Mother and son eating breakfast together

Tips

14 Tips to Start Your Morning Routine

Here are 14 helpful tips for minimising morning stress and maximising family together time.

Get Organised

TIP 1: Preparation is key

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

TIP 2: The early bird gets the coffee

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

TIP 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.

TIP 4: Avoid diva meltdowns

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

TIP 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 favorite song they should be dressed and ready.

Young child getting dressed and pulling his stripy jumper over his head

Have Fun

TIP 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’.

TIP 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.

TIP 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.

TIP 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.

Family in the morning - parents having fun with their children

Connect

TIP 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.

TIP 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!

TIP 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 serious for first thing in your morning, there's no reason why old favourites such as I-spy, Who am I? or jokes can't be shared. It sends everyone off in a good mood!

Mother and teenage daughter looking at a tablet while having breakfast

cereal brands& Products

I'd like to contact Nestlé Cereals because

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

Do Nestlé products in emerging countries have more salt than products in developed/developing countries?

For the last 15 years we’ve been working to reduce the sodium (which is the major component of salt) in our breakfast cereals across the world, because we want to keep on making them more nutritious. Achieving consistency on all products, in all countries, takes time - so some may have more sodium than others. Our aim is for all our cereals – globally – to have the same reduced levels of sodium, with a target of less than 135mg per serving in all our children’s products.

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

How can I find foods made with whole grain?

Two things to remember: • Look for food labels where the word 'whole' appears in front of the name of the grain, like “whole wheat” or “wholemeal bread”. • For foods with more than one ingredient, make sure whole grain is listed towards the top of the ingredients list. The further up the list it is, the more whole grain has been used in the recipe. And look out for the percentage of whole grain. You should find this in the ingredients list too. It’s easy to know if a Nestlé breakfast cereal is made with whole grain: just look out for the Green Banner and whole grain tick on top of the box.

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.

Why does Nestlé label vegetable oil?

Because it’s industry practice to label seasonal oils (oils that aren’t consistently available across the year). In Europe it’s now mandatory to detail the types of vegetable oils used in a food product. So it’s no longer permitted to use the term “vegetable oil” on a label.

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