• Posted August 26, 2026

Most Parents Struggle With One Back-To-School Routine

There’s one part of the back-to-school routine that parents aren’t looking forward to, a new poll indicates.

About 3 out of 4 American parents have trouble getting their child to eat breakfast before they head off to school, a new University of Michigan poll says.

Picky eating (44%), slow or grumpy kids (33%), or the rush to get out the door (30%) all stand in the way of children starting the school day with a proper breakfast, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

What’s more, about 1 in 5 parents say their kid’s breakfast rarely includes key nutritional components.

“Breakfast is an important opportunity to give children foods that can help them feel satisfied and ready to start their day, but families are often trying to make that happen in a short window of time,” Mott poll co-director Dr. Susan Woolford said in a news release.

“The goal does not have to be a perfect breakfast every morning,” said Woolford, who is also a Mott pediatrician. “Small, realistic changes that add protein, fiber or fruit to foods children already enjoy can make a difference.”

For the poll, researchers surveyed 1,037 parents with at least one child betweeen the ages of 6 and 12.

Two-thirds of parents said their child typically eats breakfast at home, while nearly 1 in 4 said their child eats at school. Fewer say their kid eats on the way to school or usually skips breakfast.

But time is tight for those breakfasting at home.

One-third of parents said their child has 15 minutes or less to chow down, while nearly half said they have 15 to 25 minutes to eat. Only 1 in 5 said they have a half-hour or more to enjoy breakfast.

These breakfasts also tend to be skimpy when it comes to good nutrition.

Fewer than half of parents said their child’s breakfast includes protein, fiber or whole or cut fruit most days of the week. Only a third said their kid typically has a breakfast low in added sugar most days.

Instead, parents tend to favor making breakfast appealing and manageable, the poll found.

More than two-thirds said it’s very important to offer something their child likes, and 2 out of 5 said quick and convenient foods are very important. Roughly 1 in 4 parents said it’s important to have foods that their child can prepare independently.

Parents also tend to rank their child’s preferences first when buying cereal, followed by nutritional content like protein, fiber, calories, added sugar or artificial coloring, the poll found.

Letting kids have their say can lead to some poor choices. Parents whose kids take the lead on the menu report fewer days when breakfast includes protein, fiber or fruit, or is low in added sugars.

“Children having a say in what they eat can be a positive part of developing independence, but parents can still shape the choices that are available,” Woolford said. “Instead of making breakfast a battle, parents should provide nutritious options and then let the child decide which of these foods they want to eat.”

It doesn’t take extra time to prepare a healthier breakfast, Woolford said. 

Convenient options like fruit can be kept on hand, whole-grain bread can be offered in place of white bread, and peanut butter can be added to toast. Smoothies made with whole or cut fruit can serve as an alternative to juice.

“Parents do not need to completely reinvent breakfast to make it healthier,” Woolford said. “Even one small change could add nutritional value, like choosing a higher-fiber cereal, adding vegetables to an omelet or having a fruit along with their typical breakfast.”

If time isn’t tight, breakfast also can be a time for families to connect. About two-thirds of parents said their child typically eats breakfast with a sibling, while about half eat with a parent. Only 1 in 6 said their child usually eats breakfast alone.

Parents might be able to squeeze in a little more time for breakfast by preparing it in advance, if possible, Woolford suggested.

“There is no single breakfast routine that will work for every family,” Woolford said. “A realistic goal is to find foods that fit the family’s schedule, provide nutritional value and that a child will actually eat.”

The poll was conducted in July and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 to 4 percentage points.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on the importance of a healthy breakfast for children.

SOURCES: University of Michigan, news release, Aug. 24, 2026; University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, Aug. 24, 2026