Back to School with Breakfast

Summer is over, the leaves are changing and moms are rejoicing as the kids head back to school. You’ve made sure that they have new school clothes, new backpacks, pencils, binders and all the essentials for a great start to the new year. But, as they’re getting ready for their first day in a new classroom, don’t forget the most important part of having a great day - BREAKFAST! Make sure you power up their brain for better thinking and performance. 

You’ve heard the adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Here‘s why:

Makes sure their body has the fuel it needs

• Just like you would check your car for plenty of gas before starting off on a long trip, you want to make sure that your kids’ bodies are fuelled up to keep it working well all day. Remember that high sugar foods give a quick energy boost, but it doesn’t last very long. Instead try whole grain bread or cereals and eggs which will release energy for a longer time and keep them going until lunch.
  
  
  
  
  

Provides improved concentration 

• Students who eat a healthy breakfast tend to have better concentration than students who skip breakfast altogether. When the day starts with breakfast, students can focus on the task at hand better and become less distracted by outside influences and other students. They’re also able to understand what’s being taught more easily and retain that new information better than students who are hungry because they’ve skipped breakfast.

Leads to higher test scores 

• Students who eat breakfast before starting their school day don’t just concentrate better, they tend to score better on academic tests in math, reading, and science! Studies show that students attending schools that offered free breakfasts before class scored about 25 percent higher on math, reading and science tests. Researchers believe that this is because breakfast provides the energy necessary to increase cognitive, or thinking, speed and problem-solving skills. 

Improves their overall health 

• It’s not just about test scores and concentration, though. Eating breakfast can help students meet their daily nutrient needs more easily. Children who regularly eat breakfast take in approximately 20 to 60 percent more iron, B vitamins and vitamin D than children who skip breakfast. Breakfast eaters also tend to take in more daily fiber and lower total fat and dietary cholesterol. Regularly eating breakfast is also associated with a healthier body mass index, or BMI, and a decreased likelihood of obesity. Research shows that students who regularly eat breakfast have an easier time maintaining a healthy body weight than students who are regular breakfast skippers.

So bring on a new year of learning and developing good breakfast habits for the entire family. Slow down the rushed morning of hurrying everyone out the door as quickly as possible, you will be glad you did when those glowing report cards come home.