Although many people underestimate the value of breakfast,
there are those who appreciate its importance. Many mothers ensure their
children never leave home without a full stomach. Such mothers appreciate the
value of breakfast. Nutritionists say eating a substantial meal within the
first few hours of waking up is as healthy for an adult as for a child.
Breakfast can be described as the “fuel” that gets you going
in the morning so you can hit the road. A good, healthy breakfast provides
enough new energy for your body to get started and to keep you functioning
until lunch. While some persons say they
are okay with just one glass of water, a cup of beverage drink with or without
some slices of bread, or eat nothing at all, evidence shows that this type of
routine is ill advised and potentially unhealthy.
For children, a good breakfast is even more important.
Children that eat a healthy nutritious breakfast regularly tend to be more
efficient and are better prepared for the day at school. Children who do not
eat a good breakfast become tired in school and have shorter attention spans,
especially late in the morning.
By adding breakfast, children are more likely to get the
vitamins and minerals they need. Also, children who don’t eat a good breakfast
tend to eat more junk food during the day—snacks that are high in fat and sugar
and low in nutritional value.
- Benefits of Breakfasts
Studies show that breakfast eaters perform much better in
their school work and show extra energy in sports and other physical
activities. Besides assuring optimal development and growth, positive effects
on alertness, attention, performance on standardized achievement tests, and
other skills important for academic success are enhanced for those who eat
breakfast on a daily basis.
On the contrary, Children who skip breakfast will be more sluggish,
less attentive, and have less energy to carry out their morning tasks. Teachers
observe that children who come to school hungry experience more learning
difficulties compared to well-nourished children.
Worse still, skipping breakfast actually makes the child
more likely to snack throughout the day and eat a larger meal at lunch and
dinner.As a result, skipping breakfast may cause weight gain by causing
increased hunger and more food consumption later in the day.
- A Good Breakfast Matters
It’s not only important for a child to have breakfast every
day, what the child eats in the morning is crucial too. Choosing breakfast food
that are rich in whole grains, fibre, and protein while low in added sugar
boosts attention, concentration, and memory—which is what children require to
learn in school.
A good breakfast should include nutritious foods from at
least three food groups, carbohydrate, protein and fibre. For children, a good
breakfast could start with a refreshing glass of water or orange juice. This helps
to boost appetite. There are so many good breakfast options, but whole-grain
cereal is an excellent choice. If a child is older than two years, this could
be combined with additional food including plenty of milk.
Cereals make a nutritious and filling breakfast. Breakfast
cereals are high fibre when made of whole grains and contain nutrients
fortified with iron and vitamin A. Such breakfast cereals when fortified with
these important nutrients are perfect for children, who love the taste and the
ease of preparation.
If a child is not used to eating breakfast, such child
should be encouraged to eat a small amount at first and then have the rest of
the meal mid-morning. As the child gets used to eating breakfast, you can
slowly increase the amount of food in the early morning.
- Breakfast Tips
A good tip is to stock your kitchen with easy-made healthy
breakfast options such as a high fibre cereals. If the children are not hungry
first thing in the morning, pack a breakfast that they can eat a little later
on the car or between classes. Fresh fruit, cereal, nuts, or banana sandwich
are nutritious, easy to make, and easy to take along. What not to serve for
breakfast is important too. Avoid oily cooked meals and sugary pastries.
- Lets Make Breakfast Happen
It can be difficult to make a healthy breakfast happen when
you’re rushing to get yourself and the children ready in the morning, but it is
essential to create time for breakfast every day. The point of breakfast is to
feed your child’s body with the protein and energy it needs to start the day
and to carry on through to lunch. Of course, children often learn most by
example, so it’s important for parents to set a good example and have a
nutritious breakfast each day too.
It takes no more than one minute for your child to open a
cereal pack, and prepare a delicious and nutritious meal before stepping out
for the day. High-fibre, carbohydrate-rich breakfasts help children feel full
longer and snack less. An expert urges mothers to be creative with their
breakfast choices.
For instance, mixing a variety of healthy breakfast with
cereals, especially those that are fortified with vitamins and essential
nutrients, but low in sugar, provides a good source of carbohydrate and fibre
for children. Add generous quantities of low-fat milk to supply the needed
calcium and protein. Breakfast doesn’t have to be limited to cereals but if a
child enjoys it, it is one that can be a healthy choice.
- Breakfast Is Best
Breakfast helps improve mental performance and concentration
during morning activities. While adults need to eat breakfast each day to
perform their best, children need it even more. Their growing bodies and
developing brains need regular refueling often, from food. When children skip
breakfast, they do not get what they require to be at their best.
A breakfast eating child is more likely to get fibre,
calcium, and other important nutrients. That child tends to keep weight under
control, have lower blood cholesterol levels and fewer absences from school. He
or she would make fewer trips to the school clinic with stomach complaints
related to hunger.
You Can Also Check Out Various Breakfast Menu Ideas HERE
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