Benefits of Breakfast for Children

There are many benefits of breakfast for children. Breakfast provides children with the energy and essential nutrients they need to concentrate on school work and learn. Studies show that breakfast provides as much as 25 percent of the recommended daily allowance for key nutrients, such as calcium, protein, vitamins A and B6, magnesium, iron and zinc.

More Benefits of Breakfast

Research shows that children who eat breakfast have higher achievement scores, lower rates of absence and tardiness, and increased concentration in the classroom. Adults who eat breakfast regularly tend to eat fewer calories, less saturated fat and cholesterol and have better overall nutritional status than breakfast skippers.
Another important benefit of breakfast for children is that establishing the healthy habit of eating breakfast early in life could stave off many adulthood health problems associated with poor diet, such as diabetes and obesity.

What counts as breakfast?

Breakfasts that include foods from several food groups provide the most benefit to children, both educationally and physically. Ideally, you want to make a balanced breakfast that consists of protein, fat and carbohydrate. That will prevent drops in blood sugar for several hours, whereas a breakfast of just carbohydrate will sustain a child for only one to two hours.
A drop in blood sugar can mean a decline in energy level and the onset of hunger symptoms like a stomachache or headache, which interfere with learning. Balanced meals offering foods from several food groups (containing carbohydrate, protein and fat) are designed to sustain children's energy throughout the morning.
If breakfast is rushed in the morning, eating something is still better than eating nothing. So, if you are getting your child to eat a banana or piece of string cheese on the way to school, that's better than them starting the day on an empty stomach.

Fast Breakfast Ideas

Simple breakfasts that can be prepared quickly and easily include:

• Juice and cereal with milk
• Toast with peanut butter and a piece of fruit
• A fruit smoothie made with yogurt
• A hard-cooked egg and a bagel
• A cereal bar or a piece of fresh fruit and string cheese are great portable breakfasts
• Leftovers can be breakfast too—soup and crackers, tortillas with melted cheese or chicken drumsticks can all work in a pinch!

Healthy Habits Start Early

Your kids look up to you. If mom and dad don't have to eat breakfast -- why should they? By eating breakfast everyday, you are teaching your children that it is important to eat breakfast. Establishing this habit early ensures that they will have healthy eating habits when they grow up.
Print more quick and nutritious breakfast ideas for busy families:
Related E-Books :- Easy Breakfast Bites - Paleo Breakfast Cookbook Over 60 Options
                                New! The Healthy Eating Handbook

MORE ARTICLES>>>>>>