School starts early and my teen often leaves with just water. I am not looking to force a heavy meal, but there is a long gap until the first break. What light options have worked for families with the same issue?
For early mornings, small portions worked better: half a dosa, banana with curd, mini idlis, or toast. A huge breakfast just created a fight. We changed our approach after about a month because the first plan was too hard to sustain. Packing smaller portions reduced the amount coming back untouched. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
We stopped commenting on how many bites were eaten. We serve one safe food plus the family food and let the child decide what to eat from the plate. My spouse had a different view initially, so we tried it for a few weeks before deciding.