Breakfast is commonly referred to as the most important meal of the day, but many children do not start the day with a breakfast that contributes to better body and mind. In fact, most breakfast foods can actually diminish a child’s performance. But before I tell you how to make breakfast that counts, you need to first understand why the right breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
How to make breakfast count for your children:
Now you know why breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so let’s discover how to make it count. Breakfast loses its value when non-nutritious foods are provided. You may feel it’s easier to throw a granola bar, packaged cereal or a toasted waffle at your children, but the problem is, these kinds of nutrient-void and sugar-rich foods actually make things worse during the day.
These overly processed convenience foods only fill your children with sugar and unbeneficial calories. Therefore, in order to make breakfast count, give them foods that fill them with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutritious value.
Breakfast can have positive effects for children’s health and academics. Thus, it is important to provide kids with foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and complex (as opposed to sugar) carbohydrates in order for your children to reap the full benefits of breakfast and make the most important meal of the day actually count.
References
Bar-Dayan, Alisa. The Importance of a Healthy Breakfast. About Kids Health. April 2010. http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/Columns/FitnessAndNutrition/Pages/The-importance-of-a-healthy-breakfast.aspx
Breakfast Basics.Kids Health. July 2015. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breakfast.html#
Lesperance, Erica. 5 Important Reasons Your Child Should Eat Breakfast. The Diet Channel. October 2006. http://www.thedietchannel.com/5-Important-Reasons-Your-Child-Should-Eat-Breakfast.htm