A Note From The School Nurse, Peggy Kurihara RN
The alarm clock has gone off and the brain needs fuel as soon as we wake up in the morning. Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. My morning starts with a bowl of cereal. Adding a bagel with cream cheese, butter or a nut butter, along with some fresh fruit, gets me going for the rest of the day. Think about this. When we first wake up, the body has been without food since our last meal the night before. If we skip breakfast, it is like trying to drive a car without gas. Studies have shown that children who skip this meal tend to get sleepy at school, have a harder time paying attention, and end up eating more junk food throughout the day. Kids who eat breakfast are more likely to score higher on tests, perform better in the classroom, and have healthier eating habits.
The first meal of the day doesn't have to follow traditional breakfast foods. Leftovers from the night before like soups, stews, pastas or sandwiches are all great substitutes for the common egg-toast-cereal-type breakfasts. If your child is not used to eating first thing in the morning, start with something small, like a piece of toast or a dollop of yogurt. Slowly, start adding more to the meal. If time doesn't allow one to eat at home, pack it. Try string cheese, whole grain crackers, a banana or trail mix. All of these are easy to transport in the car on the way to school.
Preparing something to eat in the morning may require planning ahead the night before. The bottom line is to encourage your child to have breakfast every morning.
Remember, "Healthy Children (with food on board) Learn Better."