There is only one we would recommend for breakfast, cooked rolled oats. Packaged cereals, the brands listed on the Better Choices Grocery List, are better served as snacks. Here’s why: Breakfast is the meal that serves to break the body’s sleeping fast. It provides the mental and physical fuel kids need during the school morning.

The majority of the cereals targeted for kids in the supermarkets may be described as “candy” cereal. Through processing, most of these refined cereals have had their original whole-grain nutrients removed. Added are excessive amounts of sugar along with dyes, flavorings, and other artificial additives that make cereal look and taste good. These additives are known to contribute to conditions such as sugar highs followed by sugar lows. Lack of focus, inability to sit still, and irritability are some of the noted behavior patterns related to the consumption of sugars and artificial additives. We know you don’t want your kids to experience any of these mental distractions during a school morning.

A breakfast combination of protein and complex carbohydrates accompanied with a bit of essential fatty acids will give your kids the balanced mental and physical energy they need to be the best they can be in morning. Scrambled eggs or low-fat white cheese and turkey bacon wrapped in a whole-grain tortilla lightly coated with canola spread will do it. So will deviled eggs made with canola mayonnaise and some whole-grain toast. When you want to serve your kids hot cereal in the morning, there is a good “family approved” cooked rolled oats recipe in the CD Cookbook, Mom, I’m Hungry. What’s for Dinner? Serve it with a protein shake!