Most of us know that as someone who has been in education for many years, I have observed that many students skip breakfast and the result is they perform under where they should be. Pediatricians will often explain the importance of nutrition and breakfast during the annual physical. There are FDA posters in most schools with the food pyramid or MyPlate to promote healthier eating. Teachers will remind their students to eat a good breakfast before a test, and the coaches will do the same to make sure their athletes perform at their peak. For these reasons, many schools have added breakfast programs to boost student test scores and academic performance. So, why are so many students still not eating breakfast?
They have more on their plate with activities than previous generations. If your family is in that place, perhaps take a look at your breakfast routine. Many studies over several years found the importance of eating right and having a balanced breakfast to start the day; this is a simple problem that has a simple solution. So much clutter will get in the way of breakfast, such as waking up late and rushing off to school. We must reorganize our morning, so our children eat better; so they are more productive throughout the day and especially in school.
The Food Research & Action Center compiled a list of over seventy studies that showed a significant link between breakfast and school performance. When students skip breakfast, they will experience hunger. They will not get the vital nutrition their body and mind need to function effectively. Also, they found that when students are not eating in the morning their ability to do good work in school is significantly impaired.
In a hurry? Make a breakfast smoothie with fresh fruits, Greek yogurt, a handful of leafy greens, and unsweetened almond milk. Try to avoid sugars in juices to avoid the sugar crash. Instant oatmeal is easy to heat up and put into a shaker bottle while you are on-the-go. Try a cup of Greek yogurt with some fresh fruit and a whole grain option like toast, bagel or a muffin; this is something your child can eat in the car or bus.
You can fry a couple of eggs paired with whole grain toast and fruit. If your child is like mine and loves cereal, go for the sugar-free muesli or a similar low sugar, whole-grain options. Make some boiled eggs the day before with whole-grain frozen waffles or a muffin with almond butter. In a hurry toss it in a to-go container.
Stay away from the sugary cereals and drinks; they may do more harm than good. Do not forget some fresh berries or bananas. Keep this important point in mind, when your child has breakfast, they will do better in school. Your child eating a balanced breakfast will help them be happier, healthier, sustain energy, and improve their school performance. Let us commit to better health and school performance for our children.