tips

    Make Every Morning A Good Morning!

    What if every day started with a bowl of cereal and a smile? It can! Here are 14 helpful tips for minimising morning stress and maximising family time.

    Get Organised

     

    Tips 1: Preparation is key

    Pack, plan and do as much the night before as you can. Organise lunches, sign school forms, pack sports kit/musical instruments/etc. by the front door to avoid extra leg work in the morning.

    Tips 2: The early bird gets the coffee

    Getting up 20 minutes before your family, and enjoy a coffee and the radio in the lull, and get your energy levels ready to stay on top of the morning rush.

    Tips 3: Dress for success

    Getting the kids dressed can be the first challenge. Try laying out clothes for the next day on the floor in the shape they would be worn. This is fun for your kids to look at too.

    Tips 4: Avoid diva meltdowns

    If your battle to persuade your daughter that her ballet tutu and purple sparkly wellington boots are not acceptable school clothing, try keeping them hidden away to avoid temptation.

    Tips 5: Get into the groove

    For kids that are naturally slower to get ready and easily distracted, create a playlist—each song linked to a task—so they know that by the end of their favourite song they should be dressed and ready.

    Did you

    know?

    Chewing It Over

    People have been eating whole grains for more than 17,000 years – they picked seeds, rubbed off the husks and chewed the kernels raw or boiled them in water.

    A whole lot of grains

    One bushel of wheat contains around a million individual whole grain kernels.

    Have Fun

     

    Tips 6: On your marks, get set…

    Maybe your child is competitive. Try time trials to test how quickly he or she can manage each task. Or make getting ready into a game of 'beat the timer’.

    Tips 7: Make time to snuggle

    Some kids need a cuddle before getting going. Try waking them 5 minutes earlier to accommodate this precious request. Or let them get dressed in the kitchen and chat while you make breakfast.

    Tips 8: Independence starts in the a.m.

    Teach kids independence by having them make a chart for getting ready. They can also learn to serve themselves breakfast if the ingredients are kept together low in the fridge with the cereals and bowls close by the table.

    Tips 9: Tech-free zone

    Gadgets like phones and TVs are a major distraction in the morning. It's best to restrict these distractions until your kids are ready for school. Or, try using them as a reward for getting ready on time.

    Connect

     

    Tips 10: Show them you care

    Mornings are notorious times for nervous tummy aches in kids who worry about school and friends. Encourage your children to share their worries and help them with solutions so they can bounce confidently into school.

    Tips 11: Dream big

    Mornings are when dreams are fresh in our mind. Ask everyone what they dreamt about, then have fun deciphering what it means!

    Tips 12: The more the merrier

    To break the routine, why not turn breakfast into an even bigger social event by letting them invite a friend round for breakfast? You can have fun making invitations.

     

    TIP 13: Think about it…

    Get your children interested in current affairs at an early age by carefully explaining an age-appropriate headline story from each day’s morning news and asking them their thoughts.

     

    TIP 14: Knock, knock…

    If the news is a bit too serious for your morning, there's no reason why old favourites such as "I-spy, with my eye" won't work! or jokes can't be shared. It sets everyone in a good mood!

    Let'stalk

    We've tried to answer as many of your questions as possible. You can search them all here:

    What are the health and nutritional benefits of Nestlé Gluten Free Corn Flakes?

    As well as being a healthy choice for people who want to reduce the amount of gluten in their diet, or have coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance, Gluten Free Corn Flakes are fortified with B-vitamins, folic acid and iron

    I’ve heard a low GI diet can help me lose weight. Is this true?

    It’s too early to say. The science in this area is still emerging. There is evidence that low GI foods take longer to digest and help you feel satisfied for longer, but none that you’ll eat fewer calories at the next meal.

    Is Nestlé planning to launch gluten-free versions of its other cereals or cereal bars?

    Not yet, but we will keep listening and responding to people’s needs.

    Why do some breakfast cereals have different serving sizes labeled on pack?

    The serving sizes mentioned on breakfast cereals can slightly differ, mainly due to differences in product density. Beyond its nutrients density, it’s also important for the portion size to suit the average cereal bowl. Some types of breakfast cereals, such as mueslis or granolas, are denser than traditional flakes; so a 30 g serving could look tiny and unrealistic in a bowl – that's why we use 45 g as a reference. These different serving sizes have been defined by the European cereals trade association and consistently applied by all industry members in Europe.

    Does the high GI of breakfast cereals negate the whole grain benefits?

    No. Even though some foods made with whole grain have a high GI, you can still benefit by including them in a healthy, balanced diet. Eating lots of whole grain can be good for the heart, even if the GI of the food is high. The whole population can benefit from eating more whole grain; the effect of low GI foods is still not clear.

    We'd love to hear your comments about Nestlé cereals, so please let us know what you think, we always appreciate hearing from you.