PSA #1

This is NOT breakfast!

Seriously, this shouldn't even be considered in whole or part of any meal or snack. Sure it's convenient. But if you love convenience, keep eating it and feeding it to your kids and later in life there will be a lot of really convenient visits to the doctor. Honestly, by taking the time and paying a little more for better food now (sometimes it doesn't cost more, but just takes a bit more effort), you will avoid future investments with the doctor and/or hospital.

Look at just some of the junk in this thing:

• 4 teaspoons (16g) of sugar per serving (or more depending on flavor)
• A very small amount of real fruit
• Artificial colors
• Additive TBHQ

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This is in just ONE "pastry" (I need quotes there because it's hard not to laugh)

I know it's hard to get a handle on breakfast sometimes. You're running around trying to get the kids ready for school pretty much every morning. One forgot to get something signed, another can't find a shoe, etc. So to alleviate some pressure, they're handed one of these nasty things (or some other convenience 'food') and the kid gobbles up half of it as the bus rumbles down the road. They step on, but not before handing you the remainder which becomes your measly breakfast for the day.

But this is where you need to take a step back, do your due diligence as a parent and plan ahead. If you're single or don't have kids, you have even fewer excuses for getting proper nutrition. 'Easy',  'Lazy', and 'Can't' are not excuses. They are four-letter words, and offensive ones at that.

And if you're already eating healthy, your kids should be too! There's no reason they should inherit an unhealthy routine that will haunt them the rest of their lives (and, subsequently, pass on to their kids). We spend so much time and money making sure they are well-educated and safe from danger; proper nutrition should be a part of that time and expense.

So, how do we change our behavior and influence theirs? Here's a short list of helpful hints that will hopefully get some fire burning in you:

• Make an omelette  (or some other healthy choice) before bed and have it ready to heat up while you're  making your coffee. You can even bake the ingredients in muffin tins and make it really convenient.
• Gather some recipes for healthy home-made breakfast bars for the days they are in a rush. Make them on the weekend and have them ready to go. Even a slice of banana or zucchini bread is better than this. Yes, it's simple carbs and sugar, but steps can be taken to make it healthier like swapping out the sugar for honey or using combinations of alternative flours (like almond and coconut flour)
• Don't even buy it in the first place. Make a conscious effort when shopping to stay away from the idea that you "might need it in a pinch". You don't need it...at all! If it's not in the house, but healthy food is, necessity will truly be the mother of invention and you'll put those healthy ingredients together into something packed with way more nutrition.
• My personal preference: Wake up earlier and cook something!

Yes, I know this came off preachy, but proper nutrition at all meals is serious and the iron fist of this trainer has got to hammer. However, I can only pound that stubborn nail so much lest it bend or break. It's you that needs to make sure it goes in straight.