The Best Breakfast Foods To Fuel Kids Through The School Day

Walk into any classroom and you’re bound to see at least a few kids nodding off at their desks. One reason for that is because, sure, calculating fractions and learning how to ask where the bathroom is in French may not be all that riveting. But part of the problem is that many kids aren’t starting off the day with a breakfast that gives them enough energy to focus in class until lunch.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 13% of school-age kids skip breakfast in the morning. This jumps to 27% for middle and high schoolers. Certainly any breakfast is better than none, but if you want your child to start the day with a breakfast that truly nourishes their body and mind, pediatric nutritionists have a few tips, including information about how a kid’s nutrient needs change as they enter middle school and high school.
In general, there are four main nutrient groups to focus on when figuring out what your child should eat for breakfast. “Carbohydrates, protein, fiber and healthy fats are important nutrients to get at breakfast,” said registered dietitian Tok-Hui Yeap, a certified pediatric nutrition specialist. She explained that these four core components will give children the energy they need to function and focus at school.
Alicia “Chacha” Miller, a registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition, offered similar guidelines. She explained that carbohydrates and protein are important for providing the brain and body with energy, and healthy fats help keep blood sugar levels steady. You know how kids will be bouncing off the walls one second and need a nap the next? Keeping blood sugar levels steady helps prevent that. Like Yeap, Miller said fiber at breakfast is important, too. Fiber supports gut health and keeps the digestive system functioning, helps keep blood sugar levels steady, and keeps hunger pangs away longer than a breakfast that doesn’t have fiber.
If you aren’t sure how much of these four key nutrients your child needs, MyPlate.gov can serve as a helpful resource, breaking down nutrient needs by life stage (such as preschoolers, kids, teens and young adults) and showing what meeting these needs looks like.
Sara Quinteros, another registered dietitian with a specialty in pediatric nutrition, told HuffPost that when kids enter middle school, they become hungrier because of the rate at which they’re growing. She said a lot of middle schoolers gravitate toward carb-heavy foods. While carbs are an important nutrient, she said, it’s important that those kids are getting enough protein too, as it helps support their growth and satiate their hunger.
“Middle school-age children tend to have higher caloric, protein and calcium needs to prepare them for puberty,” Yeap added.
All this same advice applies to when kids enter high school, according to all three dietitians. “High school and middle school nutrition needs are very similar. No additional special changes need to be made except for iron needs are higher due to rapid growth,” Yeap said. Some foods high in iron that can be integrated into breakfast include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds and whole-grain toast.
OK, so kids need carbs, protein, fiber and healthy fats at breakfast. But what does it look like to cover all these bases in a morning meal your kids will actually eat? Below are some examples:
You probably noticed one popular breakfast item in particular missing from the dietitian-approved recommendations: cereal. “Plain sugary cereal, doughnuts or a cinnamon bun doesn’t have core nutrition components such as protein and fiber,” Yeap said. She explained that when kids eat only a higher-sugar breakfast without protein, fiber or healthy fats, they tend to get tired easily because simple carbs get absorbed and digested quickly. This gives them a quick burst of energy, but it doesn’t last. Yeap said that this means one to two hours after eating, kids will likely be cranky and tired.
That said, considering that many kids don’t eat breakfast at all, Quinteros and Miller both emphasized that any breakfast is better than none and there is no such thing as a “bad breakfast.” Quinteros pointed out that most cereals are fortified, which means they do provide at least some nutrient value even if they aren’t hitting the four essential nutrient bases in an ideal breakfast.
If you do want to get a well-rounded breakfast (or any breakfast) on the table, Miller recommended planning ahead as much as possible. If you don’t have time to scramble some eggs, can you hard-boil some in advance so your kids can eat them that way instead? Can you pre-cut fruit and avocado? Quinteros pointed out that, as kids get older, they can make their own breakfasts too, taking one morning task off your plate (literally). If your child’s school has a breakfast program, Miller said, that’s an option to consider as well.
“Not every meal is going to be perfect, but the goal is consistency not perfection,” Miller said.
If your child is eating breakfast at all and making it to school, consider it a win. And don’t forget to make yourself something to eat too!