Say Yes to School Breakfast!
Today is the first day of National School Breakfast Week, a weeklong celebration of school breakfast brought to schools nationwide by the School Nutrition Association (SNA). The movement towards increasing breakfast participation among schools in the US is an important one, as there is a strong association between eating a healthy breakfast and a child’s energy level and academic performance. In fact, in a 2014 survey of SNA members, 96% said that student participation increases during National School Breakfast Week.
The theme of this year’s National School Breakfast Week is “Make the Grade with School Breakfast”, which highlights how eating a nutritious breakfast positively influences student success in the classroom and beyond. Making breakfast a part of your daily routine can aid in weight loss and weight management, control blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, improve energy and concentration and increase your daily intake of nutrients. Breakfast is an important meal for everyone, but it is especially important for children and adolescents who are in the critical stages of growth and development. Though breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many families feel that their busy schedules aren’t conducive to making a balanced meal for themselves or their children every morning. Often times, children are fed grab and go packaged breakfasts that are full of fat and sugar and void of essential nutrients. That is why school participation in the breakfast program in which nutritious foods are provided to students is essential for improving the health and academic success of children nationwide.
Find out if your child’s school is participating in National School Breakfast Week and take the time to talk with your children about the importance of eating breakfast before school. Whether or not your school district participates in the school breakfast program, you should still encourage morning meals in your own household and know what food groups to include for an optimal breakfast for your children. Incorporate whole grains, lean protein, fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Examples of healthy breakfast choices include:
- Whole grain toast with a scrambled egg, low-fat cheese, tomato and a piece of fruit
- Low-fat yogurt with berries, nuts and low-fat granola
- Fruit and yogurt smoothie with a granola bar
- Oatmeal made with fat-free milk, raisins and fruit
- Hard-boiled egg, a banana and a glass of fat-free milk
- Whole grain cereal with fat-free milk and fruit
- Whole grain English muffin with low-fat cheese, avocado and an egg
- Whole grain waffle with peanut butter, fruit and a glass of low-fat milk
Getting your children to eat breakfast could be a tricky task, especially if they’re used to skipping the meal. Remember that children lead by example, so the most effective way to get your children to eat breakfast is showing them that you do too! Find out foods your child likes and allow them the freedom to choose from a few healthy options. Allowing your child to feel in control of their own food choices is an effective strategy towards getting them to want to eat breakfast, or any healthy foods for that matter.
Take advantage of National School Breakfast Week to begin making breakfast a habitual meal for your whole family!
Your turn to take action: What are some breakfast foods your children love to eat?
Your breakfast is the foundation for your whole day; so exactly like whatever else, starting with a negative foundation, the structure won’t be that great.
The more salt consume, the more one’s body retains water to dilute it.
So this leads to high calories, low energy, and overeating.