwise leave her be.

Mariposista · 14/02/2023 12:13

It's fine as long as:

The reason for it is not weight/peer pressure related
She is able to concentrate in class
Her mood is not affected until she eats
She is not reaching for sugary crap by 10 am

JarByTheDoor · 14/02/2023 12:16

They reckon their body clocks are set later than an adults once they hit their teens.

That's a good shout about body clocks. It's true that adolescent circadian rhythm is noticeably delayed on average, compared to child or adult, so I guess that for a significant chunk of kids that age, an ordinary breakfast time feels much like being expected to shovel food in at 5am, into a stomach that's still fast asleep, so the food just sits there making them feel queasy. I remember my grandfather telling me that when he was a young man and started work quite early in the morning, it was normal for men to have breakfast a couple of hours into their shift, rather than forced on a still-sleeping stomach at home.

JarByTheDoor · 14/02/2023 12:20

My partner also worked in a place in Scotland for a few years that served breakfast at work at about 10am — I wonder if that was in recognition of the effect on circadian rhythm of very short winter days, where your body thinks it's still the middle of the night when you leave the house.

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