Times Change, Breakfast Doesn’t

According to a recent press release from The NPD Group, Port Washington, NY, the top-10 foods given to children under the age of six by new parents are almost identical to those given 20 years ago. This information comes from NPD’s 22nd annual “Eating Patterns in America” report.

The top-3 foods from both March 1985 through Feb. 1987 and March 2005 through Feb. 2007 are:

1. Cold cereal;
2. Glass of milk;
3. Fruit juice.

Although some rankings have shifted over the last 20 years, other items common to both eras include toast, eggs, fruit, pancakes, hot cereal and bacon. One item new to the 2005 to 2007 rankings is waffles, coming in at No. 7 (offered 36% of the time today, according to the report, up from 17% in 1985 to 1987).

In the press release, Harry Balzer, vice president, The NPD Group, and author of the “Eating Patterns in America” report, notes: “New moms today are asking the same question their moms asked when deciding what to feed the kids, ‘What is the easiest way to get this job done?’ Oftentimes, it’s the way their mom did it.

“Based on what we’ve seen over the past 20 years,” Balzer contines, “it is pretty clear what kids will be eating for breakfast in the year 2027.”