We often hear that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, but do we really know why that is? A healthy breakfast helps to refuel the body after it has gone without food for 8-10 hours overnight. Skipping breakfast can result in less energy, lost concentration and unhealthy snacking later in the day. This is especially true for children who need energy in order to concentrate and learn during the school day. It can certainly be a challenge to eat a healthy meal while trying to get everyone ready and out the door to school or daycare, but it is important to at least try! Check out the tips below to help your family start their day with a healthy meal.
- Start the night before. Children can help set the table, put out boxes of whole grain cereal or wash fruit before they go to bed.
- Choose low-sugar, whole grain options. While breakfast bars or toaster pastries are portable and easy meals, they have just as much sugar and calories as a candy bar. Look for cereals made with whole grains or have less than 8 grams of sugar.
- Grab and Go breakfast. Fresh fruit (ex. clementines or bananas), baggies of trail mix or whole grain cereal or a cup of yogurt are simple meals that students can take with them as they walk or ride the bus to school. Check out https://www.eatsmart.umd.edu/ for more quick and easy breakfast ideas.
- School breakfast. Contact your child’s school or daycare provider to ask if they provide breakfast to students. Some schools provide a healthy breakfast in the classroom prior to the start of classes.
- Be a role model for your children. When your child sees you eating a piece of toast or a banana in the morning, you are showing them how important it is to fuel the brain and the body before facing today.
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