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If you have kids, you should know about the importance of a healthy diet-especially first thing in the morning. The State of Minnesota Breakfast Study showed that kids who ate breakfast before school had better grades in certain subjects, were sick less often, were better behaved, and had a better attention span than those who did not. Eating breakfast also fends off child obesity and are healthier overall due to having the proper nutrients and minerals needed to grow. If you are not sure what to feed your child in the morning, here are a few healthy ideas.

1. Cereal. Not only is cereal a cinch to make, but kids will eat it up with no problem. You do have to be extremely cautious though-some cereals contain more sugar than candy bars do! Cereal is only healthy if it has the right ingredients. It should have very little sugar (less than 5 grams per serving), whole grains, and be fortified with extra vitamins or minerals. You can even try adding some fruit to the cereal if your kids will eat it.

2. Pancakes. Pancakes can be healthy if done right. Most children love pancakes because you can make them into any shape you want which makes eating fun. Try making your own pancake mix with whole wheat flour or buying organic pre made mix with buckwheat which is more nutritious than most. Make some fun shaped pancakes for your child and pair them with a banana and a bit of syrup, or some fruit or jam.

3. Smoothies. Kids like smoothies because they are similar to milkshakes. Chances are they wouldnt if they knew all of the healthy ingredients that go into them, so you may want to keep that to yourself. You can be creative with smoothies-use fruit such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries or oranges paired with yogurt, skim milk, and a bit of honey to make it sweet and it is almost guaranteed your kids will love it.

If time constraints are the main reason your child isn&undefined;t eating breakfast, the above suggested breakfast ideas all take less than ten minutes to whip up. There is no excuse for your child to not have a nutritious breakfast-not only will they feel better but they will do better in school and be happier throughout the day.