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Home › Articles › Nutrition and Your Health › Breakfast and Lunch on the Go

Breakfast and Lunch on the Go

Kick the Day off Strong and Keep Going All Day Long

By Christina Pirello

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5. Running too late for breakfast? Send a quick half (or full) sandwich out the door with your child. Good choices are peanut butter, sliced meat or cheese. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast for yourself!

Multi-tasking Multivitamins

Even if you think your child is eating a well-balanced diet, vitamins should still be a part of their daily routine. "It is easier to guarantee adequate vitamin nutrition with a multiple vitamin supplement for children," says James O'Donnell, associate professor of pharmacology at Rush University Medical Center in Palatine, Ill. "For infants and toddlers, vitamins are essential, according to the doctor's plan of care; for children it's extra, inexpensive insurance against a deficiency developing, which can provide peace of mind on that issue."

O'Donnell recommends taking vitamins at the same time each day, so you establish a routine. "Some vitamin/mineral products can upset an empty stomach, or one can 'taste' the product if taken on an empty stomach, so I usually recommend taking the supplement with food," he says.

Adults, too, benefit from vitamin supplements. "Women face greater challenges, especially to get adequate iron for blood cell production and calcium prevention of osteoporosis," he says. "Anyone on a vegetarian diet should consult with a dietitian for guidance on proper nutrition. Any patients on prescription medication or chronic over-the-counter analgesics may need special supplements on selected items. As a rule, I have always recommended a multivitamin with minerals for adults with any medical conditions or taking prescription drugs – it's easier to supplement than to try to determine what might be missing."

"Hart" Healthy Eating

"The first thing I give my kids each morning is fruit," says Leisa Hart, fitness expert and star of the Buns of Steel video series. "I try to pick a different one every few days for variety and to train their little palettes. Once they eat the fruit they are rewarded with cereal (those without partially hydrogenated oils, of course). I also have a poster that I made to encourage good eating. On the poster I have a photo of the boys eating fruit/veggies. Next to the photo there are several boxes in which a sticker is placed each time they eat well – they get to pick out the sticker. Once all the boxes are filled with stickers they are rewarded with a trip to the park, mall, swimming or maybe a new toy. I avoid giving sweets as a reward."


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