Parents’ Poll: Is There Time for Breakfast?

Read what you told us, and get 23 great tips.

Hundreds of people responded to our poll about breakfast. Read how they deal with breakfast, and try some of their suggestions.

Poll Results: Is There Time For Breakfast?

Results of the poll:

  1. Do your kids eat breakfast?

    83% Always
    10% Usually
    7% Sometimes
    0% Never

  2. Do you eat breakfast with your kids?

    40% Sometimes
    28% Usually
    19% Always
    13% Never

  3. When your kids have breakfast, where do they eat?

    89% Home
    6% School
    5% In the car

  4. Who makes breakfast, and when?

    Most often it's Mom who makes breakfast. In families where both parents share chef duties, many split the task between weekends and weekdays. And yes, there are some dads who take sole responsibility for the breakfast shift.

    A small number of children make their own breakfasts, and we also heard from parents who make breakfast with their kids. In one family the rule is "Whoever is up and dressed first makes breakfast." (Does that mean last one up gets a rotten egg? Sorry, we couldn't resist.)

    As for when: 5:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. was the range of breakfast times, with a lot of families eating between 6:00 and 7:30 A.M. Some parents commented that their kids eat a half hour to 45 minutes before they're picked up by the school bus. Others wait until later, when their kids have worked up more of an appetite.

  5. What is your kids' favorite breakfast?

    There were so many favorites, even within a family! When we tallied the results, the favorites were ranked:

    1. Pancakes
    2. Cereal
    3. Eggs
    4. Waffles

    Other favorites included:
    French toast, yogurt, panini, toast, grits and bacon, bagel and cream cheese, corn tortilla, crêpes, Pop-Tarts, and sweet rolls

  6. What's the most unusual food you or your kids have had for breakfast in the past year?

    So many of you mentioned pizza and birthday cake that we wondered if this was a new culinary trend.

    Others entrées were:

    • hot dogs
    • soup
    • macaroni and cheese
    • burritos
    • lamb and feta-cheese frittata
    • kimchi (cold pickled cabbage)
    • TV dinners
    • rice with milk and honey
    • green eggs and ham
    • pita
    • pierogis

    One parent told us: "Sometimes we do Backwards Day and have dinner at breakfast time and breakfast for dinner. This is usually when we have a great leftover meal they love, and I can add the fresh fruit as a dessert and milk to drink, giving them the energy they need for the day. Sounds crazy, but the idea of Backwards Day gets them excited! I will try anything to get them to eat something healthy in the morning."

  7. What's your biggest breakfast complaint?

    A number of you have no complaints and said breakfast was your favorite meal of the day ("with dinner a whole other story...").

    The breakfast woes you shared are:

    • There's not enough time.
    • It's hard to wake kids up.
    • Kids dilly-dally while eating.
    • Kids say they aren't hungry.
    • Everyone has different food preferences.
    • Kids always want "the same old foods."
    • It takes too long to clean up afterward.
    • We run out of milk.
    • Breakfast foods have "too many carbs."
    • It takes a long time to prepare a healthy breakfast.
    • It's a challenge to "figure out how to get tasty, quick variety."

  8. What's worked well for your family?

    Here Are 23 Great Tips You Shared!

    See which ones might work for you. And to the parent who wrote, "Let me know. I don't have any tips to share," we hope this is helpful!

    • I keep plenty of cereal and oatmeal on hand. I buy it when it goes on sale so I don't run out.

    • I use basically quick, to-go breakfasts; milkshakes, prepackaged waffles, and breakfast bars with bananas have been lifesavers for when we're really rushing!

    • Some things can be prepared the night before. It saves a lot of time in the morning—all you have to do is cook and eat. (Refrigerate bread soaked in egg and milk or some muffin batter, and bake in the morning.)

    • Sometimes I'll have the funnies out and ready for them to read. They really like that.

    • My husband eats with the kids while I get their lunch and snacks ready for school. He works late, so it's their time together.

    • I try to offer more non-traditional breakfasts like fruits, cheeses, and sometimes meat. I try my best to stay away from breads, cereals, and the so-bad-for-you Pop-Tarts!

    • I give the kids dry cereal in a baggie for an early morning snack on the way to school.

    • Giving kids choices in the morning helps, like a variety of cold cereals.

    • Explain to kids that they need protein to help their brains function during the day.

    • Continue to insist that everyone is at the table. As long as we all meet for breakfast, it's a good start to a hectic day.

    • Don't have the TV on AT ALL in the mornings.

    • Wake up the kids 30 to 40 minutes before breakfast.

    • Having the table set the night before.

    • Let kids know when they are toddlers that breakfast is a "given."

    • Playing a game at breakfast helps keep school-age kids at the table.

    • Choose a very nutritious breakfast (or three), and then eat the same thing (or an easy alternative) every day at the same time.

    • Absolutely no toys at the table, and no computers, phones, or newspapers for parents. Conversation is always best!

    • I make pancakes on the weekend, freeze them, then pop them in the microwave on weekday mornings. My kids like my pancakes better than the store kind, so I save money and do something nice for them.

    • The kids have to eat their vitamins and fruit before they start on the rest of the meal. Gotta get the good stuff in first!

    • I make all the lunches the night before, so I have time to make my kids a hot breakfast.

    • Sometimes we develop a weekly breakfast calendar. This way there are no arguments about what's for breakfast, and everybody has the same thing at the same time.

    • I've started getting up 30 minutes before the kids do, so I can get myself ready and have time to give them breakfast.

    • On weekends we take turns in the kitchen and make a special family breakfast.