Why do kids need breakfast

Eating breakfast:. Breakfast eaters get better grades and score higher on standardized tests. And kids who participate in school lunch programs have fewer absences from school. It can be hard to make a healthy breakfast happen when you're rushing to get yourself and the kids ready in the morning. These practical suggestions can help:.

If kids aren't hungry first thing in the morning, pack a breakfast that they can eat a little later on the bus or between classes. Fresh fruit, cereal, nuts, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich are nutritious, easy to make, and easy for kids to take along. What not to serve for breakfast is important too. Sure, toaster pastries and some breakfast bars are portable, easy, and appealing to kids.

But many have no more nutritional value than a candy bar and are high in sugar and calories. Read the nutrition labels carefully before you toss these breakfast bars and pastries into your shopping cart.

You also may want to check out the breakfasts available at school or daycare. Articles for your health. The importance of breakfast for kids Katie Hecker, MD. Kids who eat breakfast tend to eat healthier overall, are more likely to participate in physical activities, and to maintain a healthy body weight. Why is breakfast important for kids?

Eating a good breakfast also helps kids: be more active be more creative have better hand-eye coordination have better problem-solving skills meet daily nutritional requirements miss fewer days of school Healthy breakfast tips What kids eat for breakfast is important. Look for whole grains, milk, fruits and vegetables. Or you can look for this handy yellow symbol, which indicates if that the food is a whole grain. Protein helps kids maintain the level of energy and fullness they need to get them through the morning.

It is found in meat, beans, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. Be sure to power up your breakfast with this important nutrient! TAGS: eating healthy,. You can make and freeze things like egg and cheese English muffin sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pancakes or waffles. Fruit and granola, hot cereals, and potato and egg casseroles are all ideal for cooking in the crock-pot overnight. Go with the grain When choosing breads and cereals, choose those made primarily with whole grains.

Whole grains include oatmeal, barley, brown rice cereals, buckwheat, whole cornmeal, millet, whole rye, whole wheat or others. Some food packages include the whole grain symbol, which tells you how many grams of whole grain each serving contains.

Sixteen grams per serving is considered an excellent source and 8 grams is a good source. If there is no symbol, read the label, and pick foods listing whole grains near the top of the ingredient list. On labels, "wheat flour" and "multi-grain" do not mean whole grain. Pastries such as toaster tarts and commercial baked goods like muffins and donuts typically have a high sugar and fat content, providing little more than a source of calories.

They are typically made from refined grains that are stripped of their bran and germ which are grain components rich in vitamins including vitamin E, folic acid and the B vitamins , minerals and dietary fiber. Bulk it up with fiber Children need between grams of fiber per day. Aim for at least 5 grams of fiber at breakfast. Fiber not only helps to promote regularity and prevent constipation, but it also helps prevent cancer and heart disease later in life. Here are some ways to increase fiber in your child's breakfast:.

Got milk? A glass of low fat, fat free or soy milk or yogurt is a great addition to a breakfast. Most school-age children need 3 servings per day of milk, yogurt or cheese. When choosing cheese, 1? Milk or yogurt based drinks, shakes or smoothies are good breakfast options.