Is your family part of the Breakfast Club?

Charmaine Champ Author

Breakfast is identified as one of the most import meals of the day. Within this blog we explore the many benefits and how to get involved as a family.

In a world where its all "go go go" moving from one activity to the next, juggling family, work life and sanity, is not easy. 

It can be tricky to find the time, to come together as a family, to build connections, through the parent child relationship and ensure children have the right start each day.

Breakfast is identified as the most important meal of the day, because of its benefits for the gut. Incorporating plant based foods, like fruits and cereals in your breakfast, can keep your digestive system happy and healthy.

Keeping the digestive system happy and healthy results in healthy wees and poos. When wees and poos are healthy, toileting is regulated, enabling children to progress in the day and night

What is breakfast? And, what are the benefits of eating breakfast each day?

Breakfast, breaks the over night fasting period, where no food has been eaten. Breakfast replenishes the supply of glucose to boost energy levels and alertness, while also providing essential nutrients required for good health, such as fruit, cereals or carbohydrates. 

Breakfast is required by the body, at set times, each day, in the morning, within two hours of waking.

Breakfast is not just about the physical health benefits, there are many other benefits. These include:

• Regulating sugars
• Nutrition
• Regulating wees and poos
• Supporting the circadian rhythm to regulate sleep
• Boosts mood, regulating feelings and emotions
• Promotes concentration and readiness to learn
• Provides routine and structure for the day
• Provides opportunities to speak and be listened to
• Promotes connection with the family
• Promotes opportunities to discuss plans and help prepare for the day ahead

Eating breakfast, together as a family promotes physical health benefits, as well as providing predictability, routine, opportunities for children to learn and mirror eating skills and build valuable relationship connections. 

Children need connections and relationships to help their brains to grow and survive. 

Spending a few minutes a day, together, eating breakfast really can help our children in so many different ways!

What is the "Breakfast Club"?

The Breakfast Club, is all about:

• Looking at where your child and family is now! 
• Reviewing your families morning, eating routine
• Identifying and introducing a set time and place to eat in the morning 
• And, sitting down to have breakfast together as a family 

The Breakfast Club is all about sitting together, to eat breakfast, as a family 

The Breakfast Club, provides the foundations for the day ahead for your child and family.

Every child and family is individual, this is why it is important to first look at where your child and family is? 

Is your child struggling to sit? Is your child running away or hiding away from the table or food? Are they avoiding eating? Or eating on the go? To explore how and when children eat and identify if they won`t or can`t eat, and the support available, feel free to view the FREE blog post: Can`t or Won`t Eat

How to get involved with the Breakfast Club?

Life can be incredibly hectic. This is why we are recommending just one or two days a week, to begin with, to come together to sit, to have breakfast.

1. Identify a set time, in a set place to sit to have breakfast, together each morning with your family
2. Introduce a breakfast routine of offering one fruit option, one cereal option or one carbohydrate option with a drink each morning. Introducing "breakfast foods" (options can be shared via a list or visually for children to view and choose from)
3. Share your progress by proudly displaying the "We support the Breakfast Club" badge on your favourite social media platform either: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Health Unlocked or anywhere else. Through sharing your progress, promotes the many benefits of breakfast with more families and their children across the country. Click here for a copy of the badge of support: We Support The Breakfast Club, Badge

How can Clear Steps Consultancy help your child further with eating? 

Charmaine, at Clear Steps Consultancy supports children with and without a diagnosis, additional needs, their families, schools, organisations, charities and professionals in progressing and being successful with Toileting, Sleeping and Understanding Behaviour.  Support available to help children further with their eating, is as individual as the children, families and schools themselves, from one to one Parenting Support Packages to Comprehensive assessments.

Parenting Support Packages provide in depth discussions with you as parents or carers and a step by step individualised plan shared of where to start.

For further information and support, feel free to contact Charmaine direct via the website: Clear Steps Consultancy

Help and support is available!

Start helping your child with eating and the Breakfast Club, today! 

Categories: breakfast, breakfast club, children with additional needs, connection, eating, eating difficulties, sensory needs and eating, sleep, Toileting