Question:
My grandson is 14 and lives about 2 hours away from me with his dad. He used to live with his mom and my husband and I, or I was taking care of him mornings and afternoons while his mom worked. So even though he has never been one to eat breakfast unless "prodded" to, one of us could usually get him to eat. Since he moved in with his dad last summer, his eating habits have deteriorated. His dad is into junk food and fast food, and that is what my grandson eats. Also, he does not eat breakfast and eats pizza or junk food for lunch. My question is: how can I help him to eat in the morning when I'm can't be there to "push" him to it?A concerned grandmother
Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert Kendrin Sonneville, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. is a clinical dietician specialist at Childrens' Hospital Boston. She answers:
Trying to encourage healthy eating from a far can be tricky. This is going to be especially true if your grandson is in an environment where eating well and starting the day off with a balanced breakfast isn't the norm. Make sure your grandson and his father know why you are concerned about his eating. Many people have heard the saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day", but don't necessarily know why it is so important. Kids and teens who eat breakfast are more likely to have healthier weights than teens who are breakfast skippers and have a better quality diet overall (partly because they don't eat as much junk food later in they day).
Starting the day off with breakfast and eating consistently may also help maximize your his academic and athletic performance, too. If your grandson is concerned about getting good grades or excelling in sports, you may want to emphasize these benefits.
Other than pointing out the importance of eating breakfast to your grandson and his father, there may be other creative ways you can help promote healthy behavior changes, too. Consider sending him a "Grandma Cares" care package and include non-perishable, portable breakfast foods that he likes (such granola bars, cereal bars, energy bars, dry cereal, dried fruit, nuts, or portable peanut butter). He is more likely to eat breakfast if he has grab-and-go breakfast foods available. You could also give him a gift card to a local bakery/coffee shop if you think he might use it in the mornings. Although eating foods away from home isn't always the healthiest (or most economical) option, choices like bagels, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, or milk-containing coffee drinks (like a latte) are much better than nothing!