Breakfast eaters have a better overall diet, less trouble concentrating and fewer behavior problems in school. Breakfast should provide 20 to 25 percent of a child's daily caloric and nutritional needs and contain arbohydrates, protein and some fat. Think smart snacks. Fill kids' nutrition gaps with snacks based on the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. Track the number of servings of fruits and vegetables children eat each day on a chart posted on the refrigerator.
Jump start the nutritional value of meals eaten at home.
Add fresh or dried fruit to breakfast cereals, canned beans to soups and finely chopped, cooked vegetables to pasta sauces, casseroles and lasagna. Mix dry milk powder into mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and milk shakes. Set a good example. The dietary habits of children mirror that of their parents. Eat healthy and your kids probably will, too.