Charles Poliquin did the world a huge favor when he introduced the concept of having meat and nuts for breakfast. It’s one of the most effective nutritional strategies you can use — for both adults and children.

The challenge? Most kids aren’t exactly excited to eat chicken breasts, pork chops, or steak first thing in the morning. But eggs, bacon, sausages, or burgers? That’s a different story.

Most kids will give eggs or bacon a thumbs up. In our house, my son could eat eggs every morning, and my daughters love bacon. Sausages and burgers are great breakfast options as well, and you can easily rotate the protein source — chicken, turkey, beef, bison, or pork.

Why Nuts Are Great for Kids at Breakfast

Nuts are another excellent food choice to give your kids in the morning. Here’s why:

• Nuts taste great — and kids love foods that taste great.
• They’re packed with macronutrients, micronutrients, phytonutrients, and fiber.
• They provide sustained energy all morning long.
• Most schools don’t allow nuts, so breakfast is the perfect time to include them.
• The health benefits of nuts are well-established in research.

There’s so much research on the benefits of nuts, you’d be “nuts” to ignore it! But if your child has a nut allergy, low-glycemic fruit is a good alternative. Berries are the best choice — just be sure to buy organic (see the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce).

What Should Kids Drink in the Morning?

Simple: Water.

Forget juice, milk, or plant-based alternatives like almond, rice, or soy milk. Contrary to popular belief, these aren’t healthy options either. For more on that, check out: Almonds Don’t Have Breasts.

The Take-Home Message

Think outside the box — the cereal box, that is. Try the meat and nuts breakfast with your kids. It may be just what they need to improve their learning at school, their behavior at home, and their overall health.