What's for breakfast? Do we really know what we are feeding our children?

In preparing to write this, I spent a great deal of time researching both the ingredients in the foods we serve our children as well as the marketing that is utilized to attract our children to certain products.

Our goal is to raise happy, smart & healthy children who grow up to be happy, smart & healthy adults. The average child will see on average 40,000 commercials every year pushing everything from Dora the Explorer lunchboxes to high sugar breakfast cereals. We purchase a lot of these breakfast items based on perceived value as well as clever marketing.

Let's examine a few and compare:

• Twinkies An American Classic: 150 calories, 220 mg sodium, lots of preservatives, 27 g carbs, 1 g protein, 19 g sugar. & polysorbate 60 {my favorite}, which the emulsifier is made using the explosive ethylene oxide. Hmm explosives for a meal. Yummy!
• Pop Tarts Every kid's favorite:400 calories, 330 mg sodium, 10 g transfat, 73 g carbs, 34 g sugars, 4 g protein. & monocalcium phosphate, a raw material manufactured using limestone & pure phosphoric acid.
• Fruit Loops Another classic cereal: 160 calories, 140 mg sodium, 1 g fat, 26 g carbs, 1 g protein, some vitamin A & C, 13 g sugars. Essentially a great way to fire your kids up and have them crash 10 mins after they get to school.

As I researched other breakfast items such as Bisquick, Jimmy Dean Sausage, Krusteaz mini pancakes, Ore-Ida hashbrowns, Quaker Oats oatmeal, Special K breakfast bars, Nutrigrain breakfast cereal bars, & even eggs & toast the standard nutrifacts were actually very much the same.

Most {eggs withstanding} had 150+ mg sodium, very little protein (which builds lean muscle mass), 150-400 empty sugar calories, 200+ mg cholesterol, 2-4 g fat coupled with varying degrees of artificial sweeteners, preservatives, phosphates, phosphoric acid and of course explosives all bundled in array of clever marketing.

• Most medical physicians agree that high sodium diets in children, especially over weight children, are associated with heart disease and all cause mortality in overweight, but not in normal weight, people. Reducing sodium can reduce the risk of stroke.

• High levels of sugars reduce HDL cholesterol, the so-called good cholesterol. High sugar consumption is the #1 factor affecting obesity in children. Further, most experts agree that diabetics should consume no more than 5 grams of sugar at each sitting.

• Of the 4 million cancer patients being treated today, almost none are offered any more scientifically guided advice than "eat good foods." Many cancer patients would have a major improvement in their conditions if they just controlled the supply of cancer's preferred food: Glucose. By controlling the blood-glucose into a narrow range {as prescribed by the treating physician}, it becomes possible for the natural immune system to catch up to and beat the disease helping to starve cancer cells.

So let's get to it. We discussed what not to feed your children.. So now the question is what do {or should} we feed them?

Fruits:

Excellent source of fiber, which gets your child's body running smooth.

• Try slicing your favorite fruits & mix in yogurt and sliced almonds. Fruit is also an excellent topping as a substitute on top of your favorites waffle or pancake.

QUICK SPREADS:

• Toss a slice of whole wheat bread in the toaster and add: cream cheese, raisins, and sliced pears. Also try the same in a tortilla for a fun, quick treat for the little ones.
• Another great-quick breakfast is to take a cookie cutter and cut a cup size hole in the center of a slice of whole wheat or multi grain bread. Toss in your frying pan and crack and egg in the center. Cook until the egg becomes one with the toast and is golden brown {med low heat-5 mins}.

FRUIT SMOOTHIES & FRUIT SHAKES:

Berry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana, peeled and cut up 1/4 cup fresh or frozen berries (such as raspberries, blackberries and/or strawberries) 1 cup orange juice 3 tablespoons plain yogurt Preparation: Throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth

Just Peachy Shake

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla fro-yo 1 medium peach, peeled, pitted and cut up 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter Preparation: Same as above.

And finally remember, eating healthy is a choice. Choosing to buy better foods and serve more nutritional breakfasts to our children not only benefits their growth and mental health. It benefits ours as well.