A real life breakfast served specifically to traumatized children. Saints, preserve us!
I kid you not, this was served as breakfast at a highly regarded therapeutic facility for children. I had the opportunity to join them for breakfast and couldn't help but snap a photo.
Lucky charms (with the option of chocolate and strawberry milk, which I declined)
Trix Yogurt
2 Pop-tarts
A.K.A.
Loads of sugar (which you can top with lactose and loads of artificial dye and sugar)
Loads of sugar and dye
Loads of sugar
Oh my goodness. In case you're wondering there is NOT ONE SHRED of nutritional value in that meal.
Here's the thing. You are probably reading this blog because you want your child to heal and grow. That being the case, you, unlike this facility on this day, need to feed your child in a way that helps their brain and body heal and grow.
Trade sugar and carb-based breakfasts for PROTEIN-BASED breakfasts.
The American way is a bowl of cereal and milk for breakfast. That's a no-go if you're trying to heal a child with RAD. Sugar does terrible things to the brain. Sugar does terrible things to the body.
Protein not only helps counteract the effects of sugar (just ask any diabetic), but protein is also necessary for BUILDING THE BRAIN. The body uses protein to build new pathways in the brain. If you want your kid to be learning, you have to feed them protein for breakfast!
Consider these options for a healthy breakfast that can be still provided on the run:
1. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches - yep, it's not just good for lunch!
2. Whole fruit: apples, bananas, oranges, pears, dried prunes. Whole fruit can be so wonderful; it's like pre-packaged food. :) (The sugar in fruit, aka fructose, is not the same as refined sugar. It's ok.)
3. Yogurt that is low in sugar or at least uses real fruit as its sweetener
4. Nut and seed-based protein bar that uses fruit, honey, agave, or stevia for sweetener
5. Smoothie: 1/2 cup of frozen fruit, 1 c of milk, and a scoop of plant-based protein powder (I personally don't recommend whey-based powders due to the frequency of dairy intolerances). Mix, pour, run out the door.
6. Hard-boiled Eggs: Make a big batch on the weekend and eat them during the week. Bam.
7. Microwaved plain oatmeal with peanut butter. Healthy carbs with protein=good. Feel free to add in fun things as inspiration strikes. Add-ons: cinnamon, honey, raisins, milk...
These options are quick, affordable and healthy. Your kid will have MUCH more access to good decision-making when his brain isn't bouncing around from the high's and low's of a sugar-filled breakfast.
Later that day as I visited the therapeutic facility with the not-awesome breakfast, I literally dodged a chair flying out of a room and watched kids LITERALLY climbing the walls of the hallways. I had been to this facility MANY times, and this was not the case on other days when the breakfast was more balanced. You'd think someone would notice...
Give your kid at chance at healing and good decision-making. Feed them protein.