Brad Pitt's trick to give his brood a kickstart in the morning

CEBU, Philippines - He is famed for his paternal instincts as a father of six children.

But Brad Pitt has confessed he sometimes resorts to desperate measures when he attempts to wake up his brood in the mornings - forcing them to drink cola for breakfast.

The Moneyball star said he uses it as a sweetener for getting out of bed when he is in a rush to get them out of the door.

He said: 'Listen, I admit there’s times like, "We gotta get up. Get up! Here’s your shoes. Here’s your shoes."

'"Drink this cola. Drink it all. Right now! Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!' Just so we could get ‘em up and going."

The revelation is sure to draw criticism among healthy eating groups, as drinking sugary fizzy drinks has been linked to obesity.

Previous scientific studies have found a single can may contain 40 to 50g of sugar, and that somebody who drinks one can a day could put on 15lb over a year.

Brad's confession came ahead of an appearance on US TV institution Inside The Actors Studio.